Pokies and Slot Machine Information

Aristocrat makes another acquisition

Aristocrat, one of the worlds largest slot machine makers, has ventured further into the potentially profitable world of poker style slot machines through the acquisition of Pokertek.

“SYDNEY (Dow Jones)–Australia’s largest gaming machine company Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. (ALL.AU) said Wednesday it has acquired just under 10% of PokerTek Inc. (PTEK) in the U.S. for US$8.6 million. “

Yahoo Article

Automated Roulette machines linked to a common real roulette table are common in Aussie casinos. They take up space, but allow many more players to participate on a single table than would otherwise be the case. Automated Poker Rooms may allow similar savings on staff and table costs.

Orwellian Chips in Chips

Off the topic of slots a little, an article online describes the future of casino gaming chips such as found on roulette and blackjack tables:

Sun Herald Online

“You can tell what the casino’s position is on every single table within a matter of seconds on the entire gaming floor.”

Casinos will use the technology to ensure the chips in play on their tables are genuine, which is fair enough, but also to track individual players fortunes.

The technology is reminiscent of the magnetic loyalty card readers on slot machines which enable casinos to track player spending and movement:

Loyalty Card Programs

The advent of wireless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips in gaming chips will give casinos another edge in the odds. If they can see players playing too well (card counting perhaps), they can easily correlate the player with the plays and remove them from a table.

Do you really want those many electronic eyes in the skies of casinos to know exactly whats in your pocket as you move around the venue?