My travels take me all over the country, and throughout the year I not only play slots, but also other types of machines. Two that are increasingly present types of machines, and more manufacturers are getting behind and supporting, are Class II machines, also known as Bingo Machines, and Historic Horse Racing machines, or HHR.
We’ve shared details about how those work here on Flip The Switch already (click the links above if you’re new to them), but today we’re going to focus on my opinion of them:
What’s the deal with a class 2 casino like Wind Creek in Alabama? Good, bad, or indifferent?
Terry
And
How do you feel about the machines at Derby City casino in Louisville, Ky. that are tied to historical horse races?
Linda W.
Overall players should expect a similar experience in all types of machines. When a game maker puts a popular Vegas slot machine brand on a Bingo machine or a Historic Horse Racing machine, it’s because they expect it to play similarly in those formats. They wouldn’t water down their brands with a subpar experience.
The game makers tell us that for the most part casinos in each game type are offered the games with similar payback options, so to Terry’s question it’ll be more or less indifferent. In fact, where we are in California, many casinos mix Bingo machines and traditional slots on the same casino floor, often with the same brands.
Other than a visible bingo card (and even nowadays the bingo card can be hidden on some machines), most of the time you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. The same can be said for Historic Horse Racing machines.
One advantage is there are some games that are made to specifically serve those markets. The VGT red screen machines that are so popular in Oklahoma found their footing there because they specifically served that Bingo market. However, those red screens are now popping up in more places; the Hunt for Neptune’s Gold and Mr. Money Bags are both now at one of our local casinos here!
There can be some specific quirks, such as some Bingo machines require two players for a game to start. Historic Horse Racing casinos can have a casino-level jackpot that can go off randomly – I saw some crazy big wins on smaller bets while at The Rose Gaming Resort in Virginia recently where someone won over $80,000 on a bet around $1!
But ultimately it’s another way to offer a familiar experience in locations which may not allow slots, and having played them myself they’re definitely good to play. Just remember, like any sort of gambling, they’re built with a house advantage, and therefore in the long run are designed to make money for the casino. So only pay with your entertainment budget, and pace yourself.
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