Pong Set To Possibly Make A Comeback In Casinos
By William on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 2:58 AM PST In Gamer Life
Pong may be making a comeback, but in a place I would have never considered. Skill-based gaming has never been approved in gambling, but it appears Pong is just a few steps away from being approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission. This time, Pong will be a regular slot machine where the old game element comes into play only during bonus rounds. In the past, gaming comissions have turned down any video game style gambling that requires any skill, but the fact that the actual skill part of the game will be just during bonus rounds could be a big enough loophole to allow this to happen.
I will definitely be excited to see Pong make a return of any kind. Remembering where we came from in gaming is a very important aspect that many gamers overlook. I do think if this deal goes through with Pong, we might see many, many arcade and home console classic titles filling up space in Casinos in the near future.
Pong and the twist of a payout based on player s’ skills were debated last week by the state Gaming Control Board. The panel said slot machines must have an element of randomness in their base game but noted that Pong’s skill element comes into play only in the bonus round – something not covered by regulations. So, the three-member panel recommended approval and sent Pong to the Nevada Gaming Commission, which has to sign off on the concept before it could be played in a casino.
If the commission approves skill-based gaming , Schultz said, it could open the door to other skill-based games that could be popular with a new breed of casino gambler – Generation X’ers who grew up with video-game consoles in their laps.
