Casinos and game developers are still trying to figure out how they can get millennials on slot machines. And inventor Darryl Rosenblatt thinks the solution might reside in allowing players to customize the game symbols and music.
Rosenblatt, who owns Scrappy Elegant Gaming, has patented a product called Real Reels, which works as follows:
– Players locate the Real Reels slot machine in a casino based on whatever game they choose.
– Through a smartphone app, they connect wirelessly through Bluetooth.
– When they’re connected, they choose images on the phone, such as pictures of their pet, spouse, vacations, or other things. They can also put their favorite music on the machine as well.
– The last step is to play the game as normal, only with your own customized setup.
Rosenblatt told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that slots manufacturers have plenty of successful game titles they plug into slot machines. They commonly pay thousands of dollars to license TV shows, movies, and video games, and put these images/titles in their slots cabinents.
“I’ll give you an example,” said Rosenblatt. “Aristocrat will put out a game like Buffalo. They came out with it in 2009 and it was immediately recognized as perhaps one of the most successful slot titles they’d ever come up with.”
The mom-and-pop inventor also points out that manufacturers wouldn’t have to pay licensing fees when players use their own personal images.
“The wonderful thing that we have with this technology is branding no longer becomes an issue because what’s important to people is what’s typically found on their phones.”
He ultimately believes that allowing players to put what’s closest to their heart in the slot machines will result in more play.
Rosenblatt also says that Real Reels’ bonus rounds allow the game to get contacts from the player’s Facebook and Instagram accounts while sending a text message to friends. These same friends will be encouraged to download apps that’ll allow them to play separate social games that help the player make decisions in bonus rounds.
“It’s kind of like ‘phone a friend’ in ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ on TV,” Rosenblatt explained. “They’re not actually playing the game, but they’ll be able to help the player in the casino make decisions.”
While this sounds like a novel idea, the problem is that it doesn’t cover some of the regulatory gray areas.
A.G. Burnett, who heads Nevada’s Gaming Control Board, questioned whether concepts like Real Reels could lead to players manipulating games through smartphone technology. Furthermore, would the friends on social games be considered gambling online while helping their friend in the bonus?
Rosenblatt ensured that the Bluetooth connection won’t be able to interfere with the payouts and game play. Furthermore, the social-gaming friends won’t be gambling a dime.
Again, this concept sounds interesting, and maybe something that millennials would be interested in. But as Burnett points out, there are legitimate questions to be answered first.