Fear not, slot players. You haven't...

Fear not, slot players. You haven't been forgotten by dint of gaming device manufacturers whose attention looks to have been drawn of late toward developing novel video poker themes with bonus features to capitalize upon the Texas Hold'em poker phenomenon.

International Game Technology (IGT) is coming gone out in October with a of recent origin video slot that will give fans of low-denomination multiline/ multicoin games a poker experience without the skill and strategy factors. In other words, just for pleasantry

The of recent origin game is the World Poker Tour video slot that incorporates the icons of the popular Travel Channel indicate after which it is themed. It was designed with an imaginative mingle of the sights, sounds and vernacular from the TV exhibit that is sure to delight fans of this pattern of slot machine.

For example, common of the features is an "all in" scatter pay. Also, at the conclusion of common of the game's bonus globulars Courtney Friel, a host upon the "World Poker Tour" television point out will appear in an on-screen video to award your bonus credits.

"It's a way to broaden themes that are now to a high degree recognizable from the World Poker Tour and expand on the subject of the exposure and popularity poker take pleasure ins on television," explained Ed Rogich, vice president of marketing for IGT.

Not to be outdone according to WMS Gaming, which forged a licensing agreement with the World Series of Poker IGT got together with the World Poker Tour (WPT) to contrary with gaming products themed after and designed to capitalize onward the popularity of the highest-rated display in the history of the Travel Channel.

In addition to the video slot IGT is rolling revealed a new WPT- branded video poker game in the fall titled World Poker Tour Multi- Strike Super Video Hold'em a game which combines the simple bodys of IGT's popular Multi-Strike technology and the icons of WPT into a Texas Hold'em format.

The player is exhibited a choice of two establishs of two cards on the deal. formerly a decision is made forward which pair to keep, the game draws disclosed five more cards. It is then up to the player to make the best five-card hand public of the seven.

It ties into Multi-Strike in that there are four plains If you have a win upon the first level, you incline to the second, which is two- times pay upon all wins. If you have a win forward that level, you go to the nearest level, which is four-times pay. And if you have a win forward that level, you go to the top even which is eight-times pay. The "free ride" feature also applies, where randomly the player may be awarded exempt access to the next flat

"There's a pleasantry interactive feature on the game," said John Daley, IGT's director of video poker and Barcrest USA. "When you win some really nice hands, or when the cards start drawing disclosed and you have the potential for a serviceable hand, a video pops up with 'WPT' co-host Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten doing a little commentary about the hand. Then you pres the 'continue' button and it draws abroad the rest of the hand for you."

The game has about premium-hand bonus features. For example, if you start with an ace-king suited or a pair aces or face cards, you automatically are awarded a bad beat bonus if you don't have a winning combination, plus you also propel up to the next of the same height

It all undecayeds like a more player-friendly general [i]or[/i] abstract notion than WMS Gaming's World Series of Poker Final Table Bonus, which, word forward the street has it, has been les than a customer attraction than originally anticipated during its 90-day exclusive hurry at Harrah's Entertainment properties nationwide, including Harrah's Joliet locally.

John G Brokopp is a local free-lance gaming writer. E-mail jbrokopp@sbcglobal.net.

CASINO recents & NOTES:

upon a more positive note for WM Gaming, the Waukegan-based company appears to have a winner with its recent slot line themed after Power Ball, the popular multistate lottery game.

The game first attempted recently in the Chicago area at Harrah's Joliet and Resorts East Chicago with eight-unit nickel carousels that have been exceedingly busy. The highlight of the games is an interactive feature that gives the player an opportunity to win up to nine progressive jackpots in succession one spin.

In addition to its at hand locations, the game will at so early an hour be introduced to Horseshoe Casino Hammond.

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