Aristocrat to debut 140 slot machines at LV trade show

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 | 10:42 a.m.

Aristocrat Technologies Inc. expects to roll out 140 new slot machines at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas -- many of them penny slot machines aimed at taking advantage of a growing penny slot market.

The expo will be held Sept. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

More than half of the games on the trade show floor will be penny slots, "a direct reflection of the industry's move to penny slots as a way to increase time on device and create more winning excitement for players," Vice President of Marketing Kent Young said.

The games will include three new titles under its "Reel Power" concept, a game that allows players to buy entire reels rather than lines. The game creates more payline combinations and more coinciding wins, the company said.

Aristocrat has committed significant research and development dollars to developing more penny slot products, he said.

Also new is another game based on Aristocrat's progressive "Millioniser" system that gives players a chance to win $1 million on a penny slot.

A licensed slot entitled, "You Might Be a Redneck If ..." will feature comedian Jeff Foxworthy.

The five-reel video slot showcases Foxworthy's humor and includes symbols such as an outhouse, a moonshine jug, a beer can and a vintage pickup truck.

Another game, Arishinko, is a blend of Japanese-style pachinko game and slot machine.

Arishinko balls are "launched," one at a time, to land in a prize bucket to trigger bonus prizes, multipliers or entry into a second screen feature, the company said.

Five new poker machines also are expected.

Aristocrat Technologies is the U.S. manufacturing, sales and marketing subsidiary of Australia-based Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. The U.S. unit has been restructured following disappointing financial results that led to the resignation of Aristocrat Leisure's chief executive and other top officers.