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Gambling gets geeky
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November 20, 1997: 12:01 p.m. ET
Vegas explores unique combination of computer tech and gambling highs
From Correspondent Casey Wian
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LAS VEGAS (CNNfn) - Gambling and computers are becoming a winning combination for casinos, so it's doubly appropriate that this week's giant Comdex technology show was held in Las Vegas, North America's gaming capital.
Computers have triggered a revolution in gaming, with traditional one-armed bandits giving way to electronic gambling machines powered by a wide range of technological innovations.
"The machines themselves are taking on a new character," says Peter Boynton, president and CEO of Caesars World. "They're really appealing much more to the younger, computer-oriented person. Many of them are interactive -- we have touch screens on slot machines now."
Computers allow a single machine to store several different games, allowing gamblers to choose which method they prefer to test their luck. Because jackpots can be linked electronically between each machine in a casino -- or even between casinos -- payoffs can be much larger than those offered by old-fashioned slot machines.
One of the most exciting innovations on the horizon is International Game Technology's slot machine with a live video monitor. These machines can display anything from advertising to sporting events, turning the gambling machine into a video game of fortune.
"In the past you had three reels that locked in, and that's pretty much all you could do," says Ed Rogich, executive director of International Game Technology (IGT). "Now, by adding a layer of technology on top of that, you can still have the basic slot game and you're able to take it a step further by having a bonus game for example on an LCD, which is all driven by a computer."
The video slots will sell at $12,500 each, about double the cost of IGT's old, non-computerized models. Nine Las Vegas casinos already have installed the new machines.
One of the most popular of the new games allows gamblers to watch live sporting events and predict the outcome of individual plays. Correct predictions win rewards.
"This is what everyone dreams of," says one fan of the game. "Like when you're sitting at home with the guys and you say, they're going to run the ball."
The technological resources required to support real-time remote betting on live broadcasts are substantial.
"[Computerized video gambling] is more sophisticated than the stock exchanges, this is more sophisticated than banking systems," says Barry Mindes, chairman of International Sports Wagering. "This is real time wagering taking place as the game proceeds." 
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