Aristocrat Gaming continues to strengthen its position as the industry leader in Class 2 gaming, with an award-winning parade of innovations and premieres that stepped off earlier this year at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) in San Diego.
Last month, Aristocrat celebrated a “grand march” into casinos across the state of Oklahoma with its all-new Class 2 Crown Bartop, which Stephen Vann, Director of Product Management, Class 2, Aristocrat Gaming, said “is a perfect example of how Aristocrat Gaming blends cabinet design and game content.”
Expanding on Crown Bartop’s unique compatibility with Class 2, Vann continued, “Let’s start with the bartop design. The Crown Bartop has the industry’s largest floating 23.5-inch LCD monitor, which is tilted and curved for a better guest experience. The cabinet also fits into existing space cut-out. Illuminated edge lighting creates ambience around the bar.
“We’ve taken that advanced design and incorporated proven VGT by Aristocrat Gaming mechanics and iconic titles in The Hunt for Neptune’s Gold and The Hunt for Aztec Riches. Plus, it’s all connected to the Frenzy Jackpots link, giving players a chance to win a jackpot that starts at $10,000 for low-denominations and $25,000 for higher configurations.”
Aristocrat Gaming and Aristocrat Interactive teamed up to introduce a broad portfolio of new products at IGA, including more than 60 innovations, the tradeshow premiere of several Class 2 games, Class II Mobile, Modernized Membership, and the newly acquired Gaming Analytics, which brings powerful data-driven insights to operators.
Class II Mobile bridges the gap between the casino floor and the digital world, while Modernized Membership is designed to enhance operator-player relationships.
Aristocrat has mastered the art of tailoring Class II hardware and content specific to operator needs. Vann emphasized the many factors that must be incorporated to perfect this process, which includes having a firm understanding of what makes operators’ needs in the Class 2 market unique.
“The operators’ needs in Class 2 start with the designation itself,” Vann explained, “meaning that all Class 2 devices operate from a central bingo server. That requires sophisticated system technology and no one does systems better than Aristocrat Gaming.”
Player preferences must also be taken under thoughtful consideration, according to Vann, who observed, “VGT by Aristocrat Gaming has a long history and proven track record in creating games and game mechanics that Class 2 players love.
“You can talk to any player anywhere in Oklahoma and they’re going to know Hot Red Ruby, Mr. Money Bags, Jewel, the Red Screen Free Spins, and the sound of the VGT bell,” he said. “Over the past few years, we’ve blended VGT’s mechanics and characters with Aristocrat Gaming’s hardware and game designs to create experiences that players really enjoy. We built these games specifically for our Class 2 customers and their players. The results have been outstanding.”
Tradeshow premieres at IGA were unveiled, along with expansions of player-favorite game families, including Mr. Money Bags Makes Another Mint and Mr. and Ms. Money Bags.
Mr. Money Bags Makes Another Mint is the much-anticipated sequel to the original iconic theme, fortified with triple-metamorphic features that can be triggered by themselves, in pairs, or all three at once. Another player’s favorite, Frenzy Cash, has been enhanced with a wheel bonus that can be triggered for a chance at the Frenzy Jackpots SSP.
A new VGT character, Ms. Money Bags, appears for the first time in the new stepper game, Mr. and Mrs. Money Bags. It’s a match made in heaven on the new Marquis cabinet, with a digital-wheel showcase and a double metamorphic that can be triggered independently or together.
Vann acknowledges that Aristocrat’s Crown Bartop cabinet debuting in Class 2 across Oklahoma is a significant milestone on many levels. First and foremost, Class 2 operators have a fun new way to entertain players.
Operators love that the monitor flips open on top for fast and easy service, eliminating counter-space intrusion and downtime, and adaptable PMM housing location with customizable options that provide setup flexibility.
“This venture once again proves we never stop innovating for our customers,” Vann said. “At IGA and soon at OIGA, we show new games that were created exclusively for our Class 2 customers, and the feedback has overwhelmingly positive.
“Now, we add the Crown Bartop with The Hunt for Neptune’s Gold and The Hunt for Aztec Riches, with additional games to come. It creates a huge impact for our customers to be able to offer player-favorite games in a new format, and that means a new location. Now players can have a fun gaming experience, while they’are enjoying time with their friends or catching a game at the bar.”
Aristocrat’s dynamic presence at IGA, and soon again at OIGA, revealed that such Class 3 sensations as Coin Trio, Buffalo, Spooky Link, and Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Ignite Blue and Red Prosperity are now available in Class 2.
Other significant developments include Aristocrat Interactive iGaming & Sports display of the Class II Mobile Solution, which was designed to bridge the gap between the casino floor and digital world. It delivers player-favorite games anytime, anywhere, on approved tribal gaming land. Class II Mobile is a full turn-key solution built on a proven tech stack that extends the casino brand directly into players’ hands.
Vann understands that Aristocrat’s industry leadership role in Class 2 is in harmony with its dominant position in Class 3, observing that the harmonious dynamic “is not so much a separation, but rather a blending.”
“Our Class 2 and Class 3 design teams learn from each other, share ideas, and find ways to make the most of the hardware, mechanics, and technology we create. It’s a well-known fact that Aristocrat invests more in R&D, what we call D&D, than any other supplier. That investment clearly shows up on the casino floor in Class 3, in Class 2, in online gaming, and now at the bar.”
