Slots At The Gaming Expo
In my article about Nickel High Rollers I wrote that the slot makers were trying to out do each other by increasing the amount of pay lines and coins bet on each line. This was in evidence at the show. The cost of playing these machines can be prohibited to some of the players. The newest innovation to solve this problem is the introduction of the multi-denomination machines. Players can chose the amount they wish to play for with out switching machines. This is an advantage to the casinos because they do not have to purchase duplicate machines for the same game just to offer it in different denominations. This will cut some of their hardware costs.
You can play for nickels, quarters, and dollars or on some machines you can play for pennies. I played one of the demo machines and had the option of playing for one cent, five cents or a quarter. You may laugh at the idea of penny slots but this machine was a 100-play video poker machine at the Action Gaming booth. Playing maximum coins for one hundred hands of video poker will cost you five dollars a spin at the penny level. This is hefty price for a penny machine player. It is a subtle ploy to get you to play more money. I was given a T-shirt at Aristocrat Leisure Industries booth and the slogan on the arm summed it all up. It reads: More Games - More Lines - More Profits. Of couse we know who the profits are going to.
Coinless Slots.
With the advent of the multi-denomination machines the companies had to do something to solve the problem when cashing out. Having the machine pay out in vouchers rather than coins solves this. When you hit the button to cash out a voucher is printed that you take to the cage. Soon you will be able to put the voucher back into another machine if you feel like changing machines. Not all players are happy about a coinless system. We will discuss this in the future.
There you have a brief look at what is new in the gaming world.
Until next time, remember:
"Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever."