The act of feeding in bills or credit vouchers into a slot machine is nothing new for most gamblers. Slot tokens went away years ago and players can now carry their winnings from machine to machine via a voucher. When ready to cash that in, slot players head to the cashier or to a kiosk to receive actual bills again.
This is known as “ticket in, ticket out” (TITO) and that process may be seeing some changes in the coming years. One Las Vegas company is behind a new process known as “Ticket in, Bonus Out” (TIBO). The new feature can significantly change this process by tracking when players are near the end of a slot session or end of their credits on a game. The TIBO system then offers some bonus options for that player to stay at the machine.
“Then, just as that time occurs, the system will distribute a ticket to customers encouraging them to continue playing with free bonus spins on the machine,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes.
Catering to Individual Players
TIBO brings something new to the world of slots. Acres Technology developed the add-on to bring “real-time connectivity” to players and give players something more using predictive technology. Founded by casino technology inventor John Acres, the company has been a leader in slot and casino technology for several years.
Acres specializes in loyalty and technology programs and is the creator of Foundation, a leading casino management system offering real-time slot data. The system also provides a direct interface to the credit meter on any slot machine in a casino. TIBO is the company’s latest addition.
“We are continuously looking for ways to innovate to bring new technology to casino floors,” Noah Acres says. “In much the same way we’ve pursued the burgeoning cashless opportunity, we created TIBO because consumer tastes have changed in the 20 plus years since TITO was released. Modern consumers want gamified experiences triggered by real-time personal data and TIBO fulfills these desires by issuing targeted, data-driven bonuses through the slot machine’s ticket printer.”
Beyond simply offering bonus spins on a slot, TIBO can deliver other rewards such as restaurant discounts and other promotions personalized to an individual’s interests. Acres believes this is more likely to get players to join a casino’s players’ club program. The company says these extras can add value for players and casinos.
Not everyone sees the new technology as a good thing. Some proponents of responsible gaming are concerned that these incentives can prompt casino visitors to keep playing when it may not be wise to do so. Adding such immediate incentives may coax players to gamble more than they can afford to lose. Many express similar concerns for moves to cashless wagering.
It will be interesting to see how the industry embraces this new technology. The TIBO system has now passed the testing phase and is headed to trials in casinos including at the Gold Country Inn in Elko, Nevada.
New Casino Planned for Northern Illinois
In other gaming news, Illinois may soon be home to another casino. While much of the state focuses on the new Bally’s casino planned for Chicago, another gaming company is looking to bring a new casino in the northern part of the state.
Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (GPLI) announced Wednesday that the company has acquired the land in the city of Rockford for the development of a Hard Rock Casino project. 815 Entertainment sold the land for $100 million and entered into a ground lease with GPLI for a 99-year term.
As part of the deal, 815 pays annual rent of $8 million with a fixed annual escalation of 2%. GLPI will also provide financing of up to $150 million for development of the property.
The planned casino is set to encompass 177,000 square feet with about 60,000 square feet of gaming space including 1,250 slot machines and 50 table games. The property will also house a retail sportsbook. Illinois is now the country’s second-largest sports betting market.
The project is currently under construction, with a total budget of $358 million, which includes a temporary gaming venue on site and $120 million spent to date.
“Our agreements with 815 Entertainment will allow GLPI to expand its footprint with the addition of a new ground lease, a new tenant, and a commitment to provide potential funding,” GLPI chairman/CEO Peter Carlino said. “We believe this is an attractive ground lease transaction for our shareholders as the strong initial results at 815 Entertainment’s temporary facility demonstrate the strength of the location and the depth of the market. The Hard Rock brand is world renown and will support and solidify the new casino’s position as a tourist destination and entertainment venue.”
