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Every now and then, a once-popular product from the past that almost disappeared makes a strong comeback. The rebirth of vinyl and the audio turntable is a good example. Years after you probably gave away your entire collection of albums, or sold it for pennies on the dollar, vinyl is suddenly hot again. Those old LPs are now fetching big money at garage sales and in the independent record stores that are suddenly making a comeback nationwide. While there was a small segment of dedicated fans that kept the art alive, records and turntables virtually disappeared by the turn of the century, except for those dedicated DJs that maintained a fidelity to analog and would still drag crates of records to their club gigs at a time when most DJs had shifted over to the Macbook and the hard drive.
There are not many examples of the sort in gaming. Wouldn't it be great if we could see a return of 3/2 Blackjack, free parking and no resort fees on the Strip? Don't hold your breath on any one of those happening soon. A safer bet, perhaps, would be the return of Silver Strike slot machines. After nearly going extinct, they may be poised for a comeback.
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Will advanced payment technology ever completely take cash off the slot floor?
by Frank Legato, CDC Gaming Reports
The idea of taking cash off the slot machine floor is nothing new. Aside from ticket-in-ticket-out technology on the machines themselves, casinos like the Oneida Nation's Turning Stone in Verona, New York, have been operating without cash for more than a decade.
Although Turning Stone converted its slot floor to accept bills in 2004, its game operation even before provided a model for what is increasingly the preferred method of cashless slot play - players create an account, withdraw credits at the machines, and cash out the revised amount after play - or leave it on their cards.
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Edited by David G. Schwartz
244 pp. UNLV Gaming Press 2018, Paperback $23
Tales from The Slot Floor is fascinating, even if I'm not certain which audience editor David G. Schwartz intended for this compilation of oral history excerpts. The book's best advice is aimed at those considering a move to, or a new career in, slots. There is a desperate need for a comprehensive book on useful techniques to improve your slot management skills. I don't think this book is that book.
That's not to say that those interviewed aren't good. Indeed, I think they are the among the best of the best, including Charlie Lombardo, Jay Duarte and Kevin Sweet. You'll read comments directly from these pros in the book, along with 16 others equally strong, on subjects from good customer service and bad management to working with vendors and the future of slots.
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Upcoming Industry Events of Interest
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Luxor Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV - 9/5/2018 - 9/6/2018
The Casino eSports Conference is a two-day hands-on event that will connect the casino world directly to the eSport players, marketers, developers, products, services, event providers, lawyers, and educators. This event will provide the most direct and informative connection to facilitate the infrastructure for all gaming establishments looking to incorporate the eSport gaming world, as well as iGaming and skill-based gaming.
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Hilton Olympia, Kensington, London, UK - 9/18/2018 - 9/21/2018
Betting on Sports 2018 is a must-attend event for members of the sports & betting industries, with focus on everything related to these. Delegates will be able to experience no less than 140 exhibitors, 50 conference sessions, 5 conference rooms and 10 main conference tracks over three days. Expect high quality content featuring 200 of the very best industry speakers.
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Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV - 10/08/2018- 10/11/2018
Set yourself up for success at Global Gaming Expo (G2E)-the largest gathering of global, commercial and tribal gaming professionals in North America. G2E has everything you need for your casino floor and across your entire operation-from traditional casino fare to sports betting, non-gaming amenities and digital products-G2E is where your business growth is accelerated.
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Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV - 11/05/2018- 11/08/2018
Set yourself up for success at Global Gaming Expo (G2E)-the largest gathering of global, commercial and tribal gaming professionals in North America. G2E has everything you need for your casino floor and across your entire operation-from traditional casino fare to sports betting, non-gaming amenities and digital products-G2E is where your business growth is accelerated.
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