Strictly Slots Magazine, always being unpredicable about its publishing schedule, appears to have vanished. Their website offers no direct connection to any customer service or subscription service. The last issue I have was October 2009 and as of January, NOTHING. Their website appears to have been last updated over 3 months ago. Does anyone know what happened to this Casino Player's sister magazine as I cannot find anything???

I have had the same issue with Strictly Slots. I love the magazine, but always receive my issues much after the month released. I also have not received one since October, however, around the holidays they were sending me offers for a discount to renew. If they want me to renew I think they need to increase there customer service, unless of course as you say they are even still in business. I would be interested also in knowing if anyone knows anything.

Here is a copy of an email that I got from Melissa Fine, the editor back in Sept 09. I was pissed and sent a not so nice letter because I have been chasing my mag for the last two years. Here is here response:



Truth? Cause I'm happy to give it to as it really is. You deserve at least that much...

It is very true that we were having major difficulties with our printer and, ultimately went to another printer. The problem is this: in this economy no one wants to extend any credit to anyone else. And small business (which, we are) can't get credit from banks.

The printers want the money to print our magazines upfront. It used to be that they would give us 90 day credit. But WE still extend 90 days to our advertiser (who make up the bulk of our revenue). So what ends up happening is we have to pay for printing in advance of a magazine hitting the stands and our readers, and before we receive the revenue from that issue.

This leads to a cash crunch.

Add to that the fact that, again, because of the economy, many advertisers don't have the same budget for advertising that they used to, so they've cut back.

We have cut our costs to very bare bones. The publisher/CEO of our company hasn't been paid in MONTHS so that him employees CAN get paid and the magazines can get printed.

It's simply economics. Believe me, the very last thing we want is to upset our readers and lose them as well! But we can only do so much...

We are frantically trying to come up with new ways to raise more revenue. We are even looking to reorganize or debts. We are trying to get back on a proper printing schedule as quickly as possible. It isn't good for ANY of us--readers included--to be behind. And, in fact, we're going to probably have to push the October issue to November (in other words, combine the issues) i order to be able to pay for the printing so we can be out for G2E, the biggest trade show in the industry. Hopefully THIS will allow us to get Strictly Slots out on time in the future.

I am even trying to work on a program with other small business to exchange ads for their distribution of our magazines to their clients. (Essentially, they will pay the costs of a certain number of magazines they will distribute in exchange for an advertisement.) If this works, we will be exposed to new potential subscribers, which will hopefully gain us more subscriptions (& money!) and higher circulation will appeal to new full-paying ads. All means more money so we can pay the printers and get the magazines into your hands.

I'm telling you -- and you ARE the only reader I've explained all of this to -- so that you truly see what we're up against. Another solution would be to tell all of our subscribers that we're gonna need to charge you another $12 for your subscription (or go a sneakier route and start charging a $12 "processing" fee). We are trying VERY hard not to pass any additional costs on to YOU! I don't think our readers would appreciate or even be willing to pay more.

I'd LOVE to ask my government where OUR bailout is... but I don't think we qualify...

I do hope you hang in there with us... We really DO value our readers so much. It's just so damn hard out there right now. I'm sure you're feeling the financial pressures too... But I do believe things will turn around for us soon. I hope we can count on you to still be with us when it does...

All my best,

Melissa Fine
Editor
Casino Player, Strictly Slots Magazines

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Deb's YouTube gambling channel:

www.youtube.com/bonusqueenDeb

PS the last issue I got was Oct as well. I called CS last week and they said that November's issue should be mailed this Wed. We'll see!

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Deb's YouTube gambling channel:

www.youtube.com/bonusqueenDeb

Hi Deb:

I would love to subscribe ... if I only knew they were not going out of business. It's puzzling that casinos have popped up in most North American states and provinces ... the audience has never been larger. It's too bad the casinos would not buy thousands of these things for $1 each -- and give them free to their patrons.

The movie theatres around here give out these types of magazines with "coming attractions".

Tough environment for a small company.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

Along with Casino Player, also published by the same company. I wrote back to her with all sorts of advertising ideas ESPECIALLY to hit the NA market since it seems they are doing so well. Who knows what if anything they will do. It is really sad.

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Deb's YouTube gambling channel:

www.youtube.com/bonusqueenDeb

Thanks for the info Deb, I had tried to send them an email via there website, but it wouldn't let me. Appreciate you advising us of what's going on.

I wonder what that is all about? I was able to still speak to someone in customer service as of last week. They did send me an email in Sept asking me what I thought of an e-zine and I said that I would go for it BUT I prefer it in print. They had it in some survey format (the email) so I wonder what became of that idea. That would save a lot of money, it would seem.

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Deb's YouTube gambling channel:

www.youtube.com/bonusqueenDeb

The fact that they missed the G2 presell for ads, speaks volumes about the chance of them staying solvent. The gambling magazines business is not a good one. Many magazines have come and gone on all gambling subjects and this was before the recession hit. The gambling budgets of casinos on a national scale has had massive cuts. Most only advertise in their local market. If it wasn't for all the ads from travel agencys you would rarely see a Vegas ad in this market, the north east. Marketing that is done by casinos has never been a strong point. Change in that industry comes slow and usually begrudgingly, which is amazing when you think of the talent that must be available to them. When other powers ran Vegas it was all about the player. Take their money at the table but make sure they are entertained, well fed and safe. Casinos today are owned by mega companies that are answerable to a board and stockholders. All about the bottom line and staying in the black, give the minimum to players. Like any cycle I expect that one day, competition will swing the pendulum back to the player. I can hardly wait!

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Love the slot bonuses! http://www.youtube.com/user/videopappy37

Very true pappy about the presell for ads for G2E. You would definitely think they would jump on that~! Oh well. SS will definitely be missed..at least by me anyway!

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Deb's YouTube gambling channel:

www.youtube.com/bonusqueenDeb