Las Vegas slot machine maker hints at decline in market
Posted by Carl Barnett on 10 Dec 2009 at 14:12
A Las Vegas company that makes slot machines has said it thinks that fewer machines are now being bought by casinos.
The manufacturer, Aristocrat Technologies, said that the number of slots being bought is the lowest for a decade.
The company says this is due to the spending plans that casinos have in place, which are currently focused on stretching budgets.
Nick Khin, an executive officer at the firm, said that the four major slot makers combined sold less slot machines in the third quarter than at any point in the last decade.
Mr Khin was speaking at an industry event, the Global Gaming Expo.
The Global Gaming Expo is a four day event held in Las Vegas, with Mr Khin was speaking on a panel on Wednesday.
Another gambling operator was represented on the panel, with Boyd gaming's CEO, Kevin Boyd, saying replacing slot machines cost $10,000 at a time, and that casinos must consider other ways in which to entertain their customers.
Khin also mentioned the fact that slot machines stay on casino floors for an average of 25 years, and added he does not believe that the situation will improve next year.
No mention was made by the two men of the impact, positive or negative, of online slot machines on the real world market.
