Is Casino Skill Based Gaming finally dead?

[hytail]

Over time I have not heard or read any positive reports on folks who have tried SBG machines in casinos. I never had any good thoughts they would prove out either for entertainment value or payouts.

Maybe they are alive and well. I just never see any reports of a following or favorable reports.

[mhetrick]

There are still a few skill based games out on the floor. In Vegas for example, Planet Hollywood (possibly some other CET properties as well) have the Gamblit games that are still undergoing field tests. Of course, when I saw them in January, not one person was playing them. The D has some new Running Rich racing type game on their floor that is similar to a Mario Kart driving game where even spectators can gamble alongside the actual player for prizes.

I just don't think the audience for skill based games is there. They also don't clearly market or present them in a way that is appealing to the regular slot player.

[sondor]

The Cleo and Texas tea pinball games are still out there...but you can choose free spins instead of the pinball

[kdk]

I saw that Planet Hollywood added a racing game when I was there a few weeks ago. Looked interesting but no one was playing it. I do kind of like the Gambit games there though, and those did get some play.

But I don't find myself playing them that much- they are great if you want to kill some time and can be fun, but doesn't seem like big win potential is there, but also your money lasts a long time and good for earning points.

I'm not hearing the buzz on these though either like I once did.

[Warren]

From the casino side I have been keeping a close eye on skill based games and haven't heard any positive results from any jurisdiction. I think there may be niche market for these but that it will be small. Perhaps a couple of these machines in the corner of lounge or bar... The manufacturers say that these early games are part of a learning process and that they're still feeling their way through. While that is true I'm not convinced they will ever catch on in any big way. I could be wrong though and that's fine. If they do take off we'll of course offer whatever people want to play.

[hytail]

Thanks for posting Warren . I enjoy getting observation from the industry perspective. I guess I remember about two years ago SBG news was prevalent and upbeat. Then the small number of machines started to come out and the comments by people trying them were not encouraging. And more recently, you hear nothing.

Time will tell if the industry adjusts or fades on SBG.

[Warren]

Thanks for posting Warren . I enjoy getting observation from the industry perspective. I guess I remember about two years ago SBG news was prevalent and upbeat. Then the small number of machines started to come out and the comments by people trying them were not encouraging. And more recently, you hear nothing.

Time will tell if the industry adjusts or fades on SBG.

Thanks, and yes, the hype has cooled a bit after many of the games have already been pulled off of casino floors.

A couple of years ago I was on a panel at the annual Southern Gaming Summit (Gaming Show in Biloxi) and the topic was skill-based games. It was the founder of one of the skill based gaming companies along with a regulator from New Jersey, and me. They were both really pumping up skill based games and I was kind of the wet blanket :)

My reasoning is that we've had skill-based games on the casino floor for years, live / video Blackjack and live / video Poker. None of those segments have seen any rapid growth in the past 10 years. Also, at our casino we've tried every (what I call) pseudo-skill based games that have come out. These are games where it may appear that skill play a role but there is no impact on the outcome of the game. Games like Big Buck Hunter, Pong, Breakout, Spin Devil, & Centipede. None of these ever did well... Amazon Fishing still does ok... Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Ripley's, all of those are long gone...

[treyster]

Great thread. I remember skill based was the future of slots as it would appeal to the younger video game crowd.

I think there may be an event or movie that makes gaming appealing to a new generation of players much like Animal House did for fraternitys or Hunger Games did for archery.