Gambling authorities in the state of New Jersey gave the green light for skills-based slots machines to be placed on casino floors. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement told the New York based GameCo Inc that it will be allowed to provide casinos owned by Caesars Entertainment in Atlantic City with slot games where the outcomes are determined by the player’s gaming ability.
These machines – or VGMs as they are known – could be installed at Harrah’s, Caesars and Bally’s casinos from this week. The casinos will test the machines on their floors before they are finally made available to the general public.
GameCo’s chief executive officer and co-founder, Blaine Graboyes said: “With this approval from the DGE, the VGM is officially the first skill-based video game gambling product approved by any U.S. gaming jurisdiction regulator.”
It is hoped that the VGMs will appeal to a younger set of players who have grown up with video gaming and are adverse in skill-based games. These players are usually found playing games on social-media platforms, and are less inclined to play traditional slot games.
Players of the new Danger Arena games will be presented with a map and instructions to maneuver through ever-changing scenarios. While the games do carry an element of chance, it will be up to the player to use his or her skills to work through the obstacles in play increments of up to 1.5 minutes. Instant cash jackpots – unrelated to skill elements – are also available to be won, up to $5,000 at a time.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s director, David Rebuck spoke encouragingly about the new games that will be placed on casino floors from this week.
“We have been at the forefront of encouraging innovation, and are pleased that the efforts of GameCo and division staff have culminated in this skill-based video game becoming available in Atlantic City before any other jurisdiction in the United States,” he said.
Other companies are in the race to bring this type of gaming to New Jersey and other states. GameCo’s games will be deployed in the Garden State for now, but will be expanded to other states within the next six months. In addition, companies such as Gamblit, IGT and NanoTech Gaming have also declared their intentions to bring skill-based slots to casino floors in states such as California and Nevada. Gamblit has already partnered with Harrahs to place 125 gaming stations in its Nevada casinos.
