When you think of pokies, you usually imagine luck-based games – but, Las Vegas casinos are thinking about shaking things up. According to the Las Vegas Sun, local lawmakers want to introduce new skill-based video gaming machines to casinos. Video games are a huge market nowadays.
They are no longer only for children. Most video games today are targeted towards adults, and we are seeing renewed interested in retro video games. Las Vegas casinos could capitalise on this trend by merging gaming machines and video games to appeal to a new type of player. The proposal was put forward by Dan Reaser, a lawyer who represent games manufacturers in Las Vegas.
He believes that it would benefit both players and operators if skill-based games are permitted at casinos. He states that the proposal “would expand the authority of the Nevada Gaming Commission to promulgate regulations that encourage development and deployment of gaming devices incorporating innovative, alternative and advanced technologies”.
Another important aspect of the proposal could give casinos the ability to change the odds for regular players. For example, if a regular player sits down at a gaming machine with the odds of returning 75% to the player, the casino could make a tweak to benefit the regular. Under the proposed new regulation, the casino could increase the odds to 85%.
While infusing pokies with a skill aspect is likely to be accepted by legislators, we can see the second part of the proposal experiencing some criticism. Changing the odds for regular players could be a concern for responsible gambling lobbyists, as it seems to be a new way of enticing players who may be at-risk. The proposal will be presented at the 2015 legislature.
In the meantime, it will likely undergo submissions from local politicians and businesses.
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