Cherry Dribblers or Cherry Bombs?

I just wrapped up G2E Day 3, and after all is said and done, one thing (other then the impending doom that is Server Based Gaming) is sticking in my craw.

Yesterday, I was discussing the Williams (WMS -- but I've learned most people refer to the company as "Williams") Transmissive Video Reels "Monopoly Super Money Grab" game with one of their representatives.

If you've read my former posts, than you'll know I am not a fan of these machines that Williams introduced with much hoopla, and online enticements.

I should know better than to offer my opinion as a humble player to industry insiders, but I just don't friggin' give a sh*t -- if it wasn't for us, these jokers wouldn't have a job. There I said it.

I said something to the effect that the "Money Grab" machines weren't performing up to expectations, (I base this on my own experiences, and that a bank of the machines at Red Rock have already been replaced with the newer model "John Wayne" machines only after a few months, while "Monopoly Grand Hotel" machines introduced around the same time and located on the other side of the bank are still always occupied and quite popular.) and the Williams guy insisted they were doing great. He backed this up with a comment about seeing the numbers, and knowing for a fact that they were performing quite well. I replied that I couldn't argue with the numbers, but that as a player I just couldn't win on them, didn't like the gimmick and was quickly turned off. That's when he said "Well, they are VOLATILE machines!"

VOLATILE -- a word I had never heard used to describe a slot machine.

In general, to me -- a Junior College Dropout -- but a person who prides themselves on a better than average grasp of English vocabulary, volatile means unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts.

So what exactly, is a volatile slot machine? My guess before doing the perfunctory internet research was one that may be frustrating in the short term, but after a prolonged investment may pay off in spades.

Last week I drove past Silverton Casino and noticed their video billboard advertised a lucky player who won the "Super Money Grab" progressive to the tune of $600 + thousand dollars.

I rarely bet the max to qualify for the progressive, or invest more than a couple of $20 bills in any one machine (unless of course I'm drunk, pms-ing, or "Life of Luxury Far East Fortunes" is involved.)

Still I connected the dots, the "Super Money Grab" machine is not a "cherry dribbler" burping out small wins to suck the gambler in, but perhaps a "cherry bomb" a machine that promises and is programmed for the big win.

Check out this article from the New York Times (2004) by Gary Rivlin entitled "The Tug of the Newfangled Slot Machines" http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EED8133DF93AA35756C0A9629C8B63 for a fascinating look inside the mind of chief IGT game designer Anthony Baerlocher. At more than 3 years old, it is rather outdated, but still gives a great background on the developmental process of a themed slot machine.

A few more google searches and I learned that slot machines had VOLATILITY INDEXES. I'm surprised this is a term I had never encountered before, perhaps the ole slot jock needs a little remedial education in Slots 101. According to "Strictly Slots" http://www.strictlyslots.com/archive/9908ss/html/understandingslot.html the Volatility Index " is a number that casino managers use to determine whether or not the results (i.e. a machine’s hold percentage) are in line with expectations, or whether something is wrong and needs investigating." It involves mathematical equations too advanced for my brain to wrap around, but the concept is simple enough.

It makes sense that if "Super Money Grab" is a volatile progressive machine, it wouldn't begin to approach it's expected payouts for quite some time. There goes the myth that new machines pay out better than old ones. From now on I will play new machines with more care.

So, gentle reader, the word of the day is VOLATILE -- not just as it applied to your ex-husband, wife, or significant other, but how it applies to something much more near and dear to your heart -- your slot machine.

Go in peace, and Good Luck!

Brave New World - the Eye in the Sky Inches Closer

Big Brother is watching, and as a slot player your paranoia is completely founded in fact.

As if the ubiquitous "Eye in the Sky" wasn't bad enough, and your Slot Club card didn't give the house free rein to track your every move, desire, and weakness -- along comes -- ominous "dum dum dum" music please -- the dreaded SERVER BASED GAMING.

On the second day of the Global Gaming Expo, I learned a little bit of information, that I found to be scariest of all -- brace yourself -- Server based slot machines will be indistiguishable from the traditional one armed bandits you have come to know and love/hate.

If you're not up to date on what Server Based gaming is, let me give you a couple of things to chew on.

First my simplified explanation -- Server Based gaming allows the house to change any machine at any time -- the cabinet is essentially a monitor or video screen, and the game is controlled by a centralized server (computer). The game itself, its odds, its bonus rounds, paylines, and your information via your slot card are all immediately accessible and rateable and/or changeable by the house.

Scary, I know. But, if you don't trust my paranoid knee-jerk response to this marvel of modern technology, read on . . .

The Las Vegas Review Journal covers the subject thusly - http://www.lvrj.com/business/11232241.html in an article entitled cheerily enough "Wave Hello to Tomorrow" in which they write --

"Conceivably, downloadable gaming would allow casino managers to change a slot machine's games, denominations, bonus payouts and promotions from a central computer server rather than requiring technicians to perform the work manually. In some forms, the server-based systems would allow customers to change out their games themselves.

Most slot machine company executives admit server-based gaming systems, being tested in several markets, are still a year or so away from the slot floor."

A WMS guy I talked to today said the machines could be 18 months away from the casino floor, and I didn't press the point, but I'm guessing local gaming regulation boards may have something to do with the delay.

If you still have questions, and certainly I do, why not get some answers straight from the horse's mouth? -- here is a link to IGT's promotion I will call "Everything you wanted to know about Server Based Gaming, but were afraid to ask." (it is an Adobe file.) http://media.igt.com/marketing/PromotionalLiterature/SlotLine_sb.pdf

Whoever wrote this piece entitled "A Brave New World" should have been reminded that Adolf Huxley described his novel as a "negative Utopia" or to paraphrase -- a cautionary tale.

Big Brother is watching, and his yearn to control our every move and thought inches closer and closer every time we enter a casino.

As I was mulling all this over, it occurred to me that server based machines must have standardized cabinets. That's when it hit me -- no more character based 3-D sculptures hovering over your head like Elvis, the Beverly Hillbillies, Spam Cans, the Addams Family, or Arnold the Pig from Green Acres. Are not even our beloved pop culture icons sacred?

Much like the eleborate visual themes and neon that are being wiped from the Las Vegas strip and replaced by giant video screens, the slot machines themselves will be whitewashed, or more appropriately chrome washed, mere shells -- one just like the other for the powers that be to project their chosen games upon.

This is the future of gaming -- a Brave New World, where the house controls your play in ways you never thought possible, and you are not a name, but a number -- Don't believe me? Look -- it's right there, on your slot card.

Global Gaming Expo - Day 1

If you haven't gleaned from my previous posts, the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E is the premiere trade show event for the GAMING industry. That's gaming, NOT gambling, mind you.

The American Gaming Association is quick to assert that Gaming is entertainment, and gambling, well, that has connotations of high risk and ruined lives.

A rose by any other name still smells as sweet, and the fortunes made by the house are sweet indeed. The thorny issue of problem gambling, (note that when "gaming" stops being fun, it becomes "gambling" and therefore a problem -- I say, it is only a problem when I'm losing!) is a PR issue the mighty AGA is only too eager to tackle.

But enough about that, what about the new SLOT MACHINES!!!

Before I headed into the main exhibit hall, I picked up my badge and enjoyed the F&B (Food and Beverage) exhibits. As I mentioned in earlier posts, trade shows are all about the freebies, and G2E certainly does not disappoint.

I stuck with mini roast beef deli sandwiches, hot dogs, a nice merlot and beer. There were plenty of more gourmet inspired options, but sometimes simple is best.

With my strength and spirits rising I headed into the big hall and the WMS and IGT pavilions. I was instantly overwhelmed.

I naturally gravitated toward WMS and looked over a new version of the "Life of Luxury Progressive." A lovely young lady in a very little black dress was happy to show me the bonus round. Of course I was more than familiar with the Life of Luxury free spins, but she couldn't figure out how to queue up the bonus round unique to the machine. No matter, we went around to the other side and she demonstrated the new "Happy Days" Machine for me. She was very pleasant considering she had been standing on very high heels for a very long time, and I thanked her and moved over to the new Clint Eastwood "Make my Day" machine.

"Dirty Harry" and the Sensory Immersion (basically a Bose stereo chair that vibrates) technology is a match made in slot machine heaven. Similar to "Top Gun" in it's macho appeal, the shoot 'em up car chase through the streets of San Francisco in the bonus round, takes the marriage of slots and video games to a logical and exhilarating match. Oh, and I just love Clint.

While trying it out I got to talking to one of the audio techno guys responsible for the creation, and he was quite charming, and only a little bit nerdy. I told him of the popularity of "Wizard of Oz" over "Top Gun" and he offered that "Top Gun" was rather aggressive and testosterone driven, while the "Wizard" was a softer approach. Well, Glinda the Good Witch is all well and good, but Flying Monkeys, and Wicked Witches are only slightly softer than F-14s in my book, still I understood his line. I asked him who did the voices for Clint and John Wayne, and he told me that they had guys they used that were approved by Mr. Eastwood and the Wayne family.

So there you have it. That is not Clint Eastwood making your day, but an approved impersonator, or perhaps "Tribute Artist" as they like to be called.

I couldn't tarry long with Clint, as there were a slew of other new machines waiting to be discovered. I quickly checked out "Harlem Globetrotters" similar to "Dukes of Hazzard" in line configuration and the new "Rotating Wild" machines.

I found myself at the "Slot Machine University" kiosk in the WMS booth, and cut right to the chase with the attendants. I asked them about the function of the RNG in bonus rounds. They both admitted that they had asked the same question themselves and had never gotten a straight answer. I then asked them where the party was. Like I said, time was a'wastin' and I had a whole exhibit hall of new machines to conquer. They offered that the parties were at the House of Blues and Tangerine, but they were ticketed affairs. These dudes didn't seem to have access to tickets, so I thanked them and moved on.

The largest display in the IGT booth was the "eBay" themed machines, and a new version of "Star Wars" -- that's right, I said "eBay" -- if monopolizing online auctions wasn't enough eBay wants access to your wallet on the casino floor as well. I am very active on eBay, but honestly the concept just does not translate into a slot machine. I was quickly bored with the look, and that whole "Community Gaming" thing, similar to the "Monopoly" and "Press Your Luck" machines by WMS.

It was nearing 5pm, so I fanned out over the floor to take in the offerings of Atronic, Bally, and other lesser slot machines companies. I grabbed a beer from the roving cocktail servers and walked the aisles. Nothing really jumped out at me, and I decided to call it a day.

As I was headed toward the Hilton skywalk, the "Gaming Hall of Fame" booth caught my eye. It had an affiliation with UNLV, and featured luminaries such as Frank Sinatra and Merv Griffin alongside lions of the industry. http://www.americangaming.org/halloffame/past_inductees.cfm

Basically, a two dimensional (the panels of the booth featured photos and bios of select inductees) representation, a real live human did stand in the middle, so I asked him about the display.

On thing led to the other, and I asked him if he knew that UNLV gaming research guy, what was his name? Um, Schwartz . . . David Schwartz? He said "I am David Schwartz," in a polite and unassuming way that made me laugh, and not feel the least bit embarrassed.

I'll let the good Doctor Schwartz's (he's a PhD) accomplishments and endeavors speak for themselves through his website "The Die is Cast" http://www.dieiscast.com/

Peruse his site, and his insight, he's written three books on gambling and casinos, and is the director of UNLV Gaming Research Center.

I especially like his gallery of casino carpets, that's just the sort of quirky visually detailed kind of stuff I thrive on.

Even though I would consider Schwartz a sort of "Rock Star" at the crossroads where academia and casinos meet (yes, I think there is such a place, and we can thank folks like Schwartz for it) he appears to be an affable, down to earth guy.

If ever I can tear myself away from the slots, I'll be sure to read his books . . . I've been meaning to, but like Bette Davis says in "All About Eve" I'm a girl who "reads book reviews like they were books!" I'm sure Schwartz's offerings are probably perfect for a lazy afternoon by the casino pool. They have been on my radar screen for quite some time, I need to start zooming in.

I walked through the Hilton, to get to my car, updated my slot club info, and played the "Gold Lame" penny Elvis slots. Shockingly, I hit a couple of bonus rounds, left $20 up, and cruised down the strip to Mandalay Bay.

The party at the House of Blues seemed difficult to sneak into, so I played a little "Monopoly Super Grand Hotel" drove to Silverton for a free buffet, and rounded out my evening by picking up my free turkey platter at South Point.

Now I'm off for G2E - Day 2!

The FINAL Frontier, A True Classic Makes Space for Progress

If space is the final frontier, then the Last Frontier met a fitting if somewhat ironic destiny, making space for new casino resort complex on the Strip.

I call it the "Last Frontier" because that is how it began life in 1942. Through the years it's name would be changed to "the New Frontier," "the Frontier" and back to "the New Frontier" illustrating a time when established brands were respected in Las Vegas, and successful names could be tweeked, but not destroyed.

The Frontier, as I will call it for simplification, was so old that it's history was somewhat maligned in it's final days. The press got it wrong, mostly. A local news anchor reported that the hotel tower from the 1940's was to be imploded. The tower was built in 1990. T-shirts sported by employees said "The New Frontier -- 1965 - 2007." 1965 was the year Howard Hughes dropped the "New" from the name.

I won't bore you with all the details about the history of the property. Leavinglv.net http://www.leavinglv.net/frontier.html has done a great job covering the closing and implosion, so check out all they have to offer.

Some of my favorite stories about the Frontier involve it's birth, and the rivallry between Thomas Hull and R.E. Griffith. Hull opened the El Rancho Vegas in 1941, the very first Casino/Hotel (actually more like a Motel)/Resort and is usually credited with creating the strip -- that is when Bugsy Siegel is not being improperly celebrated for the honor.

R.E. Griffith, brother of movie mogul D.W. Griffith also had his eyes on the strip and already had a string of hotels called "El Rancho."

It was a veritable Western themed shootout to see who could wrangle the rights for the RANCH.

Griffith was injured, when the El Rancho Vegas opened first, but he wasn't dead yet. He opened "The Last Frontier" the next year in 1942, and did his darndest to out-dude ranch his neighbor.

"The Old West in Modern Splendor" became the slogan for the Last Frontier, and the marriage of the past and the present suited the outskirts of Las Vegas just fine.

Jump ahead 65 years, and it seems the more things change, the more things stay the same. An old chapter closes in Las Vegas, and new one opens -- or it will anyway, but first things first -- there is a building to implode!

I cruised on down to the strip, heading east on Charleston. Las Vegas in the wee small hours is fairly easy to navigate, the traffic is light, and the lights are dazzling. I made a right on Las Vegas Blvd. and made it as far as the Riviera where police were diverting traffic.

I figured the top of the Riviera parking lot was as good a place as any to view the event as any, and joined a small crowd that had already gathered. It was T-30, a brisk Vegas November night, and the few beers I had consumed earlier had wore off my brain, but not my bladder. I headed into the Riviera for a bathroom break.

I next decided to head out onto the street and got swept up in the crowd headed south down the boulevard. You should never miss the opportunity to walk in the middle of a normally busy avenue, even if it is blocked off and perfectly safe to do so.

Unfortunately, I had left my video camera in the car, but there was not enough time to return, and the prospect of better viewing and the chill in the air kept me walking toward the intended target. I found a good spot at around T-10, and waited, my ears enjoying the banter of the crowd, and my eyes planted on the darkened Frontier.

A spectacular fireworks display soon began, with pyrotechnics dancing off the doomed hotel tower and bursting in air. Frankly, It was one of the best displays I had ever seen and I loved every minute. What I didn't know was that the real show was one the west side of the tower, out of my view.

I would learn the next day that a fiery countdown and intonation plunger was employed as part of the extravaganza on the other side of the tower, as a wonderful prelude to destruction.

Still, what we didn't know did not dampen our spirits, as we waited with baited breath for the money shot.

The dynamite went boom, boom, boom (and maybe more) and the building went down with grace and gusto. It was a beautiful and terrible thing.

My favorite comment from a reveler was "That is what you get for taking all my money!!!"

And it is all about money, after all.

G2E Kick-Off Party, New Frontier Implosion, and John Wayne Slots, Oh My!

Yep, Last night sure was a busy one for the ole slot jock. It kicked off at the Rio where the opening reception for the Global Gaming Expo transpired pool-side.

The throngs of gaming insiders were out in force, and to alleviate the crowd at the entrance, I decided to spend some time wandering around the Rio, a property I haven't visited in quite some time.

I believe last time I was there, I had been comped a couple of nights (it was August monsoon season) and the weather outside was frightful. The storm was so bad (I used to live in Tennessee - I KNOW a bad storm when I see one) I couldn't venture across the street to the Gold Coast to gamble. The Coast Casinos are a much more reasonable choice than Harrah's slightly more upscale all-suites Rio property, for this low roller.

WMS' "Kaboom" and "All That Glitters" were new at the time, and I ended up losing $500 in the nickel versions at the Rio. So much for the free room. At the time that was the most money I had ever lost in such a short time, and later back in my room, I suffered my first panic attack.

I was able to finally calm myself down, though I was tempted to call the paramedics -- I stopped by imagining the ensuing hassle. Since then I have witnessed other people suffer similar attacks in Vegas, and once in front of me on a plane leaving Vegas. I've learned difficulty breathing, elevated heart rate, and generally just physically and mentally freaking out does not necessarily mean you are dying, especially in Sin City.

Suffice it to say, I now avoid the Rio and other Harrah's properties, and yes, I do blame the tight slots for causing my discomfort.

All that didn't keep me from updating my information at the slots club, because I am ALWAYS willing to prove myself wrong when it comes to slots, properties, and slot clubs.

I'm a whore, I admit it.

I proceeded to lose $30 playing that "Jackpot Party" progressive machine, "Super Jackpot Party", and "It Came from Planet Moolah."

My worse fears were confirmed, AND Harrah's gave me no sort of compensation for updated my account (they didn't ask for my new email -- so that's more points against them, I think the only reason I got the free rooms was that I was receiving enticements meant for a high roller out of New Jersey with a very similar email address to mine.)

Rio has updated the Carnivale float parade in the sky thingy, and generally tried to sex-up the whole party on the casino floor, with elevated sexy (both male and female -- Chippendales is a big draw for them -- also "sexy" is a relative term here, I thought the girl I watched had several figure flaws, thick unshapely legs being one, but the guys oogling her didn't seem to mind.) dancers and a new bar area. They still throw beads from above and a necklace or two hit me rather hard on the knee, before a couple of delighted kids scooped them up. Apparently the "bring the family" and "Adult playground" Vegas concepts can co-exist on the casino floor, even if the grown-ups leering at scantily clad male and female dancers in the presence of the rug rats, gives it a sort of "icky" feel.

On to the party . . . it was crowded and dark by the pool, with a sort of Hollywood red carpet theme tied into the event. By the time I got there most of the food was gone, but the pasta station was still operating, even if the Caesar salad and anti-pasta station was decimated.

I suppose networking is a goal to some at these industry functions, but for most I suspect it is free food and drink judging by the mania surrounding the buffet and the bars. The Gaming guys and gals are just like anybody else. I worked in the trade show business for years making graphics and signage, and we had a saying -- "It'll be dark, and they'll be drunk." It was, and they were.

The highlight of the event was the chance to win "up to" a Million dollars in a pirate themed, "Deal or No Deal" type promotion. I gladly filled out an entry to the drawing, and waited for the festivities to begin.

My name was not drawn, but it was fun watching the lucky participants chose treasure chests, with an attractive older lady named Jean win the chance to pick suitcases, and be subjected to taunts, temptation and the dreaded banker.

Jean was one pretty smart cookie, and when faced with a difficult decision took her $7,000 and ran. As far as I could tell, the game was run a company that stages these promotions for casinos, and this was their way of hawking their services.

All and all, it was fun, and the closest thing I would compare it to is the "Pumpkin Patch" promotion at the South Point in October which I totally fell for, gambling there to earn entries to the drawing.

After the party, I headed for my usual haunt Red Rock to take advantage of 7X and 4X points. That's right, I think I got 11X points. I couldn't completely understand what the Points Promotion card swipe kiosks were telling me, but even if it was only 7X points, that's the best point multiplier I've ever received.

I played "Wizard of Oz," and actually got ahead a twenty, then headed for "Lucky Meerkats" and "Goosin' Around" and lost my lead. I played an old favorite, "Love Boat" and even a few rounds with my nemesis "Life of Luxury Progressive."

It was getting late, and I was heading out the door, when what did I see before me? Eureka, I found it! A new slot machine, and John Wayne, to boot!

The Duke himself, right there, in Transmissive Reels Technology!!! Finally, those much ballyhooed, but disappointing Monopoly machines were being replaced.

I happily sat down for a session with the Waynester, and I don't mean Newton.

I dropped $5 and didn't get much results. The transmissive video features highlights of John Wayne's iconic career -- I could discern bits of "the Green Berets," "True Grit," and other assorted westerns. The mechanical reels spin and a progressive is tied in. Much like "Life of Luxury" your chances of winning the progressive increased with your bet. I believe the progressive stars pop up in the free spin bonus round triggered on the first and fifth reels.

The woman sitting next to me wasn't having much luck and neither was I. I commented that I wondered where they got John Wayne's voice, as he has long since left this earth. She replied "Maybe from his old movies." I found this quite amusing, as I don't think John Wayne ever said "You got five of a kind pilgrim!" onscreen.

I put in another twenty, 'cuz it was John Wayne, and a new machine, AND I'm a degenerate gambler. I hit the bonus round and the progressive for around $35 bucks. My work was done. Even though I don't care for WMS' Transmissive video reels, I couldn't knock John Wayne, and I will play the machine again.

It was getting late, and I had an important decision to make -- Do I go to the implosion of the New Frontier at 2:30 a.m.? I was tired, but I had attended the final night at the historic resort, and the auction, and I had never seen a Las Vegas implosion. It kinda seems like a no-brainer, but I do like my sleep, and I figured the press would do a fine job covering it.

As I was walking out of Red Rock, I asked a bedraggled looking skinny biker dude if he was going to the implosion. He said he was, and I said I wasn't sure I would. He summed it up with "Well, it's something to do . . . " one of my favorite quotes from "Cool Hand Luke." How could I argue with that? It was indeed something to do. And so I did.

New Machine MANIA!

There is nothing more exciting for the Slot Blog (other than winning big, but that is such a rare occurrence it is hardly worth mentioning) than new slot machines on the casino floor.

When they are elaborately themed WMS models the excitement really builds.

That is the case with WMS' "Wizard of Oz" machines at Red Rock Casino.

Apparently the machines are so new that they are not even listed on the WMS website. I'm not sure why that is the case, but no matter. The machines are such a big hit, that players stand sometimes two or three deep and stalk the carousel, so that they might get a shot.

It began a few weeks ago, when Red Rock switched out two of the Top Gun machines to Wizard of Oz. The general slot playing public didn't catch on immediately and I was able to sit down and play for about an hour.

I got a good "Emerald City" bonus and picked up Dorothy as I headed down the Yellow Brick Road. When I got to Emerald City the wizard granted me the highest credit in Dorothy's cache - 1500 on the penny machine.

I figured every bonus would be pretty good, based on that experience, soon to learn I was wrong. I haven't had a bonus like that since, instead usually choosing a credit amount, or sometimes the "Flying Monkey" bonus instead of the "Emerald City" bonus.

On one occasion I was able to choose the "Emerald City" but got very little, crapping out almost immediately and not getting past the Wizard's gates.

The Wizard of Oz machines use the same "Sensory Immersion" technology as Top Gun, meaning the Bose stereo system imbedded in the chair uses sound and vibrations to add to the experience.

Randomly "Glinda the Good Witch" floats through to turn reels wild, similar to the Fly By bonus of Top Gun.

It didn't take long for the throngs at Red Rock to discover the new machine, and soon the phenomenon of "nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd" took hold.

Red Rock responded by switching out the last two Top Gun machines to Wizard of Oz, but they could (and perhaps should) go farther and add more, judging from the popularity of the new machines.

How long will it take for the novelty to wear off? I was able to play the machine the other day as the crowds are beginning to thin.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, the shelf life of slot machines, is becoming shorter and shorter. WMS seems to know this better than anyone, and is not shy about constantly introducing new machines at an alarming clip.

This last week WMS "Goosin' Around" and "Lucky Meerkats" also appeared at Red Rock, usurping a favorite machine of mine "Jewels of the The Night" another WMS machine that has yet to appear on its website.

I need to go into another Station Casino to see if they are spreading them around town, but it doesn't hurt that the closest casino to my domecile is their latest and greatest Red Rock. . . which leads me to another post -- a Station Casino promotion that I actually like!

GGE is Coming, GGE is Coming!

That's the Global Gaming Expo, coming to Las Vegas, TOMORROW!!!

Yep, I'm excited! By why not? I get to hang out in the Slot machine companies' booths and play all the new machines on free play, and try to get invited to their blow-out parties.

I'm guessing the hot party this year will be the one James Gandolfini might attend, promoting the new SOPRANOS themed machine by Aristocrat.

They are already on the floor at Silverton Casino, and honestly like most Aristocrat products, didn't seem to interest me.

I'll blog more at the Global Gaming Expo later, but I see a good opportunity while I'm enthused to segueway into . . .

NEW MACHINE MANIA!