This article first appeared in the Jul/Aug 2013 issue of World Gaming magazine.
 Good news everyone – the response to our Rise of the Machines series has been so overwhelming the powers that be here at WGM have given me this column full-time! That means while our initial three-part “Rise of the Machines” series is over, you can now expect to see a “Rise of the Machines” article in most, if not all, issues of WGM. All brought to you be me, the Tiger! We have lots of exciting features still to bring you so make sure you keep reading WGM – and don’t forget to visit our website at www.wgm8.com. |
A long time ago in a casino far, far away there were table games and there slot machines. For all the players cared, table games lived on one side of the gaming floor, slots lived on the other and never the twain should meet. Then someone came up with the bright idea of merging the two and the hybrid was born. The casino would never be the same again.
Science fiction aside, the casino trade has come a long way over the past decade and the line between what constitutes a table game and what constitutes a slot machine has become blurred. The transition began with the introduction of electronic table games featuring casino classics – baccarat, roulette, black jack, sic bo and the big wheel.
For card games, these would feature an animated dealer on a big screen dealing to multiple players, each seated at a terminal around the screen. For roulette, players would be seated around a roulette wheel which was spun electronically and each would have their own electronic touch screen on which to place their bets. This allowed players to place bets in private and at their leisure. The stakes were variable which provided much greater choice for the player and payouts were instantaneous given there was no need for a human dealer.
Blurring the lines even further has been the introduction of “hybrid” games. These are games that combine elements of both slots and tables. You still bet on an electronic screen but the games utilise a live dealer to deal the cards or spin the wheel.
It is no surprise Macau leads the way in this technology. With over 2,500 units in the marketplace already, live dealer hybrids are going to be playing an increasingly significant role in casinos both in Macau and throughout the rest of the world.
As modern technology continues to improve, hybrid systems keep getting better and better. Cameras filming the live dealer give players a bird’s eye view of the game which in turn gives them peace of mind. Despite the opportunity to play fully automated games, most players prefer the reassurance of a dealer running the game rather than a computer. In the hybrid world it’s only the management of bets and payouts that is handled electronically.
Hybrid games are a sight to behold, with huge stadium-style seating surrounding the dealer and more than one game offered at any one time. In some casinos in the world, especially in London, players can even be on an entirely different floor and completely out of sight of the dealer. It baffles to think about future advancements in hybrids – dealers and players in different cities, perhaps?
So, is a hybrid a slot machine or a table game? Does it really matter? Probably not. Casinos love a good hybrid because it maximizes space and minimizes costs. Players love them because they have privacy, can almost always get a seat and can play their favorite games at whatever pace and limit they please.
For the traditionalists, don’t worry – hybrids aren’t going to completely replace fully live tables. You’ll always be able to squeeze a few cards if that is your wont, but the hybrid is another great example of how the casino world continues to evolve and how the “rise of the machines” affects us all.
