Slot Machines For the Younger Player
For years slot machines were relatively simple affairs. Slots are random games of chance and players don’t need to know any gambling strategy to play. All players had to do was pull a lever or push a button and sit back and wait for the results. Players had no influence over the outcome of any slot game. Most slot machines are powered by random number generators. (RNG) The creation of RBG’s on the early 70’s made the first video poker games possible and paved the way for the development of today’s five reel slot machines with multiple paylines. Now slot games are undergoing a generational shift.
A new class of slot games targeting younger players has added something extra; the element of skill. Young players grew up playing video games and are not likely to be attracted to games without the element of skill. Some game manufacturers have added the element of hand eye coordination to boost the appeal of slot machines to young players. Early video games such as space invaders and centipede required a high degree of hand eye coordination. Some game manufacturers have added devices that give players an extra payoff for dexterity and others have developed communal slot games that link several machines. The new games have been a big hit with players under 40.
Slot machines with joysticks have made their appearance at many casinos. Some new slots will allow players to play in tandem or compete against each other. The new slots bear a close resemblance to many internet games. Gambling industry surveys show that players in the 21 to 40 range have fewer moral qualms about gambling than baby boomers. Young people routinely head to Las Vegas and other gaming hotspots. The industry has noticed one major problem with younger players; they tend to spend much less time gambling and more time partying. George Maloof Jr., president of the Palms Casino Resort, told the New York Times “Younger players come to town to party. They drink, they go to nightclubs, they go to the after-hours clubs, they check out the pool for the scene there. Gambling in general is not high on their agenda.”
For Las Vegas resorts gambling still pays the bills especially slots. Slots generate three quarter of the $60 billion in gambling revenue generated by American casinos. Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the demand for new slots to bring in new players. Frank Legato, managing editor of Global Gaming Business, stated “With all the growth going on, every casino has to bring in new players or we’ll see a drop in everyone’s market share. It’s critical to keep bringing new players into casinos rather than recycle those who are already there.”
Slot technology is constantly changing and the desire to attract a new generation of slot players has prompted game manufacturers to launch a new generation of interactive slot games both online and offline.
