Here’s what the people who supply the slot market say are the best of the new year
This space has been devoted to the industry’s slot sector during the past three-plus years, with annual highlights on the new slot games displayed at the fall trade show, as well as end-of-year offerings of the likely trends for each new year.
We continued these two focuses over the unprecedented year just concluded, highlighting how slot suppliers have weathered the COVID-19 crisis by continuing to innovate with new games and cabinets, as well as new product areas boosted by the need to ensure safety and health as the industry has begun its fits and starts toward normalcy. However, pieces appearing here on new slot games and technologies, as well as coming trends in the slot sector for the new year, have largely been subjective pieces.
As we begin 2021, we’ve decided to go to the source—major slot suppliers—for the opinions of the executives in charge of supplying the slot floors of the world. We asked executives of the industry’s top slot suppliers to identify their own best—one product they feel provides the most promise in recapturing the revenues lost because of the unprecedented shutdown of the casino industry early in 2020.
While not all of the suppliers responded to the request, the answers of those that did provide a window not only into what the innovators think are the best products of the new year, but the trends that will lead the way to industry recovery. Here, in alphabetical order by manufacturer, are what the suppliers feel will be the best of the new year.
AGS: Orion Portrait
David Lopez, President and CEO of AGS
For AGS, the slot product with the most promise this year is the compelling Starwall display, matched with the Orion Portrait cabinet and its variations. The product provides a self-contained video presentation for a bank of games, including eye-catching, game-specific graphics. Since AGS also provides table games, the company notes the STAX Progressive table-game side-bet bonus.
“From our slot products portfolio, our premium Starwall x Orion, which launched with the games Golden Wins Deluxe and Jade Wins Deluxe, is going to help our revenue recovery,” said David Lopez, AGS president and CEO. “Performance from these games is already stellar, and they are complemented by the immersive Starwall video canvas that attracts players and provides a cinematic play experience.
“In our table products business, our STAX Progressive is key to our growth; with its must-hit-by progressive and community features, STAX makes games even more attractive to players because, with a relatively small additional wager or side bet, players have the chance to win a life-changing prize.”
Aristocrat Technologies: Neptune Double
Aristocrat’s featured product of the year, according to the company, will be Neptune Double, the imposing new cabinet being billed as the follow-up to the popular Arc Double. It is configured, as Arc Double, with two stacked, curved monitors—49 inches each, compared to Arc’s 43-inch displays. The curve of the cabinet is such that the giant displays are viewed easily, and players can even look directly overhead and see the top progressive meter.
“We have a number of exciting and powerful new products across all of our business lines in 2021, but the product in our pipeline that I am most confident will assist in the recovery of customer revenues is Neptune Double,” said Jon Hanlin, senior vice president, commercial strategy and business analytics for Aristocrat. “This gaming operations cabinet is the combination of compelling and innovative features such as an expansive virtual button deck, dual 49-inch 4K monitors, and a brand new iChair for an incredible game play experience.
“This cabinet is going to feature a fantastic content roadmap which launches with the Crazy Rich Asians slot game and Timber Wolf Diamond in January.”
Aruze Gaming America: Roll to Win Craps
For Aruze, the stellar product this year is likely to be Roll to Win Craps, the video-enhanced electronic table game that actually is a hybrid product—a standard-shaped craps table with electronic wagering stations and a programmable video back board to display anything from current points to property advertising. Players roll dice on the product as in a normal craps game, but the unit can be operated by a single dealer.
“Roll to Win Craps is already helping revenues recover in the many locations we have installed it this year,” said Rob Ziems, president of Aruze Gaming America. “As installs have continued to expand at a rapid pace, casinos have found players are responding well to the many ways it is safer than traditional tables. Due to the virtual chips, there are fewer touch points, and the player terminals can be easily wiped down between player sessions. We offer physical barriers as well for increased player safety.
“Roll to Win Craps is a product we see as continuing to evolve, and we launched our Power Odds feature on tables late this summer. Roll to Win Craps Virtual, a fully automated, dealer-less version of the table ideal for non-dice markets, was launched in Florida at three Seminole properties in December. I feel extremely confident players will continue to be drawn to Roll to Win, thanks to its ability to convey safety and feel familiar all while being a piece of truly innovative technology.”
Gaming Arts: Casino Wizard
Gaming Arts came out with this product at precisely the right time—that is, as a lot of people are still wary about crowding on to a live table game in these Covid-19 times. It is a multi-game slot offering electronic versions of four different table games, each carrying the features, odds and play experience of the live game.
“The game is unique in that it allows players to play one of several classic table games in a single player EGM (choice between blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat),” explained Mike Dreitzer, president of Gaming Arts. “The player can really enjoy all of the fun of table game play, without the concern of forfeiting the safety of appropriate social distancing. It also has many fewer touch points for players than you would find at live table games, rounding out the overall safety benefits.
“This one-of-a-kind product is already enjoying great success as a substitute for live table games, providing all of the action and betting opportunities you would expect and more. Traditional bets abound through every game, as do unique progressive and side bets. As casino gaming re-emerges in 2021, Gaming Arts is proud to offer Casino Wizard as a classic and fun product that’s right for these difficult times.”
IGT: Global Test Bank
Rather than pick a single product, IGT identifies its main game testing program as the single factor that will lead to strong new revenues in 2021. The Global Test Bank program places games in casino settings to collect 90 days of in-casino game performance—prior to the official release of any game.
“Based on the outcome of the last 30 days of that trial, we then decide to release, refine, or cancel the game based on its ability to meet IGT’s stringent performance thresholds,” said Nick Khin, IGT’s chief operating officer, gaming. “The program has been adopted and implemented by our global sales and product teams, and it continues to bring tremendous value to our customers.
“When our customers deploy an IGT game that has undergone our comprehensive internal and external testing programs and achieved what we call Proven Performer status, they can have confidence that the game will perform on their casino floors too.”
Konami Gaming: Dimension Cabinets
Konami officials are confident its strongest revenues this year will result from the rolling out of the new Dimension series of cabinets—the curved Dimension 49J, the tri-screen Dimension 27 and the premium Dimension 49 portrait cabinet.
Victor Duarte, Konami’s senior vice president and chief product & strategy officer, says Dimension cabinets demonstrate a versatility for all types of game content that will carry the company’s product library forward this year.
“Last spring and summer, we released our premium All Aboard series on the Dimension 49J curved cabinet, and it’s quickly become one of the industry’s top performing and most anticipated new titles,” Duarte said. “In a matter of weeks, it will be joined by our upcoming Ocean Spin premium linked series, as well as slot games based on Silent Hill. This autumn, the core Dimension 27 launched with proven Konami player favorites, including a new presentation with the Quad Spin series.
“As we enter 2021, Konami’s Dimension 49 portrait screen cabinet will begin installations in select casinos with multiple linked progressive games families. And we anticipate even more additions to the Dimension cabinet series further in the coming year. Each machine in this series has the core hardware strength, player comforts, compelling presentation, and game pipeline to power ongoing engagement in the new year and beyond.”
Scientific Games: Unified Wallet
Timing is everything, and this year, operators are seeking technology that promotes cashless, contact-free engagement to ensure maximum safety and prevention of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In this atmosphere, Scientific Games continues to roll out its Unified Wallet product, one of the top technologies allowing players to use smartphones to access cash at the slot machines, and identifies the product as its likely top revenue-generator.
“Consumer adaption of mobile payment methods for online and social commerce have increased significantly this year due to Covid-19,” said Matt Wilson, gaming group chief executive at Scientific Games. “We recently rolled out our cashless solution, Unified Wallet, at a few of our customer sites. In the initial rollout, players who used our cashless solution were excited about the convenience of not carrying cash, and the ability to access their digital wallet at the point of play.
“They also appreciated the security and ease of use. Given the interest level that we see from our customers and the positive response from their patrons, we can expect an accelerated adoption of our cashless solution in 2021 and beyond.”
