In the world of sports, the Kentucky Derby is not just another race, it is THE Derby.
In the world of casino gambling, Sigma Derby is not just another game, it is THE Derby, as unique and time-honored a tradition as any on the gaming floor.
Next Gaming LLC, in collaboration with Highbrow Gaming LLC and VSR Industries, has reintroduced Sigma Derby as a component of the modern era, not reimagined, or even reinvented, rather 21st century re-tooled while preserving and enhancing all its unique charms and appeal.
Next Gaming CEO Mike Darley’s passion for Sigma Derby as an entertainment option casino-goers are ready for is surpassed only by his pragmatism for what its presence will create on the floor in terms of driving a communal gaming experience.
“We refused to change the core experience,” Darley said, referencing the Sigma Derby of yesteryear. “The mechanical authenticity was extremely important to us. We would not change any of it. We wanted to preserve the personality of the game while engineering it for seamless interaction and serviceability from a casino perspective.
“The presentation is spot on. We had to make changes underneath that experience, given the technological advances over the past 40 years. It meets today’s regulatory requirements and integrates efficiently with casino operations. I liken it to the body of a 1957 Chevy and the engineering of a 2026 Corvette.”
Darley, while acknowledging that casino floors are constantly evolving from a technological perspective, believes that in some respects it can be a “stagnant evolution.”
“Casino floors have become increasingly screen-based and individualized,” he said. “Guests are staring at a screen on their computers, tablets, phones, and yes, even the slot machines. I say there is a unique experience. Sigma Derby offers something vastly different, a unique physical presence that attracts attention from across the floor”.
Darley’s more than four decades of leadership positions within the gaming industry, the last dozen years as CEO of Next Gaming LLC, have prepared him well for appreciating the value Sigma Derby will bring to the modern guest experience…an intrinsic value that up to now has been left under-appreciated.
“Sigma Derby creates on the gaming floor a dynamic similar in many respects to the craps table,” he explained. “There is a communal social experience, a communal outcome. Players can move for various positions resulting in different outcomes. They experience the result together, they listen, watch, and react.”
Players experience the race and the result together. The outcomes impact the way the players interact with one another, which becomes natural for the game itself and one of its strengths. The bugle call to post, the clang of the starting gate bell, hoof pounding racing action, all add to the visual excitement of the racing action.
“There is also the entertainment value beyond the wagering itself,” Darley said. Participants watch, cheer, and follow the horses. They can enjoy a race or two even before they decide to participate because when you are in the vicinity of the game, you can hear the chatter. There is no slot product on the floor quite like it.”
The unique spectacle of Sigma Derby makes it not only valuable to guests playing the game, but also those who are attracted to it as spectators. It cannot get lost in the maze of rows and carousels of look-alike slot machines. Its distinctive, refreshing, communal participation presence makes it unique.
“Generating energy and visibility on the floor is very desirable,” Darley observed. “Operators desire a focal point on their casino floor which can create energy on a consistent basis and attract guests to take a look at the game to see what all the excitement is about.”
The distinguishing virtue of Sigma Derby from slots is that there is visible and audio excitement created by every race, every time, and every few minutes. The same sensory signals playing slots are triggered only with a jackpot. The rest of the time it is a silent one-on-one experience that attracts nobody.
Significantly, there is nothing intimidating about Sigma Derby for casino guests who have never experienced it. The main event is a horse race, and the object is to pick the horse that runs the fastest and wins the race. Everyone knows the object of the “game,” even if the only race they pay attention to all year is the Kentucky Derby.
The “Quinella” is the featured wagering option in which two horses are selected. The bet is a winner if they are the first two horses to cross the finish line. The betting positions are bill validator and TITO equipped in quarter, fifty-cent, one-dollar, two-dollar, and five-dollar denominations.
“Sigma Derby is a collaboration among Next Gaming, Highbrow Gaming LLC, and VSR Industries,” Darley confirmed. “Each entity’s position in Sigma Derby is critical. For example, two current Next Gaming engineers worked for Sigma when the original Sigma Derby was released. They possess an intimate knowledge of the game, so bringing it back is a natural fit for Next Gaming.”
A deep understanding of the original product and the experience and expertise required to bring it back into today’s gaming environment are crucial to the success of Sigma Derby and what Next Gaming brings to the table.
“Our role was primarily to bring together the software and mechanical design teams to recreate the classic Sigma Derby experience,” Darley said. “It was never about reinventing The Derby. It was always about combining our vast knowledge of the game with our modern engineering.
“Only the team at Next Gaming, which owns their proprietary ICE platform licensed in multiple jurisdictions, has the combined experience to fully understand its individual components. There is complete understanding of the mechanisms of the game among our product development and software engineering teams to support and service the game. We are experts at this.”
The leadership at Highbrow Gaming LLC recognized that Next Gaming had the necessary licenses, expertise to build the game, design the software, create the math and guide the game through the regulatory processes … VSR Industries’ focus is on slot cabinets, slot bases, cam locks, digital displays and custom millwork.
“From my experience, creating energy on the gaming floor is crucial,” Darley observed. “If an operator wants a focal point which can create that energy on a consistent basis as well as attract people to look at the game, having Sigma Derby will be a huge advantage.” For operators, that means the Derby can serve not only as a gaming device, but as destination within the casino, creating traffic and engagement around an area of the floor.
VSR Industries will be showcasing Next Gaming’s Sigma Derby at Booth #1619 at G2E at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, September 29 – October 1.
