Go-ahead given to casinos to test downloadable games

2007-09-07 14:47:53

Atlantic City casinos have been told by regulators that they can test slot machine games downloaded from a central computer.

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission voted in favour of allowing city casinos to download games to individual slot machines, which would still have control over the final outcomes.

As well as being able to change games, the central computer can alter the minimum bet required, although this cannot be done in the middle of a game.

"If the casino wants to change from Wheel of Fortune to Diamonds, the machine will go blank, a sign will come up on the screen [...] and then the machine will reset itself," said Linda Kassekert, the commission's chairwoman to the Las Vegas Sun.

The test period will last 270 days and is due to start on October 1st.

New Jersey Casino Control Commission has quasi-judicial control over licensing applications and has the power to calculate penalties for regulatory violations, such as tampering with slot machines.