Business unit to test new cashless slot technology

Wednesday, May 22, 2002 | 11:09 a.m.

Alliance Gaming Corp.'s Bally Gaming and Systems business unit has received regulatory approvals to conduct field trials for its SDS Ticketing product in Nevada and Michigan.

SDS Ticketing is an online slot accounting and security system for cashless slot machines that is compatible with machines from most manufacturers, helping to eliminate potential player confusion as to which games do or do not accept printed tickets, the Las Vegas company said.

The field trial locations -- which will begin in the coming weeks at Station Casinos Inc.'s Barley's Casino & Brewing Co. in Las Vegas and at Greektown Casino in Detroit -- will join nine other properties already running a version of SDS Ticketing in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Arizona and New Mexico.

The Greektown field trial will make that casino the first in Michigan to offer a cashless ticket option for players, Alliance said.

"Based on the performance at our existing SDS Ticketing locations, there's no question our cashless system helps in the areas of labor efficiency, player convenience, enhanced security and revenue performance," Bally Systems' Senior Vice President and General Manager Bill Watson said.

Greektown's Chief Operating Officer Sal Semola said the casino has been "anxiously awaiting" a field trial approval for the new system.

"Being the only casino to be able to offer this product to our customers puts us ahead of the game in the Detroit market and throughout Michigan," Semola said.