Slots Will Find a Way

Just to add to the havoc that the economy and online slots has caused for land casinos, Las Vegas legislators passed a highly controversial smoking ban last year. Because smoking is such an integral part of the casino experience in the city, many gaming operators were upset due to the projected losses that a smoking ban would cause. The ban applied to smoking in food facilities, including bars and taverns, which have been the hardest hit places. People have opted to just go directly to the casinos where they can smoke and play slots in peace, instead of staying at the bar or restaurants for a prolonged period of time.

The shortened “hang out” time span has translated into a 20% loss for the slot machine company, since people are just not willing to pay the $100 fine if they are caught smoking where they should not. After all, people come to Las Vegas to double their money, not pay out money for a ticket! Most people have just opted to smoke and spend most of their time in the actual casino, where they can still smoke and play, and then just going for a quick pit stop at the bar or restaurant so they can refuel.

United Coin Machine, one of the state’s leading players in the slot machine industry, has decided to release bartop machines, which will capitalize on the players that are hanging out in the bars anyway. The machines are specially designed to sit at eye level for a person sitting at the bar, and if he is merely forced to come into a bar to get some food, he might as well have the option to continue playing while he is doing so. After all, a person comes to Vegas to make some money, and if time getting a drink can still be used to possibly hit it big, why shouldn’t it be?

Back to July 2008 Archive.