Page 17 - September 2006 • Southern California Gaming Guide

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Whether you’re 25 or 85, a young parent or an “empty nester,” everybody likes a
brings the kind of camaraderie and excitement that, until now, we’ve only seen at craps tables.”
Wheel of Fortune® Slots, Past and Present
e widespread player appeal of Wheel of Fortune® games goes back many years and is a re ection of the incredible popularity of the Wheel of Fortune® television game show. In the mid-nineties, Anchor Gaming originally developed the idea of adding a roulette wheel to the top of a slot machine. A short time later, IGT developed a partnership with both Anchor Gaming and Sony, and used the wheel idea with
one of the most popular television game shows ever, Wheel of Fortune®. In December 1996, IGT introduced the Wheel of Fortune® progressive slot machine, and it quickly became the most popular slot machine ever with players around the country. Not only did the machine look like the popular television show, but it even sounded like it when the familiar chant rang out over casino oors:“Wheel...of...Fortune®!”
That first Wheel of Fortune® game started another important trend in slot and video slot machines—
it was the first time a television show theme
appeared on a slot machine.
Since then it has become common to see slots based on television shows, but that first Wheel of Fortune® game was the groundbreaker. And what better fit could there be for a slot theme than one of the most popular television game shows ever?
Today there is an installed base
of over 11,000 Wheel of Fortune® slot machines worldwide, and over 1,900 jackpots have been hit over the years. ere are many variations of the game in casinos today, including
Wheel of Fortune® Video Slots, Wheel of Fortune® Extra SpinTM, Wheel of Fortune® Special EditionTM Money Spin®, Wheel of Fortune® Five Times PlayTM Slots, Wheel of
Fortune® Featuring Triple Double Stars® Slots, and several bingo variations. All these games continue to be consistent player favorites, but this latest variation may
become the most popular of all.
“Super SpinTM literally puts a new spin on a player
favorite,” says Ed Rogich.“Wheel of Fortune® is the most popular slot machine in history. We’ve made it bigger and better, so it’s no
wonder people are lining up to play it. It’s like nothing they’ve ever seen before,
and yet, it has a familiar theme.”
Community Play in the Future
With the popularity of Super SpinTM, it
should be exciting to watch how the trend of community play will change casino oors in the future. e appeal of the community gaming experience certainly seems widespread among players, and
it’s easy to see why.
“We are extremely pleased with the success of the Wheel
of Fortune® Super SpinTM,” says Jean Venneman, Vice President Product Development for IGT. “We believe the community aspect of the game o ers the players an
At the start of the Super SpinTM bonus, Vanna prompts eligible players to join in the community bonus spin.
entertainment experience that is fun and unique. We’ve seen couples seated side by side on the bench seats laughing and playing together. We’ve seen crowds clap and cheer when the wheel spins. e game has injected a great deal of excitement in the areas that it’s been placed and we’re
happy to see players embracing it.”
Just as many other innovations in gaming
have changed casino oors over the years, multiple-player games may do the same. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that video poker was developed, then came the advancement of the imbedded bill acceptor, and just a few years ago ticket-in/ticket-out technology was introduced. Each innovation in gaming technology has changed
casino oors throughout the country and around the world, and always for the better. It should be exciting to see what the impact of community play will be.
“It will be interesting to see how this game helps reshape casino oors,” says Ed Rogich. “With so many fun and innovative features, there’s no question that Super SpinTM will be an industry trendsetter.”
Big Winner! It Can Happen to Anyone
You hear about it all the time—some lucky person wins a huge jackpot. And you think to yourself what you would do with that kind of fortune. Well, it actually came true for one lucky 27-year-old from Visalia, California, when
Each player station has its own wheel pointer that lands on a bonus total, so bonus results for each player will vary.
party, and community play truly creates a party atmosphere where everyone can join in. Maybe that’s why the Wheel of Fortune® Special EditionTM
Super SpinTM game is catching on all over the country.
“It’s a game that promotes player interaction like no other slot machine,” says Ed Rogich, Vice
President of Marketing for IGT,
the game’s manufacturer. “Super SpinTM is a very social game—it
September 2006
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Page 17