Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming December 2016 28 Gambling and the law mechanical to server-based and other pure computerized versions. With three mechanical reels and only 10 stops per reel, the maximum jackpot could be as little as US$1,000 – and that would be with a 100% payout to the player. Virtual stops and linked machines allowed gigantic jackpots. This was especially important with the proliferation of state lotteries, for casinos could offer life- changing prizes without players having to wait for days for the numbers to be drawn. But slot machine games remained overwhelmingly the same. Instead of three mechanical spinning reels, the vast majority of slot machines have five simulated Gambling games of the future By Prof. I. Nelson Rose Professor I Nelson Rose is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on gambling law and is a consultant and expert witness for governments and industry. His latest books, Gaming Law in a Nutshell , Internet Gaming Law and Gaming Law: Cases and Materials , are available through his website, www.gamblingandthelaw.com. spinning reels, usually with large Qs and Ks in homage to video poker. More interesting variations have been tried, but they have not been widely successful. Perhaps that is because slot machines are primarily played by people, more women than men, over 40, who don’t want to have to learn new, complicated games. Meanwhile, Millennials hate slot machines. The comment I hear most often from people under 35 when I ask them about casinos is, “Slot machines are stupid.” Since all Millennials carry the greatest, most addictive games ever invented on their smart phones, I guess they are right. E very single form of legal gambling was invented in the 19th century, except bingo. You know your industry is in trouble if the most current product you offer your 21st century patrons is bingo. Of course there have been technological developments. But these have been evolutionary, not revolutionary. Slot machines, for example, have evolved from the purely mechanical to electro-