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Las Vegas Gambling Trends Change Faces With New Generation

Slot Machine

New skill-based games could be the future of the Las Vegas Strip.

Back in the good ole days, a typical visitor to Las Vegas might spend all day at a slot machine, take a break for dinner and a show, and then spend the rest of his night back at the slot machines.

We now know that’s not quite the way it works anymore – as evidenced by the influx of high-end shopping centers, five-star restaurants and chic nightclubs. These new glitz and glam offerings are outweighing the possibility of getting rich by gambling – a possibility that seems slimmer and slimmer the more we know about gaming analytics.

Nonetheless, gambling is still one of the top revenue producers for casinos. Despite the fact that gambling revenue in the state is down nearly half a billion dollars from pre-recession numbers, with the economic bounce back, gambling will likely be as strong as ever, albeit with some different faces.

NanoTech Gaming, for example, is one company with a prototype of slot machine that not only combines the entertainment of playing a skill-based video game with traditional gambling, it will actually tell you what your odds are.

Las Vegas Advisor publisher Anthony Curtis said that the new generation of gamblers isn’t interested in “grandma slots,” or “pulling handles,” they want something they can relate to – like video games.

“That whole idea of giving them something that they’re more used to, that’s what needs to be created,” said Curtis said.

The catch is, however, that skill-based gaming, is still illegal in Nevada – somewhat. The argument can be made that other games already exist that require a certain amount of skill – blackjack, poker or even video poker, for that matter. But that might change, as the Legislature is currently considering removing some of the legislative hurdles in the way for skill-based games.

So, is the age of video game-esque gambling upon us? Possibly. SB 9 would require the Nevada Gaming Commission to “adopt regulations which encourage manufacturers to develop and deploy gaming devices that incorporate innovative, alternative and advanced technology.” 

"Instead of worrying about common mathematics and gambling … you just need to know how to play pinball,” said Aaron Hightower, vice president of gaming technology, NanoTech Gaming.

Anthony Curtis, publisher, Las Vegas Advisor;  Aaron Hightower, vice president of gaming technology, NanoTech Gaming

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Prior to taking on the role of Broadcast Operations Manager in January 2021, Rachel was the senior producer of KNPR's State of Nevada program for 6 years. She helped compile newscasts and provided coverage for and about the people of Southern Nevada, as well as major events such as the October 1 shooting on the Las Vegas strip, protests of racial injustice, elections and more. Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree of journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University.