Case Bets: Aria, IGT, Maryland & Detroit

There was a small setback for Bally Technologies when it had to pull its iView DM systems software out of Aria. Seems MGM Mirage gave Bally a scant five days to get iView DM up, running and certified. Expect to see it deployed there in mid-March or April.

IGT’s priorities for next year, as enumerated by J.P. Morgan analysts, are “1) managing cash flow, 2) managing expenses, 3) managing its installed base, 4) growing revenues, 5) improving margins, and 6) converting R&D to revenue.” Hmmmm. Except for #6, there’s not a lot there that portends interesting new product for consumers. The company is clearly still in righting-the-ship mode, targeting its budget for a further $65 million in cuts and promising debt reduction, too. Morgan’s reps thought IGT’s new products were “considerably improved” from what we’ve seen in recent G2Es. Unfortunately, I do not share their enthusiasm in that regard.

Slots ahead. G2E left with two salient impressions regarding the near future slot machines. One, if your machine isn’t configured to be compatible with a server-based slot floor, you’re nowhere. Two, spinning reels are making a comeback, in large part because of technological advances that enable virtual imagery to be superimposed on an otherwise mechanical reel. If you don’t have to physically change the reels to change the game, why not?

Table games will be getting into Maryland via the back door. Seems those robotic blackjack games come in awfully handy when your state doesn’t permit banked games but a cyber-version creates a loophole just wide enough for hundreds of machines to slip through. As one solon puts it, “As far as I can tell, these machines are perfectly legal. It’s getting close to the line for sure, but it’s on this side of the line.” Which means that Maryland punters will soon be pitting their mad ’21’ skillz against some virtual vixen ‘dealer.’ And if you think that’ll pull in the younger players, you’d be right.

In keeping with flat being the new “up,” another month of -1% revenue decline in Detroit is cause for celebration. Greektown Casino (+18%) continues to eat into the competition, with MGM Grand Detroit feeling the bite more (-7%) than MotorCity (-5%). Then again, MGM always had more business to lose and Greektown (left) still only represents 26% of the total market. While Detroit hasn’t had a revenue-positive month since February, October’s was the third-smallest decline of the year to date.

Funny you should ask about what constitutes Class II gambling because even the National Indian Gaming Commission‘s definition is in flux and will be for some time. Thankfully, a change of administrations in Washington, D.C., has helped sweep out former NIGC chair Phil Hogen and his plan to reclassify gambling machines in such as way as to basically exterminate the Class II market. That would have meant a world of hurt for tribes and manufacturers alike — a severe economic blow even in the best of times, which these assuredly are not.