Coinless Slot Machines
Most of us are familiar with the rapid fire "chink, chink, chink" sound that comes from a slot machine when something very good has happened to the person playing it. This noise means that coin after coin is loudly falling into the slot. The person playing the machine is suddenly the center of attention. Servers are suddenly more attentive to your drink needs in the hope of a bigger tip from the happy winner, if the player is a guy, women start rubbing his arm and congratulating him on his wonderful luck. This is the classic vision of a moment that happens every night at any casino. This is also a vision that is on its way out.
Over the past few years new machines have been showing up in the casinos, ones without a metal hopper that makes such a pleasurable, satisfying sound when the coins hit it. They are being replaced by new units that simply dispense a paper voucher when you win. So what if any effect does this have on the gambler?
Well first of all, there is a benefit in customer service. First and foremost it allows you to win more anonymously than you might have when the coins are falling conspicuously into the hopper. Sure, there will be lights and noise coming from the machine as you win, but in a casino that is flooded with lights and noise, the sound of you winning gets lost. Not only will a player not have to worry about glad-handing from service people trolling for a tip, but there is a safety element to this as well. The lack of sound will attract fewer people who might be interested in taking a piece of your good luck for themselves.
When playing these machines, you should also be aware that casinos don't make any changes without figuring out what is in it for them. These coinless machines by their very nature have taken the act of popping coins into a slot out of the equation. You can play, and lose, faster with the new style machine than the older ones. So be sure to pace yourself and not let the new technology dictate how much money you can responsibly lose at the casino in an evening. |
