Video Slots vs. Traditional Reel Machines
Years back, we enjoyed playing the (small number of) "The Price Is Right" video slots. It seemed that they were all being played 90% of the time, and we even had to wait at times for one to become free. Then, on a return trip, they were gone. And yet, banks and banks of traditional 3-reel mechanical slots, such as "Haywire" or "Red-White-Blue 7s", with nearly no one playing on them, remain month after month after month.
Granted, I know new video slots are constantly being developed, and the older ones are being cycled out, but why replace the popular video slots when the not-so-popular mech slots are figuratively collecting dust?
Quote: DweenMy wife and I play at two casino riverboats in Indiana, and we are puzzled at the removal of what seem to be popular video slot machines.
Years back, we enjoyed playing the (small number of) "The Price Is Right" video slots. It seemed that they were all being played 90% of the time, and we even had to wait at times for one to become free. Then, on a return trip, they were gone. And yet, banks and banks of traditional 3-reel mechanical slots, such as "Haywire" or "Red-White-Blue 7s", with nearly no one playing on them, remain month after month after month.
Granted, I know new video slots are constantly being developed, and the older ones are being cycled out, but why replace the popular video slots when the not-so-popular mech slots are figuratively collecting dust?
One reason may be that casinos might not be able to buy but must lease them. So even with low play the reel slots might be more profitable if TPIR machine must give up a greater % to the vendor.
Yeah, I realize they should have been able to change the paytable in that case, but who knows?
Quote: Dweenwhy replace the popular video slots when the not-so-popular mech slots are figuratively collecting dust?
More than likely the machine is one of the models that IGT makes available only on a profit sharing basis. Wheel of Fortune is probably the best known machine that is only available for profit sharing. I believe that most of the machines that are networked to other casinos (like Megabucks) are leased to the casino. All profit sharing machines are very popular, but many of the casino corporations no longer want to share their revenue, and prefer to purchase less popular models that they can own outright such as "Haywire" or "Red-White-Blue 7s".
Virtually every machine comes with 5 or 6 chip sets that change the payout probabilities. Upgrading or downgrading the machine is not that a simple matter of opening the machine and changing the board and notifying the casino control board.
