Dealers be afraid……very afraid. It looks as though automated poker tables could become the standard for table games in casinos in the near future. Harrah’s has publicized a deal today which includes a contract with PokerTek giving the company exclusive rights to provide the technology for automated poker tables at the casino and seemingly, more Harrah’s properties to follow. Financial deals were not disclosed in the press release, however the deal is most likely in the high millions.
“We believe that there is a market for automated poker throughout our properties,” Gerry Tuthill, corporate vice president of table games for Harrah’s, said in a statement.
PokerTek has also been given exclusive rights to develop a World Series Of Poker branded version of their automated table………bling bling!
PokerTek shares increased $1.97 with the news of the deal, closing at $12.07 yesterday.
Editor’s Note: I found this company about a year ago and almost bought alot of their stock….I am currently punching myself in the face, bye for now :).
The Poker Tek tables are a flash in the pants. Hollywood Park HAD and “epoker room” for almost a year and just recently shut it down due to lack of use… other than players falling alseep at them waiting for live games.
As innovative of an idea as they may seem, the tactile experience of a live game will never lose out to the “coldness” of the electronic tables. There will always be an initial curiousity to these tables when introduced into a casino.( most consider them video poker games by gaming regulation standards) but that will fade rather quickly.
Bet me.
Hey RakeKiller thanks for your comments. I personally agree with you on the issue of these electronic tables and believe that they will most likely be a fad but generally rejected by the majority of poker players. The thing is though, I can see the casinos banning together to push this big time as it will greatly reduce their overhead costs in the long run. This is the reason I think that we will be seeing alot more of these implemented into our local casinos in the next year.