“ Players desire crisp , modern technology to interact in their playing experience . A fuzzy video screen will turn people away .
ETGs and all games need to provide aesthetics and engaging game play .”
— Rob Ziems , President , Aruze Gaming America
Aruze ’ s Roll to Win Craps mission baccarat .
The product has updated graphics , user interface screens and side bet options to give players a new look and feel . Terminals can be placed in a variety of configurations in stand-alone , bank , circle , arc and stadium layouts , ensuring maximum versatility . New side bets create a more dynamic player experience while increasing time on device and improving house edge .
New to the Dynasty RNG Concurrent group are Lucky 8s Side Bet ( baccarat ), Upcard Stud Side Bet ( triple-hand blackjack ) and Lucky Number Side Bet ( baccarat ).
ETG side bets offer a potpourri of wagering options , both on player and dealer hands , with varied bonus structures .
The Upcard Stud side bet wins if the first two cards of all three player hands and the dealer ’ s face-up cards form a winning poker hand . The Straight 2 Flush side wager wins if the player ’ s first two cards and the dealer ’ s up-card make up an eligible hand . The Buster Blackjack side wager wins if the dealer busts . This side wager pays out based on how many cards the dealer received .
Lucky Lucky , Upcard Stud and Dealer ’ s Bonus wagers either combine the hands of the dealer and players together or focus on the dealer ’ s hand alone .
Bruno anticipates significant opportunity for global ETG expansion . In North America , player adoption has been steady , he says , but operators are still embracing and introducing ETGs at an unprecedented rate .
Rolling to Win
Aruze entered the ETG space in 2009 , and has played a leading role in the ascent of this industry sector according to Rob Ziems , president of Aruze Gaming America .
Ziems says the ETG market expanded as technology became more ingrained in the everyday life of consumers . ETGs ’ low-touch status became a significant advantage in the Covid-19 era , as operators and players sought reduced touch points to help limit virus spread , he says .
“ ETGs are a growing market ; they have been around for roughly 20 years and have experienced various levels of success and adoption over the years ,” says Ziems . “ Shoot to Win Craps really started to change the adoption rate of ETGs because it combined player interaction with technology to create a new yet familiar experience . Aruze calls this ‘ Activ-Play ,’ where current technology is leveraged to create new experiences .”
Shoot to Win Craps places player stations around a central air chamber which the shooter uses to roll oversized dice . While that product has achieved much success at high-profile casinos such as the Venetian , Aruze followed it up with Roll to Win Craps , a semi-automated unit presented as an actual table with LED backing , where players actually roll the dice .
Roll to Win can be operated with a single dealer ( a fully automated version is also available ) and offers chip-free and error-free operation . The game simulates live-table game play with dynamic interactive graphics and a side bet that awards a jackpot on a hot shooter ’ s streak .
In addition to the craps games , Aruze offers Lucky Roulette , a “ hybrid roulette ” combining classic mechanical elements with innovative projection mapping technology . The HD projector displays high-resolution graphics of the roulette wheel onto a spinning mechanical wheel .
The result is a beautiful , crisp , hyper-realistic 3D visual experience that melds the appeal of a traditional roulette wheel with vibrant graphics that significantly enhance a gaming experience that is punctuated by a variety of changing game scenes and interactive graphics that track the spinning physical ball , according to Ziems .
The game play is more exciting with expanded bet options that now include “ Box Bets ,” he adds .
“ Today ’ s players have become accustomed to highly engaging , highly produced interactive games that are easily accessible via their mobile devices , high-definition TVs , and tablets ,” Ziems says .
“ Players desire crisp , modern technology to interact in their playing experience . A fuzzy video screen will turn people away . ETGs and all games need to provide compelling aesthetics and engaging game play .”
Blitzing Into the Market
Jackpot Digital has been on a roll .
Last month , it announced a licensing agreement with Buffalo Bill ’ s Casino Resort , located in Primm , Nevada , to install two Jackpot Blitz ETGs . And there is more to come , according to Mathieu McDonald , head of investor relations and business development for Jackpot Digital .
“ Operators have expressed their desire for ticket-in / ticket-out funding and full integration with their casino management system , and we have heard them loud and clear , which is why we have recently introduced our next-generation Jackpot Blitz ,” he says .
“ This is allowing us to serve a much larger segment of the marketplace , and the demand is definitely there . The ongoing labor shortage , combined with difficulty in finding or retaining experienced dealers , means there is growing demand for dealer-less platforms like Jackpot Blitz .”
McDonald says Jackpot Digital has been in the ETG space since 2015 , when it acquired the assets of PokerTek , a major player in the dealer-less poker arena . He indicates that the company is proud of the work it has done to evolve the product from the “ 1980s cellphone ” technology people saw back then , into the “ latest Apple iPhone ” customers see today in the
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