Gary Platt gets Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Platt, founder of casino chairs specialist Gary Platt Manufacturing, has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Las Vegas Magazine.

In 1959, Platt walked into a Las Vegas casino and asked: “Why is everyone standing?” That simple question led him to create the world’s first casino chairs, sparking a global revolution.

“I am utterly thrilled and pleased to be considered and then selected for this award for the casino industry., Platt said.

“I had ideas and problems mentioned to me when comfortable and durable casino seating was in its infancy and with the help of Leonard Einhorn and Bob Yabroff at our factory, we found solutions. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Lucky me!”

“It’s our privilege to recognise Gary Platt as a Lifetime Achievement honouree,” said Ken Miller, editor of Las Vegas Magazine. “Las Vegas is a city that practically invented the perfect entertainment experience and Gary’s innovative ideas are a huge part of that evolution. We can’t imagine a more deserving candidate for this special honour.”

It all started with a simple sketch Platt drew on a yellow pad for a gaming supply executive – a 12ins by 12ins seat with straight legs, carefully designed to fit within the narrow confines of the era’s slot aisles. The results were instantaneous – players flocked to the games with chairs and revenues increased.

In the time since, Gary Platt Manufacturing has hand-crafted more than a million chairs for casinos around the world, elevating time-on-device and delivering unsurpassed comfort to players everywhere. The impact has also grown.

For example, a recent three-week, head-to-head study showed devices with Gary Platt chairs had a three per cent increase in time on device and an 11 per cent coin-in increase in coin-in vs devices with chairs from another manufacturer.

“Gary’s vision continues to inspire us all at Gary Platt Manufacturing. We keep asking ‘why,’ pursuing ever-higher levels of comfort, pushing ourselves to make the world’s most comfortable chairs for our customers and their guests. It’s an honour to continue his legacy,” said Gary Platt Manufacturing CEO Joe Esposito.