Williams "slots"

[LLUncoolJ]

I had read that Williams Pinball had shuttered and concentrated on the "gaming" business. Well, last week I went to  the casino my wife was playing a Monopoly "penny" slot and I noticed it had the WMS logo on it. So I sat down and played 3 cents x 30 lines for a while. It sucked my money up, but it was quite amusing, especially the bonus screens. It has a video screen with rectangles cut out of the middle for 5 real reels. All kinds of animation is going on in the background.

Anyway, here's the kicker. After doing a little search for a photo to attach, I discovered that these machines are rather mysterious. They are leased to the casino by Williams and when they cease being profitable, they are pulled and destroyed. Making them virtually impossible to find outside of casinos. Seems like a shame, because I haven't really seen anything like it. Here is a link: http://www.pinrepair.com/slots/wms/monopoly.htm

EDIT:  The link shows 3 reel slots. The ones we played (2 versions) had 5 reels. They must be a newer version. I also don't remember the mechanical dice roll.

[Flake]

Well why dont you go one further in your research and figure out where to buy one because I want one.  Report back when you have some good info.

[LLUncoolJ]

Well why dont you go one further in your research and figure out where to buy one because I want one.  Report back when you have some good info.

Best I can tell is that we will have to straight up steal one ala Mission Impossible or Oceans 11. Start planning the mission, there are 5 or 6 at Lumiere. There are also a couple of Star Wars penny slots at the Queen. When wife and I went after CPs, I stuck a $20 in one of them and won $167 (in a drunken stupor). Then I stopped by there last thursday before I went home and stuck $20 in the same machine and cashed out $200. Definitely worthy of a $20...but play the Star Wars one, not the Jedi one.

[Flake]

Damn.....why do you bring this to our attention and then provide no avenue of acquiring the machine.......you tease. 

I'd be willing to risk your future if you could steal one.  I'd pay a fair price of course. 

[ahofle]

I knew a guy who worked on slot machine software several years ago.  He was apparently not allowed in any casinos because of his intimate knowledge of the payout algorithms.  That is why you will never find these things used. 

[LLUncoolJ]

I generally hate slots and really hate video slots. But the monopoly ones just had some really unique technology.

If you read the link, it seems that Williams leasing is an anomaly. Most of the time casinos buy their slots and do what ever with them when they are washed up...destroy, trade in, sell, stick in an Indiana Jones-like warehouse.

I know that if I had a couple of those in my basement, I could install a stripper pole at the other end and the wife and other women would never realize it was there.

[Flake]

Yea I second that....of all the coin-op stuff I've added to my basement/gameroom an authentic working slot machine would be the one machine my wife would actually get some regular use out of it.  She doesnt really play the mame or pinball or even the touchscreen much for that matter. 

I've seen a couple on CL over the past year but they are all super old looking.  If I could get my hands on a newer model with electronic animations and such that would be sweet....

[danny_galaga]

Why would you play a slot machine for the sake of playing it? Isn't the thrill the remote chance you might win big?

[Flake]

Why would you play a slot machine for the sake of playing it? Isn't the thrill the remote chance you might win big?

I dont disagree dude....if you noticed it would be for the wife. 

[pinballwizard79]

WMS slot machines are sweet, the Ameristar Casino has a few rows (last time I looked).........

We have a Street Fighter Pachislo & it seldom gets used.

I wish I had a casino buffet in my basement, that would be nice.

[ChadTower]

It's state law, the machines have to be closely guarded and then destroyed when pulled from the floor.  State law but consistent across states that allow slots.  Just like ahofle said, it's all about making sure nobody with intimate knowledge of the machines is able to profit from that in the casino.  It's a little different with the older mechanical slots but still every rev, every patch, every minute change in the slot software has to be closely inspected by the gaming commission before it can be pushed out to the floor machines.

[LLUncoolJ]

My wife got tossed out of Harrah's STL about 6 years ago...which of course meant I had to leave. We were both up several hundo too...probably a good thing as we left up and didn't give it back. They even opened a window at the cashier just to get us out. They probably should have given us a room, as we were both drinking (especially wife). She wasn't beligerent, just happy and sloppy...I think she spilled a hurricane on the bj table.

IL casinos now prohibit smoking.

Ameristar buffet=sweeeet

I'd think if you saw the Williams machines we are talking about, you'd welcome one into your gameroom. They really have a lot going on. But I guess it's a moot point, unless you work for Williams in the old slot destroying department and can sneek 1 piece at a time out and build one in your garage.

[ChadTower]

She wasn't beligerent, just happy and sloppy...I think she spilled a hurricane on the bj table.