Are video lottery terminals the future of the street gaming market, or merely one facet of it? InterGame speaks with some of the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers to consider the key advantages of such machines and their future development.

Vlts

FEARS that the introduction of video lottery terminals would cannibalise the more established AWP appear to be largely unfounded, but, as a growing number of countries look to this type of machine to better monitor the gambling market and collect taxes, is the VLT the future of the street market?

There are a host of VLT markets globally, some far more established than others. The success of the roll out of these machines into new jurisdictions varies by region, but nonetheless there are those markets that inevitably provide the blueprint for policymakers to follow in order to develop their own programmes.  

IG: In which jurisdictions has the introduction of VLTs been the most successful and provides the best model for others to follow?

Ryan Reddy, GTECH International: “VLTs have been tremendously successful in regulated jurisdictions where they’ve been introduced due to their appeal to local players. VLTs are typically distributed across a variety of channels, including restaurants, pubs, gaming centres and arcades, but the common factor is the people playing. Locals enjoy the pace of play, time on device and opportunity to win. For example, in Sweden, the regulated VLT programme bridged the gap between regulated and unregulated play. People who were experienced with older forms of gaming appreciated the simplicity of the VLT game design, while new players were attracted to the new cabinets and exciting content. In Italy, VLTs introduced a new form of gaming to a well-established market. VLTs are providing new value by offering higher wagers and awards, including a multi-level wide-area progressive. Canadian jurisdictions have seen great success with distributed, government-sponsored VLT gaming and provide excellent models for other jurisdictions considering the creation of a VLT programme. Many Canadian programmes are also among the most mature in the industry, and their success is borne out by the longevity and sustainability of their programmes.”

Read the full article in the March issue of InterGame