Slot machine technology keeps advancing

August 24, 2006

I recently returned from an interesting trip to Las Vegas and I could help but notice some major changes in the slot machines. I have been to Las Vegas ands other casino destinations enough to know a thing or two about the machines and how they work. This trip, I couldn’t help but notice some major advancement in this casino game’s development.

Any seasoned casino game player knows that the casinos want us to notice the slots, but what I noticed went beyond the realm of bells and whistles.

Once I paid mind to the new changes in casino slots (and don’t even get me started on online gambling slots either) I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that the next few years will even change slot machine technology tenfold.

If you love playing slots we support you 100%. But many slot fans may find what I am about to say offensive, others will notice a light go off in their heads.

First, let me concede that technology in general makes massive advancement each and every day. Just look at your wonderful iPod you just love to listen to when playing at online gambling rooms. Remember when you bought it and within a blink of an eye the Mini iPod came out, then the iPod Nano, oh yeah don’t one where you get to watch downloaded Podcast episodes of West Wing on came out like the next week. Get the picture.

While I realize casino gaming technology (as far as slot machine and video poker machines are concerned) could move along even faster, but the casinos are not the types of businesses to invest more money into the casino floor unless they have to. But do they have to much faster to keep up with each other? Anyway, since slot machines are the bread and butter of any casino whether used for online gambling or land based game, there has been a recent influx in machine advancement.

Here are a couple examples of what I noticed to be new trends in slot machine development. Online gambling player are familiar with servers and how they affect game play. Well, casinos on land are starting the same technology. Look for server-based developments in slots. Also I couldn’t stop noticing the penny slots and all the players strapped to them. It’s like bringing back the old days when pennies were the primary denomination used in slot machines, but with video screens, multi-lines, and bonus games. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the penny progressives that so many lower budget players can’t get enough of. It’s like new technology meets old school prices. If you think the odds of you winning a decent amount of money with your penny bet are anywhere in this solar system – think again. Then there are the video screens with actual video playing on them. Not to mention the theme games with TV shows and celebrities pasted all over them. This may not be a major technological advancement in history, but the fact that the game has many reels, pay-lines and bonus rounds that will blow your mind is. Some new slot machines have actual playing on them instead of the annoying bells and whistles.

All slot machine players are constantly on the look out for the highest jackpots. Progressive have been the answer to this request for awhile now. But new technology on the horizon has machines linked through various networks all over the world creating massive jackpots.

Then there are the new hand held portable gambling units on the verge of final testing. These hand held devices are obviously wireless and will be accessible from other places in the casino besides the casino floor itself. While law makers are hammering out the latest restrictions on these oh so convenient devices, we are left wondering why people need to gamble off of the casino floor at all. It’s not like you will be able to use these devices in your hotel room (yet). Isn’t online gambling for the people who want to gamble away from casinos anyway? Yes, it’s all in the name of technology progress.

In the near future you will be sitting in front of networked slots that will give you the choice of play several different slot games all from the same actual machine. We are not talking about video poker where you sit down and choose from a couple different games, we are talking about sitting at one machine that has the capability to offer you a full variety of progressives, regular slots, video slots and more.

Look for high definition flat screen slots too folks. Gone are the days were we never thought we would see slim lined machines with HTV screens and pristine sound. Companies are working hard to create these futuristic slot machines and they will make it to the casino floor soon.