PBR slot machines, manufactured by Sigma Game, Inc., were launched back in 2004 as part of a mass-marketing drive by Professional Bull Riders Inc. that resulted in a flurry of contracts issued to licensees ranging from Wrangler clothing to Old Pueblo BBQ and hot sauces. Both the PBR and the National Finals Rodeo have a long-established history of holding their finals in Las Vegas, so the bull-riding slot machine must have seemed like an obvious match.
According to a sneak preview published by Strictly Slots magazine, "The multi-line video slot's theme includes the entire culture that has surrounded the PBR tour ... including the most popular riders and even the most popular bulls." The article goes on to explain how two preliminary bonus events depict PBR lore, culminating in a main bonus that "replicates the actual PBR bull-riding contests. The player picks one of the tour's riders, and the animated bull-riding session begins. The number of seconds the rider manages to stay on the bull constitutes a multiplier of the bonus amount."
An initial call to Sigma indicated that the game should be located at Binion's (which historically has close ties with the NFR), Coast properties citywide (which also embrace the cowboy culture that rolls into town late fall each year), and the El Cortez. However, a survey of these properties revealed that the machines are no longer available at any of them. So we called back Sigma and here's the full story:
In Nevada, the PBR machines never really made it past their initial field trials. This wasn't due to any problem with the game itself, but stemmed from some technical glitches that occurred with the software linking the machines to the "backhouse" at the casinos. It's these backhouse systems that log your slot card details, your coin-in and out, the amount you win, etc. But the systems vary from property to property, often giving rise to the kinds of problems you can encounter when, for example, you trade files between PCs, in which one has an upgraded version of software and the other doesn't.
According to Gaming Control regulations, during trial periods while a new game is being "qualified," the manufacturers aren't supposed to communicate with the casinos to signpost potential glitches or fix actual ones. When the PBR machines were being tested, some properties had no problem, but others experienced accounting discrepancies (up to $400 on a single machine). Had the game proven wildly popular with the public, Sigma would have pursued the matter and ironed out the glitches, but as the games received a lukewarm response in Nevada, they decided to cut their losses. Our source believes the PBR machines are still available in some East Coast casinos, however, where no such system incompatibilities were experienced.
The story of the other PBR merchandising ventures has a happier ending: PBR Wrangler denim, Polo, and T-shirts -- not to mention PBR BBQ and hot sauces -- are still available, as is a full range of PBR key chains, bumper stickers, jackets, calendars, videos, hats, pillows, belt buckles, wallets, Tote bags, and bandanas. Anyone interested can log onto the official merchandising Web site here.
If you couldn’t be in town during the NFR but would still like a taste of some bull-riding, you could check out Gilley's bar at the New Frontier. Not only is it the only country venue on the Strip, it's home to a famous mechanical bull, which can be ridden for free (tips are appreciated by the bull operator) on Tuesdays 4 pm-12 am and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays 9 pm-2 am. On Fridays and Saturdays, it's $6 a ride. From Thursday to Saturday, you can also sign up for "Bikini Bull Riding," which takes place at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with a $500 cash prize to the winner.
