Poker News

Byron Liggett

The Global Gaming Expo, the annual international gambling industry trade show was held at the LV Convention Center recently. Over 700 leading gaming vendors, including more than 100 international companies, showcased their products and services.

The world of gaming gathered for three days to stroke the sexy new slots, peek at the titillating new table games and fondle all the responsive new technology. But to this observer it was clear; Lady Poker was the Madame of the House.

The very latest slot, video and electronic games are dressed in the most fashionable poker wardrobe. High-tech vamps, they wear poker-themed graphics, speak in poker terms, and make the same kind of promises you hear from a dealer: “It’s exciting!”, or “You could hit the jackpot!”

There was considerable interest in “Pit Poker”, house-banked games claiming a relationship to the real thing. One of the most promising was “Ultimate Texas Hold’em”, by Shuffle Master. It has a lot of Hold’em characteristics and a variety of bets.

“Quick Draw Hold’em” attracted a lot of enthusiastic attention. A house game, it nevertheless is played much like the real deal. Like the brochure said, “Just play your cards and win!”

Even some of the most traditional casino games like craps and roulette have been touched by the card craze. Neither craps nor roulette was played in California because dice and wheel games were prohibited. Now, creative designers have developed versions of those games in which cards are used.

The State Gambling Commission has approved this innovation. SURE HIT Card Roulette is almost identical to the traditional wheel game, offering players the same diversity of bets. It’s played on a handsome roulette-like layout divided into four rows by suit and numbered Ace thru King. The two zeroes are represented by the Jokers. Players can bet on single cards, combinations of cards, suit columns, red or black (1st 26 cards or 2nd 26 cards). SURE HIT may become just that in California.

In addition to vendors, the show included seminars on a wide range of gaming management topics. Here, too, poker was mentioned often. For example, the topic of one crowded panel discussion was “Table Games Revival” and every gaming expert on the dais attributed the growing interest in pit games to the “Poker Renaissance”.

The focus of the panel discussion was what is the best way to introduce new players to traditional pit games? Scheduled classes, in-room videos, information pamphlets and more were discussed and discarded for a variety of inherent shortcomings.

With thousands of casino executives and gaming entrepreneurs attending theshow only one exhibitor offered a completely effective, creative, and cost effective strategy to get visitors to the tables. Called the WIN CARD Program, it is marketing genius!

WIN CARD tri-packs contain 3 small plastic cards, one for blackjack, craps and roulette. Each card is simply a hand-held reference a player can use to quickly dial the best decision based on standard play; house percentages aren’t affected. Guests purchase a WIN CARD tri-pack in the casino for $10.

Included is $15 in non-negotiable free-play chips to use on the tables and a $1 “Dealer Tip” coupon. Hence, players get to try the pit games and even learn to toke the dealer.

Of course, as studies show and many casinos have learned most players continue to play their own money once they’ve learned the game and lost their free-play chips. Now, the house has a new table player.

Although it seemed like every person at the show recognized the importance of poker to the Gaming Industry, nevertheless, POKER PLAYER was the only such publication present.

Filed under: Poker News