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Coinless Slots Dismay Slots Fans

Is the transition away from coin-operated slot machines really all that big of a deal? You bet! Hardcore, diehard fans of this timeless form of gambling are unhappy about the move towards coinless slots. Apparently, the “cha-ching” of a token rolling through the machine and the much-dreamed-of “sound of rain” (when many, many coins come tumbling out of the machine as the result of a win) are an integral part of the slots-playing experience. Some slots aficionados who have been playing these games for decades insist that an essential component of the one-armed bandits’ allure is the visceral and tangible sensory experience of the coins going in and (hopefully) coming out.

But some casinos are looking at the matter a bit more prosaically. One by one, some of the biggest gambling centers in America (Atlantic City and Las Vegas among them) are abandoning the old, coin-operated slot machines in favor of those that replace pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters with paper currency and tickets. The method known as “Ticket In/Ticket Out” is cleaner, safer, and more efficient, argue casino operators. With these types of machines, players insert dollar bills (or fives, tens, etc.) and play as they wish. If there’s anything left, or if the player has winnings on their balance, they “cash out” and receive a paper ticket, which is then presented to a casino cashier to get money back.

Some critics have scoffed that the REAL appeal of the coinless machines to casino executives is the fact that players can play for much longer at a time, because they do not have to make frequent stops to get change. Regardless of the reason for the shift, players are not pleased.

Back to September 2008 Archive.