Changes just part of the game at Rivers

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Rivers Casino. | Al Podgorski ~ Sun-Times

Updated: November 16, 2011 5:06PM

Casino slot floors are constantly changing as managers keep an eye out for new games and shifts in player tastes. In the case of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, the first few months of operation were a time of evaluating what customers were and were not playing, and what changes needed to be made in the game mix.

“We found what we really needed were more quarter and dollar mechanical reel slots,” said Al Geldres, vice president of slot operations. “We’ve added over 60 dollar slots in the last three months, and part of that has also been relocating [games to different parts of the casino]. Since we’ve opened, we’ve done over 200 moves or conversions.”

Geldres said the largest share of games that have been changed to higher denominations have been low-denomination games with five mechanical reels, because those are the easiest to change over to higher coin denominations. Other conversions have come on MLD slots from International Game Technology. MLD machines are video slots that use a multi-layered screen to give a 3D effect. Since it’s all on video, it can be five reels with a high number of paylines for a penny, 2-cent or nickel video slots or switch to a three-reel format for the higher volatility games that quarter and dollar players like.

While most of the higher-denomination games come from IGT and Bally, Geldres also is giving a try to dollar slots from WMS Gaming, including Gold Gold Gold and Diamond Dublin. One bank of the WMS dollars backs up to popular WMS low-denomination video games including Winning Bid 2 and Dean Martin’s Wild Party.

Rivers found it also needed more video poker, so 60 machines were added. Most are $1-$2-$5 multidenominational Game King machines, but some new multi-hand machines are in the mix.

Low denomination games haven’t been ignored. The Hangover, for one, has been added, replacing Star Wars and Dirty Dancing slots. More than 600 low-denomination games remain.

John Grochowski is a local free-lance writer. His “Casino Answer Man” tips air at
5:18 p.m. Tuesday-Friday on WLS-AM (890).