G2E is held in Las Vegas each year around the end of September or early October. It's the world's largest gaming event for the industry where the slot and other gaming related companies show off their new products to the casino executives and other industry professionals. There's a lot of networking, conferences and three days of exhibits. It's also a chance to try out and experience the new slot machines before most of them are available for real play at a casino!
So if it's a industry event why have I been to it the last four years? Fortunately some of the exhibitor's provide free passes to those interested in their products and if you keep a eye out on various gaming websites you might be offered the chance to register for this convention, if you have the interest.
G2E was a couple weeks ago so I'm not breaking any new ground here as far as announcing what new slots are coming out, I'm approaching this from my personal viewpoint of roaming the exhibit hall and why I enjoy attending this event.
Due to crowds and slacking off for a few minutes at Venetian's Gold Lounge I missed the opening ceremony and cutting of the ribbon that opens up the doors to the exhibits, but as the crowds passed through the doors into the conference center the Avatar characters were still around for photos. Yes, there's new slot machines coming to you with a Avatar theme from IGT!
In past years photos have been discouraged and videos only allowed to those with press passes or other credentials and even the press has to be under escort unless they have made arrangements with the individual companies to take videos within their booths.
Lately the rules have been relaxed to where all are allowed to take photos from outside the booths on the main walk ways and within some of the booths they were allowing photos. However the companies that don't want photos or videos taken had a lot of security at their booths and they would quickly shut people down if they caught them taking photos. If you continue to do it after being asked to stop they can remove you from the convention center.
There's always lots of little free gift promotions being handed out, with these costumed ladies it was colorful lollipops.
The first day of the event I was only there for a few hours and I was walking around with friends Shamus and Slotspert. Always interesting to view the slots with these two as they are more knowledgable then me about the technical aspects of slot machines.
WMS studios has a fun new BEETLEJUICE slot so there were a couple Beetlejuice characters around the WMS booth. I really had fun with the Beetlejuice slot. It might have been a fluke but I hit the bonuses a lot even when a WMS rep wasn't around to bring up a bonus for me manually.
Below I have a video of the bonus in the photo above.
I also found this slot hilarious, especially the above free spin bonus with the giant heads where the song DIO plays and you see that scene from the movie where Beetlejuice makes them sing and dance to it during dinner. Made me want to watch the movie Beetlejuice again and I haven't thought of it in years. Here's a video of a Beetlejuice slot bonus, thanks to WMS studios for giving me permission to record it.
I was excited to see the new Gold Fish 3 slot as the sequels to the original Gold Fish so far have not been my favorite slots. Love the graphics of this new Gold Fish, but not to sure about the spinning wheel for selection of bonuses. A lot of games arriving soon to a casino near you involve wheels this year.
Below is a video of the new Gold Fish Slot. Thanks Shamus for arranging with WMS Studios to let me take this and a few other videos at their booth during G2E.
There's a new reel type Willy Wonka slot. Since I love the original Wonka slot I was excited to see this sequel. Here's a video of it:
