Does Sigma Derby ring a bell? It does for Mike Darley, CEO of Next Gaming, who has partnered with Highbrow Gaming LLC and VSR Industries to bring the iconic horse racing game back with its original charms and appeal.
“Sigma Derby is such a compelling game,” Darley said. “I have always wanted to rebuild the magnetic effect it has on customers. We are going to bring it back as close as possible to the original.”
If you visited Las Vegas any time from the mid to late ‘80s up until the dawn of the new millennium, you may have come across Sigma Derby, an electro-mechanical game that was developed by the Japanese manufacturer Sigma Game, Inc.
The racetrack, housed beneath a thick sheet of glass, was home to five plastic thoroughbreds which “ran” around the track across five slotted lanes. The horses’ movements were controlled by an ingenious mix of motors and chains.
It was surrounded by 10 betting stations where players could wager quarters on the outcome of the races. Bets were made on which would be the first two horses to finish, meaning each race had 10 wagering possibilities that were posted with random odds.
Sigma Derby was the first gaming device to create a social experience among players. It was a novelty in an era when the main attractions on casino floors were reel-spinning mechanical slot machines.
When the video revolution took hold and electronic gaming devices morphed into technological marvels of engineering with audio and visual attractions never heard or seen, Sigma Derby began disappearing.
The games that were in place had stood the test of time, with the manufacture of new ones long since retired. This fact, in addition to a scarcity of technicians who had the expertise to make repairs, let alone acquire replacement parts that were next to impossible to find, contributed to Sigma Derby’s demise.
That is all about to change thanks to an inspiring “trifecta” of partners who believe the timing is right to bring Sigma Derby back to life.
“Iterations of Sigma Derby have been developed to replace the original, but none have attempted to mimic it,” Darley said. “We are making it as close as possible to the legacy game, except TITO enabled bill validators are replacing the coin operated betting positions.”
The last remaining original Sigma Derby game can be found at The D Casino in Downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street in the property’s “Vintage Vegas” section.
“Sigma Derby has a cult following,” Darley said. “There are Facebook groups devoted to the game and its fans. Its enduring popularity is incredible considering there is only one remaining in Las Vegas. The others have been off the floor for the better part of 30 years now.
“In contrast to the game that is in place at the D, which has many mechanical components and is very expensive to maintain, our Sigma Derby will be the same configuration as the original only with modern components under the hood. It will look and play like the original.”
This is where the partners come into focus. The leadership at Highbrow Gaming LLC recognized that Next Gaming has the expertise to build the game, incorporate the software, and create the math. Darley even acknowledged that there are some current staff members who worked on the original Sigma Derby dating back to the 1980s.
Enter VSR Industries, headquartered in Las Vegas but with over 300 employees at locations around the world. Founded in 1969, VSR’s focus is cam locks, slot bases, custom millwork and cabinets.
“VSR has the engineering experience and the reputation to be the perfect fit to manufacture the games for us,” Darley said. “We are about 80 to 90 percent complete with development of the game. The expectation is that we will have it submitted to the independent testing labs by summer.”
Betting on the first two horses to hit the wire, regardless of order of finish, is called a Quinella in handicapping parlance. With five horses it adds up to 10 possible winning combinations.
“I think the fact there are only 10 choices plays on the psyche,” Darley speculated. “One of those 10 choices is absolutely going to win. I strongly believe that is one reason the game is so popular with players. By owning their decisions, they experience a sense of controlling their destinies.”
Darley is convinced that Next Gaming’s Sigma Derby has the potential to transcend its novelty following and niche appeal to expand into a product with widespread attraction among a broad base of casino goers.
“You must realize that the original Sigma Derby had widespread appeal,” he reminded. “I mean, up and down The Strip, there was a ‘Derby in every casino in the late ‘80s into the early ‘90s. Do we think every casino is going to have a game? Probably not. But there are quite a few of them out there that will, based upon the demand we are fielding.
Darley said that Pechanga Resort Casino in Southern California will be the launch location. In Nevada it will launch for a field trial at either Four Queens or Binion’s.
