Electronic Poker Table on Display at WSOP Raises Stakes in Automation of Las Vegas
Jackpot Digital announced on Friday that its new Jackpot Blitz electronic poker table without dealers is showcased at the 2025 World Series of Poker, which started Tuesday at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas.
If you've visited Las Vegas since the pandemic, you've likely been registered at your resort or buffet by a machine. If you were at the Excalibur, which cut down on its bell staff earlier this year, you may have had to wheel your own luggage to your room — and paid for the experience, as the wheels on the resort’s new luggage carts only unlock when the cart is inserted a credit card.
Over a dozen casinos in Las Vegas already utilize electronic table games (ETGs). Implemented during the pandemic, supposedly to minimize COVID exposure, they have stayed because they also cut labor expenses.
Touchscreen interactions now mimic blackjack, roulette, and baccarat at the Bellagio, Venetian, Resorts World, and Rio, while “Roll to Win” craps (a blend of electronic terminals and live dice) can be found at Circus Circus and Harrah’s.
With the decline of gaming profits in Las Vegas, the popularity of these machines will probably keep increasing.
Fully Committed to Automation
Jackpot Digital, the top maker of dealer-less poker tables, is using Jackpot Blitz to attempt to transform the remaining poker scene in Las Vegas into a network of poker arcades.
The press release from the Vancouver, Canada-based company unveiling Jackpot Blitz at the 56th WSOP aims at casino executives keen on securing their positions by distancing more dealers from them.
“Jackpot Blitz dramatically reduces labor expenses and HR staffing, maximizing operational efficiencies for casinos and card rooms,” the release boasts.
Dealer-less poker tables (excluding video poker) were attempted at Excalibur roughly 15 years ago but were unsuccessful because of player dissatisfaction. The electronic tables produced by PokerTek were viewed as less captivating than live games, and some players were skeptical of the random number generators, worried about possible manipulation even with regulatory supervision.
However, Jackpot Digital, which purchased PokerTek in 2015, has greatly enhanced the technology by integrating 84-inch 4K touchscreens and gesture-driven gameplay into Jackpot Blitz.
Now is an ideal moment to fully embrace poker automation, as it's not just dealers being removed from casino floors, but also the game of poker itself.
The majority of poker rooms, providing significantly lower profit margins for casinos compared to slot machines (approximately $10 per square foot each year versus $4,000 per square foot for slots), have either been completely removed from casino options or relocated far from gaming areas.
Unfortunately, automating poker might be the exact solution that rescues the game in Las Vegas.
