Gaming Room Life Span

Whilst a gaming room installation is generally considered to have a ‘lifespan’ of anywhere between 5-10 years before a ‘reno’ or ‘refurb’ enters one’s conscience, the internal gaming room format and layout is forever in a constant state of change and evolution. At the very least there should be regular internal machine moves and bank configuration reviews. Intervals predicated on the overall EGM number per venue will come into consideration and adjusted accordingly.

These are all well and good practices to follow but what invariably occurs is that these ‘minor’ tweaks result in imbalances to the effectiveness and longer-term potential of the floor. The changes that seem logical or convenient at the time have been known to counter the very reason to make said changes, that being to improve performance and customer experience.

Everything in the gaming room has its place. For mine, the gaming room is about experiences. It’s about:

• High volatility vs time on device (TOD)

• Standalone progressive (SAP) vs non-SAP

• Link vs non-link and even Lightning Link vs Lock It Link

• High denomination vs low and multi-denomination

• Indoor vs outdoor

• EGM vs MTGM

and what ‘theme’ if any, are we trying to emulate. Also consider:

• Do all the above complement each other?

• Are the ‘experiences’ spread around your room?

• Will the proximity of Lightning Link to Lock It Link have any bearing on their effectiveness as a premium product?

• Do we group these links or spread these throughout the room?

• Do these links work better inside compared to outside?

By all means move or add machines but ALWAYS give serious consideration as to what effect you are likely to have on the overall effect on your gaming room?