The Triple Lindy

Fads promise revolutions but are usually little more than a recycled version of a recycled classic. The truth is: Longevity equals staying power.

In my previous life running health clubs, I learned to beware of trends.

They’re easy to spot by their rhetoric: this very new idea is going to revolutionize health and fitness. While many have some utility, they’re almost always just a variation on an existing, more beneficial product.

Think about the numerous diet and exercise fads you’ve seen over the years (I’ve talked about other fads before, too).

Diets:

1. Zone Diet

2. Blood Type Diet

3. Atkins Diet

4. Mediterranean Diet

5. South Beach Diet

6. Paleo Diet

7. Juice Cleanses

8. Keto Diet

9. Intermittent Fasting

10. Carnivore Diet

Exercise:

1. Step Aerobics, Jazzercise, BodyPump, Tae Bo

2. ThighMaster

3. 8 Minute Abs

4. Pilates

5. Kettlebell Training

6. P90X

7. Zumba

8. SoulCycle/Spin Classes

9. Cold Plunges

10. Red Light Therapy

Another telltale sign is when it is underpinned by a money-making racket: Training programs and overhyped certifications, supplements, or specialized equipment. Things you need to buy to make the thing work properly.

These built-in revenue streams create a dependency loop: the trend promises transformation, but achieving it “properly” demands continuous investment, and surprise, the founders just happen to sell the things you need.

To be fair, this isn’t always sinister. Some tools or programs do add value, but beware when the core idea gets overshadowed by some ancillary monetization models.

At the end of the day, success comes down to what people have been saying and doing forever, eat healthy foods and exercise. The fad is the gimmick that gets you eating healthy foods and moving your body. It can work, but it’s not really necessary.

To be fair, a lot of fads stick around and are useful forms of exercise, but the revolutionary impact almost never comes to pass. It’s just a minor variation of a tried and tested product or routine.

Gambling Industry Trends

The gambling industry isn’t immune to fads.

• Arcade-Style Skill-Based Slot Machines (GameCo and Gamblit) were hyped as the solution to the millennial problem blending video games with gambling. Despite being a fun product to use, they never caught on as video games are more fun and slot machines have better gambling mechanics.

• eSports Betting was another nod to younger customers. Touted as the future (young people don’t watch sports anymore!) with massive tournaments and streaming tie-ins, backed by sponsorships and specialized apps. It’s gained some niche traction, but hasn’t revolutionized the industry like promised.

• Virtual Reality Gaming looked to leverage modern tech to create an immersive casino experience from anywhere, even your couch. Adoption stalled due to high costs, a high barrier to entry (I remember watching people struggle to pick up their cards during a poker demo), and minor issues like motion sickness.

• Multiplayer Slots and Electronic Poker Tables were marketed as social innovations with group play, but most venues ditched them after low engagement.

Basically, for every Progressive Knockout or Mystery Bounty tournament that gains traction, there are dozens of failed poker tournament formats.

Basically, trends come and go, leaving behind warehouses full of obsolete equipment; the gambling industry version of the dusty ThighMaster in a garage.

So the question is, how can you spot a flash-in-the-pan fad vs. a truly game-changing idea?