Manufacturer of slot that can match gambler’s desired pace is licensed

By Richard N. Velotta

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 | 3 a.m.

A Las Vegas company that is working to develop slot machines that can match a gambler’s desired pace of play has been licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

John Acres, president of Talo Nevada, told commissioners Sept. 17 he is working on a personalized gaming program that through player tracking could operate at a slow pace with small rewards for those who want a longer slot experience or a faster-paced game with more volatility and higher rewards.

“When players enter a casino, they have a pretty good idea about the kind of game they want to play, but nobody is able to tell a player how to find a game that they like,” Acres said.

Some players, Acres added, don’t really know what they want until they see it.

The Talo machine would gauge what pace a player likes and gear the game toward his desire.

“It’s kind of like Amazon,” Acres said. “It’s saying, ‘If you like this, you may also like this.’ ”

But he stopped short of saying the machine could think.

Asked whether a personalized gaming program could potentially alter slot pay tables, Acres said a machine can pay a player in many ways — quickly or slowly — and still maintain a programmed payback percentage.

Acres, founder of Acres Gaming, is widely credited with inventing the modern slot machine player tracking system. He also founded the Gaming Standards Association and has invented a line of bicycles.

Acres was the co-founder of Mikohn Inc., now Progressive Gaming International, and at Acres Gaming, the company specialized in developing concepts and technologies related to bonuses and player tracking on machines manufactured by Anchor Gaming, International Game Technology, Bally and Aristocrat.

The commission’s approval licenses Talo as a manufacturer and distributor.

In other business, the commission approved an order of registration for BH/RE LLC, operators of Planet Hollywood, which gave commissioners the opportunity to ask about the property’s new Westgate tower, which will be completed next month and opens in November.

The 50-story, 1,200-unit tower was built as a time-share property, but will serve as overflow accommodations for the hotel. The tower, which won’t have a casino, will provide 800 jobs.

Commissioners also approved several licenses for key executives, employees and directors. Winning unanimous approval were Michael Neubecker, chief financial officer of MGM Grand; Anton Nikodemus, president and chief operating officer of Monte Carlo; Ike Epstein, president and director of El Cortez; Derek Stevens, CEO of Golden Gate; Steven Driscoll, general manager of Gold Spike; Mickey Caley, general manager of Poker Palace; Phillip Simons, chief financial officer of Riviera; and Terrence Downey, general manager of Palace Station.