Mississippi casinos converting to video slot machines

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000 | 4:12 a.m.

Some new video devices are being tested for licensing by the Mississippi Gaming Commission's laboratory. They include the latest versions of lower denomination, multi-line, multi-coin machines.

The devices were popularized in Australia and brought to the United States by Australia-based Aristocrat and WMS Industries of Chicago.

"The multi-coin, multi-line phenomena is here," said Steven Zanella, vice president of slots for Beau Rivage.

Zanella said the new devices probably will not replace the highly popular video poker and reel games such as Double and Triple Diamonds and Sizzling 7s.

"You're going to have a heavy, heavy amount of video product on the slot floor," Zanella said. "Spinning wheels won't go away entirely. The $100 player may still like to play two-coin games. But you're going to see a huge video product on the floor. At least 80 percent of the floor will be a video product. Right now we're at about 30 percent."

Manufacturers are combining high-resolution graphics and animated story lines with the multi-line concept and bonus features, all intended to keep players glued to the machine. Replacement of machines is occurring at a rapid rate.

"When you get into the video product, the life cycle right now is about six to nine months," Zanella said. "Nowadays, if you don't keep up, in six months the whole industry has changed."

International Game Technology chairman Chuck Mathewson said the video machines provide a wider range entertainment.

"The science is moving at a tremendous rate. (Technology) has accelerated more in the last five or six years than ever before. There's all kinds of new things being worked on and developed. It's all very exciting for us. It's also profitable. It accelerates the replacement cycle," he said.

Advanced slot accounting and player tracking technology and the evolution of the slot floor from spinning reel to video machines will increase profits.

Ladner said new games are being developed at such a rapid-fire rate that the expectations of gamblers may out-pace the industry's ability to get new machines in the casino.

The new technology also creates challenges for the regulators.

"As development of the product becomes more entertaining to the patron, it becomes more complex internally," Ladner said. "We're in a constant state of learning. We're having to spend more time per product. When we're presented with a multi-coin, multi-line device with multiple bonuses, some of them are very mathematically complex. Certainly more than a three-line spinning slot. From a mathematical analysis standpoint, we're devoting significantly more time to the product."

Many slot players on the Coast visit a casino three times a week or more, Zanella said, and they have come to expect the latest in new games.

"They are very receptive to new technology and innovative games. They're definitely demanding," Zanella said.