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Slots 101 – Persistence slot machines
by Buddy Frank
(Author’s note: If you think you know everything about persistence machines and their threat to operators, you might be surprised by reading the just-released “Breaking the Slot Code,” a book we review below. You’ll find there’s still a lot to learn. On the other hand, if you’re scratching your head about how and why talk about these games keeps coming up in every meeting, stick with me here.)
Walk the hallways at any gaming conference these days (G2E, IGA, ICE, you name it) and sooner or later somebody’s going to corner you about “persistence” slot machines. It might be the GM from a tribal property in Florida, or a slot director from Nebraska. Doesn’t matter. They all want to know the same two things: “What exactly is a persistence machine – are they good or bad? And what the heck do I do about them?”
Fair questions, both. Let’s start at the beginning.
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AI on the casino floor
by John G. Brokopp
In conversations with friends and acquaintances, has the topic of AI ever elicited an “it’s scary” response? It is a feeling expressed with ever-increasing frequency given the technological phenomenon of artificial intelligence is holding the world spellbound because the multitudes quite simply do not understand it or its impact.
Humanity has evolved into a generation of “shoulder-shruggers,” a condition brought on by rampant social media addiction and mere bullet point awareness of history and current events, leaving many vulnerable to AI’s beguiling ways.
Thus far, AI’s encroachment upon genuine human intelligence has been harmless, beneficial in many ways, in that it expedites certain intellectual activities. AI writes for us, composes for us, and conducts research for us…if you let it. It summarizes our electronic communications and even has a creative influence upon our electronic messaging. MSN has begun using AI-driven curation of news in place of human bylines.
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Book Review – Breaking the Slot Code
by Buddy Frank
Breaking the Slot Code: Beat The Machines Through Advantage Play
Written by Ben Rosenthal, 2026, Huntington Press, 220 pages, $39.95
Stop what you’re doing and read this book. I mean it. If you have anything, anything, to do with slot operations, “Breaking the Slot Code” needs to be on your desk before the week is out. That’s not a suggestion. That’s an order.
I’ve been saying for years that good advantage players (APs) are sharper than most casino executives. Ben Rosenthal just proved it in 220 pages. I’d bet serious money that the best slot manager in the country couldn’t identify more than a quarter of what’s laid out here. And that should scare you a little.
Now, this isn’t the first book promising players can beat the slots. Lord knows I’ve suffered through enough of those. Ten years ago, I started doing book reviews precisely to save you from the avalanche of garbage flooding our industry. Bad math. Flawed research. Limited trials. Wives’ tales dressed up as strategy. I wasted enormous amounts of time reading them so you don’t have to.
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Top 10 premium video titles
Rank-ordered by Player Share/Theo Win Share
| | Now includes player segmentation! | | Upcoming Industry Events of Interest | | |
Class 2 Gathering (C2G)
6/1 - 6/3/2026
Mayetta, KS
Class 2 Gathering (C2G) brings together casino and gaming professionals, exhibitors, and experts in the field of Class II casino gaming from the traditional bingo hall experience to the slot floor. The conference will combine education paths, showcase current applicable innovations, plus engaging events for participants.
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SBC Summit Americas 2026
6/9 - 6/11/2026
Fort Lauderdale, FL
SBC Summit Americas will gather over 8,000 industry professionals and 300 exhibitors, offering unparalleled networking and growth opportunities in the casino and sports betting sectors across the Americas. Key topics include market regulations, product innovation, sports integrity, data rights, cryptocurrency, AI, and cybersecurity. With specialized zones and summits, this event is essential for operators, regulators, suppliers, and affiliates looking to thrive in the region’s gaming market.
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Hospitality Operations Leadership 2026
6/22 - 6/24/2026
Tulsa, OK
Dive into the intricacies of lodging, food and beverage and other units within casino resort operations management. Sessions will explore key strategies and best practices for managers that are needed to excel in casino hospitality operations. Designed for entry- and mid-level supervisors with direct reports, usually with less than five years of managerial experience.
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NCLGS Summer Meeting 2026
7/8 - 7/11/2026
San Diego, California
As the only gaming conference that focuses on legislative decision-makers, dozens of lawmakers from across the country will be among the more than 300 expected attendees for the summer meeting of National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS).
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Casino Marketing and Technology Conference
7/14 - 7/16/2026
Temecula, California
Get ready for three days of interaction and 20+ hours of content for Tribal, commercial and online casino operators. Enjoy live roundtables with peers where you'll get the latest industry information. Also one of the best vendor experiences for marketers, featuring the latest technology, agencies, continuity suppliers and more!
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OIGA Conference and Trade Show 2026
7/20 - 7/22/2026
Oklahoma City, OK
The 2026 OIGA Conference and Trade Show, otherwise known as ‘the biggest little show in Indian Gaming,’ will be held in Oklahoma City, OK July 20-22, and will draw nearly 3,000 vendors, visitors and guest speakers to Oklahoma City to celebrate and advance our industry. If you have never attended the OIGA Trade Show, you are in for a treat! It is a lively, fun, informative, high-energy assembly of some of the biggest names in the gaming and hospitality industries.
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