Where are all the old slot machines going?

I have noticed that in my last trip to Win Star (Indian casino in OK) and Sam's in Shreveport LA) most all the machines have been or are being changed out for new games.

It would seem that the slot manufacturers would have a surplus of older electronic (read bill acceting machines) slot machines.

I wonder, are they selling them abroad or in the US?

With so many now available it would seem that some of the old ones should be getting pretty cheap on the used market.

The "new" machines seem to be neon like brightness some with neon like wraps around them and they seem wider than the old machines.

What trends have you noticed?

Slot machines taken off the floor go to a number of places,
some go to the warehouse and sometimes are scavaged for parts

some go to othert properties in town or in other states

sold to slot wholesalers

Slot wholesalers sell these machines to retail stores in the 14 or so states where it is legal. A number of these machines will end up on cruise ships in florida.

As for the price that varies by the games but usually go for about $1000-$1500 for upright slot machines and around $500 for slant top machines. Video poker machines go for more.

Certain machines like wheel of fortune and all wide area progessive (WAP) machines are owned my the manufacterer and are never sold. Those machines are crushed. The main reason they do this is when the machine is turned on it connected to the internet and it attempts to contact the server. if it cannot contact the server the machine will not operate so the machine is worthless.

Interestingly the slant tops are considered almost worthless because most of the parts cannot be transfered over to an upright. The things that are transferable are the reel strips (not the reels) coin comparitor, bill and head...thats it. Back in 2005 I bid on machines from the monte carlo. The lots were about 150 machines and parts and the bid was around $16,000. I lost the bid but the guy offered me the 30 slant tops at $50 each so as you can see the mark up is rather significant.

Back in the late 90's a lot of machines were going to russia but now they just buy the machines from the manufacterer. I have shipped machines Aruba, Africa, and South America. In South America these machines are outside businesses and are considered as candy machines (no regulations)

Hope this helps

Thanks, the reply was very interesting.