What's next for ShuffleMaster's "Rapid" line?

While I was writing my Rapid Craps review, I was also thinking about my Rapid Roulette review from a few months back.

Of course, I also started thinking about the whole 'Rapid' line, and was wondering what ShuffleMaster's concept is and what the next Rapid game might be.

"Rapid" refers to more than just the instant payout.

Both of these Rapid games attempt to speed up the most time consuming aspects of the game.

Both also give the player full access to the entire betting area. Rapid Roulette succeeds because players can place the same type of bets all over a traditional Roulette table, but often cannot reach some areas. Rapid Craps fails because there are too many differing bets, many of which are easier to make at a live table, with what a novice would call a foreign language.


The other things both of these games have in common is the desire to retain a live dealer, and that all players wager on the same outcome. Games where players wager on individual outcomes gain nothing unless the dealer is eliminated, and are better automated by TableMaster machines.


So what could ShuffleMaster's next Rapid game be?

Rapid Baccarat!

Baccarat's problem that needs to be eliminated is the very time consuming record keeping most players do. If that can be accomplished, it will attract players that, like myself, won't play it because the note taking makes the game too damn slow.

So how do you get players to stop taking notes? Stop providing notepads, and take the notes for them!

Have players use terminals which will record the bets, outcomes, even do some instant session analysis, and this is the key: print the data from the player's session on demand, and email it to the player at the end of the session as an Excel document.


For what it's worth, I realize that this is a huge idea, but I don't see how to patent it or make money off it myself. So I freely put this idea out there, and hope that ShuffleMaster, or someone, runs with it. After all, I'd like to play Baccarat at a table that won't put me to sleep!

Id think that Shufflemaster would already be considering something like this with the developments in shuffler technology they have.

As to getting rid of the dealer, I think the reason the dealer is retained in the Rapid franchise, (not that I fear for my job or anything) is that some people just dont trust machines. There are some people that like the social interaction with dealers. I dont think the human element will ever be completely eradicted from casinos, but I do think our role will end up a lot smaller.

Hi DJTeddyBear,

Rapid Baccarat!
is no a new idea.

Novo TouchBet® Live-Baccarat
Novo TouchBet® Live-Baccarat introduces players to all the action of live dealt Mini-Baccarat.
Like the traditional game, a live dealer draws cards on a standard table where the cards are recognized and their values broadcast securely, in real-time, using Value Verification technology. All bets are placed using networked terminals offering comfortable and fast game play.

Novo TouchBet® Live-Blackjack
Novo TouchBet® Live-Blackjack allows a casino to deliver a single hand of Parallel Blackjack simultaneously to terminal based players.
It uses a live dealer drawing real cards which are recognized and their values broadcast securely, in real-time, using Value Verification technology.
Multiple players can all play independently of each other against the dealer but at an incremental game speed. Bets are placed using networked terminals offering comfortable and fast game play.

Quote: Croupier

As to getting rid of the dealer, I think the reason the dealer is retained in the Rapid franchise, (not that I fear for my job or anything) is that some people just dont trust machines.

That's part of it. The other part is simply entering the results. That's fiendishly difficult to automate in craps, but easy as pie in roulette. In roulette you can either place a sensor on each number, so the system can tell where the ball landed, or you can use a videocamera to capture the result visually (or both). A computer with a camera and the right program could read dice results easily, but covering the whole table is hard and likely requires several cameras. The easiest way would be for someone to to drag the dice to a spot where the system could read them. but if you're doing that you may as well leave a dealer and sell a cheaper, less complicated system.

The other reason is without a dealer you'd need more expensive and expansive machinery to pay off in chips, assuming regulations even let you do that. It would be cheaper to pay in tickets, and take in money through a bill slot just like slot mahcines. I suppose doing so would get teh Rapid games classed as slot machines rather than table games. Which might actually be a plus in some jurisdictions.

Rapid Craps MUST use a dealer.

There's no way other than to use a dealer to prevent a dice switch.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Rapid Craps MUST use a dealer.

There's no way other than to use a dealer to prevent a dice switch.

Did you see Rock and Roll Dice at the Wynn? The Wizard reviewed the game here and on his other site. The dice sit under an acrylic dome and they jump when the dealer puches a bitton. Rapid craps could use a similar system, with the button being puched by a player, and completely automate the whole table. But if you can't roll the dice it's not craps anymore, but rather a dice game.

Perhaps I should rephrase....

Without a dealer, there's no way to prevent a switch, if you're allowing the player to handle and throw the dice in the traditional manner.


FYI: I did NOT see R&R Dice. Then again, I forgot to look for it.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Without a dealer, there's no way to prevent a switch, if you're allowing the player to handle and throw the dice in the traditional manner.


FYI: I did NOT see R&R Dice. Then again, I forgot to look for it.

I wasn't arguing, just posing a means of getting rid of the dealer. But I agree that, as it is now, Rapid Craps needs a dealer. he can also help answer questions about the terminal. Which reminds me I think he also sets the timer running to close betting.

As for R&R Dice, for some reason I thought it was at the Bellagio and I looked there. Naturally I didn't find it, but I thought maybe they'd removed it. Later I found it by chance on the Wynn's casino. I blew $30 on it, too, which was stupid, but at least it was money I'd won using freeplay at DW.

How about Rapid Bingo?

Quote: Nareed

I wasn't arguing....

I didn't think you were, but felt like clarifying anyway.

Quote: Nareed

How about Rapid Bingo?

It's already out there. Not under the 'Rapid' name, but it's there.

Unless I'm mistaken, Foxwoods has the world's largest bingo hall. If you're inside, it's hard to argue. Particularly, since the big room is only one of THREE rooms.

Granted the other rooms are much smaller.

Anyway, the small rooms have terminals for bingo where you buy the cards, and the machine plays it out for you.

Unfortunately, it's not rapid. It plays along at the same time as people with dotters in the main room.

So what do you do while the machine is playing your cards? Slots of course! Every station in that room has a bingo terminal next to a slot machine along with a little desktop space.

And they've recently taken it to the next level.

If you're in the main room, you can rent a device that looks like an iPad, that plays bingo for you even in the main room. This allows the player to play some cards manually, and some electronically, at the same time.


Mind you that a big part of the fun of bingo, besides winning, is waiting - knowing you only need one or two numbers. The electronic versions feed into this emotion by displaying the card that's closest to winning.


Before you ask, I will only play bingo the traditional way, only at Foxwoods, and only if I want to kill a few hours gambling cheaply. I HATE local church bingo...

On the Vegas Strip than outside of these games:
TWENTY-ONE
CRAPS
ROULETTE
3-CARD POKER
BACCARAT
RACE & SPORTS

the rest of them add up to only 8-9% of the total table game revenue. Obviously 3-card-poker is of special interest to Shufflemaster since they own the rights to the game.

Rather than expand the RAPIDS line into much more obscure games, I think they will concentrate on how to play these games using personal digital devices outside of a casino. Can you simulate Craps with a bunch of people with Apple Ipad's (with one person being the person who throws the dice)?

If the Gaming Comission is letting people bet on Sports outside of casinos using blackberry's, then the other games will eventually follow. It's just a question if you can create some excitement with four guys sitting at a diner.

Keep in mind that mini and midi baccarat have not enjoyed the same boost as full size baccarat. I think the attraction of that game is all about ambience and bending and folding the cards. It isn't as easy to capture that as an electronic game.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

It's already out there. Not under the 'Rapid' name, but it's there.

I'm afraid that was a quick "let's get back on topic" line.

Quote:

Before you ask, I will only play bingo the traditional way, only at Foxwoods, and only if I want to kill a few hours gambling cheaply. I HATE local church bingo...

I've never played Bingo at a casino. All my experience is the church-type (in my case synagogue), school, summer camp variety. That's typically played with permanent cards you can't mark, and for prizes rather than for money (I won a Rubik's Cube at summer camp in Canada back in 82....) Also the idea was to try for a different pattern on each round (lines, crosses, T's, etc) the last one witht he big prize always being the full card.

Quote: pacomartin

Obviously 3-card-poker is of special interest to Shufflemaster since they own the rights to the game.

I wouldn't mind a faster, Rapid if you will, kind of three card poker. For starters the automatic shuffler could be told how many people are at the table, so it won't waste time dealing cards for non-existent players. Waiting for that when you're alone at the table can wear on your nerves. Of course, they could do the same thing using a multiple-deck shoe...