Casino Games That Busted Before Players Could Enjoy Them

^{Failed Pac-Man slot machines were gobbled up before they could ever really gain popularity from the Millennial crowd. (Photo: courtesy of G2E)}

The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is where manufacturers roll out new games for casino operators to place on their floors. Some of these games are ready to go, built with themes and features meant to click with today's players. Others are prototypes showing off new ideas, gameplay mechanics, or tech that could shape what's next.

My main focus when going to G2E is finding games that visitors in Las Vegas will be able to play sooner rather than later. The prototypes are fun, but it's easy to get lost in the madness, so I tend to skip them.

However, it's impossible to skip all of the fun and strange games on display.

Missed Opportunities With Creative Game Ideas

This slot machine from the Novomatic booth in 2023 never made it to casinos, but it shows up on social media every few months because the concept of a roving slot machine is ridiculous.

I don't recall why it was on display, and I haven't seen this technology used in any other games yet.

That slot is probably the most popular game on social media that has never been seen on casino floors in Las Vegas or anywhere else. My personal favorite prototype that never had a chance to make casinos was Wet Race from Alfastreet.

The video below was originally recorded in 2017. The boat racing game was a spinoff of the Royal Derby horse racing game that never had the impact of Sigma Derby or even Fortune Cup.

As a sports bettor with no attention span, I was stoked to see IGT's CrystalBetting terminals in 2021. The initial version of the multi-game machine, where players could watch a game and place sports bets while playing video poker, slots, or keno on the same screen, was set up like horse-racing carrels in sportsbooks but never took off. 

IGT made a bartop version that hasn't reached bars or taverns in Las Vegas or anywhere else. Even though the concept was great for someone like me, there wasn't a need for a device like this with the explosion of mobile sports betting.

Over the years at G2E, there have been countless slot machines with various seating arrangements. The most popular to display may have been airplane-style first-class or lounge seats.

The only new-style seating arrangement to reach casino floors is the double-wide seat for two people. Not only did a MacGyver slot machine never reach casinos, but neither did the super comfy seats. Bless their heart, Novomatic is still pushing the VIP slot installation in 2026.

Game Over or Paused for Skill-Based Concepts?

Almost 10 years ago, skill-based gaming was going to be the next big thing in casinos. The idea was that players could use their expertise in a casino game to win money.

Great idea — wrong platform. 

Whether it's card counters or advantage slot players, casino operators don't want players who can regularly walk away as winners regardless of the game. The first iteration of these games was purely skill-based. The second version capped the machines at a return to player (RTP) below 100%, so the casino was guaranteed not to lose.

That also guaranteed a player couldn't win. In the end, nobody played the games, and many never saw the light of day. While Nothin' But Net was an entirely new all-skill game, the game's awful graphics certainly didn't help.

Space Invaders

Some manufacturers tried to incorporate skill-based features into slot machines rather than build from scratch. Inspired's Space Invaders game is from the second iteration of skill-based games, in which the RTP was below 100%.

The game was a traditional slot machine with the option to choose a skill-based bonus round or a free-spins bonus. Since returns were capped, this wasn’t entirely based on a player’s proficiency. 

This game actually reached casinos and was kind of fun, but it had a short shelf life for two reasons. First, players with skill moved on because it was impossible to beat. Second, slot players just want the game to do its thing.

Virtual Reality Gaming

IGT took a more futuristic approach to skill-based games by launching virtual reality gaming.

The concept was weird from the jump. A player would enter a booth to put on goggles to play a game and earn points. Similar to a poker tournament, the casino would keep a cut and pay out the top players.

This had a very limited trial period in Las Vegas. I played it at The Orleans, where it lasted a few weeks before some enterprising players pooled their money to occupy the top 10 places and split the prize money.

The game was removed shortly thereafter because skill-based players are too smart to play a rigged game, and the casino didn’t want to promote such a thing.

Pac-Man

There have been skill-based and traditional Pac-Man games in casinos. Gamblit Gaming (now an esports company) was pitching its skill-based versions as communal games that could be played on massive wall-sized installations.

The concept was similar to people in an arcade watching others play the World's Largest Pac-Man. The idea was fun for a Gen Xer like me, but it was aimed at younger millennials who like to gather in groups.

The big problem was that they didn't care about the theme the same way we did. This massive Pac-Man-for-money game was a prototype that never had any takers.

Slot Pod

I saw the slot pod from Novomatic at my very first G2E. It was such a weird concept that I had to take a picture for no reason other than it was weird. If I remember correctly, the idea was that people would sit inside the dome and have great audio while playing slots. It looked like a napping pod at best or was horrifyingly claustrophobic at worst.

Players sit inside the green dome to play slots on the Slot Pod. (Photo: Marc Meltzer / Casinos.com)

Either way, Novomatic used to push the limits of what a gaming manufacturer could do. Last year at G2E, the company didn't have any interesting prototypes while the larger manufacturers pushed old concepts with cutesy new themes.

It’s fun to look back at the casino game concepts that didn’t work than those we’ve enjoyed over the past decade. I reached out to Interblock to see if they had any news about Marble Run or any of the other Amuse games I couldn’t share pictures of, but never heard back.