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December 1, 2009

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Slot machines with Ray Charles theme in the works

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 | 10:46 a.m.

Alliance Gaming Corp. announced Monday plans to release a line of slot machines featuring American music icon Ray Charles.

The Las Vegas-based company said its slot machine business unit, Bally Gaming and Systems, plans to introduce three video slot machines by year's end. The game titles -- "Ray Charles' America the Beautiful," "What'd I Pay," and "Ray's Jukebox" -- will feature newly recorded video of Charles.

At the request of Charles, who is blind, the slots will come with options allowing the visually impaired to fully experience the games. The slots will feature Braille labeling and audio-assist features.

The technology was licensed to Bally by Las Vegas-based GameMakers & Consultants Inc., which has patented methods for slot machine play by visually impaired people. GameMakers is also the exclusive licensee for the use of Charles' likeness on gaming devices.

"This is the most interactive slot machine ever produced," said Mickey Roemer, Bally's vice president of game development. "Mr. Charles takes the player on a soulful musical journey intermixed with an exciting gambling experience."

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