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Interest in virtual table game systems continued to grow among casinos, especially those in gaming jurisdictions that frown on conventional table games, continues to grow, reported David Krise, vice president of game design and development at Spokane, Wash.-based DigiDeal Corp.
"DigiDeal's DTS (Digital Table System) received a lot of attention during G2E because it uses virtual cards, provides the option of using digital gaming chips, and downloads in real time all game data to a central computer," said Krise. "The DTS system thus makes table games acceptable in slots-only markets by eliminating hand-held items like playing cards and betting chips.
"Yet despite playing games like blackjack in a virtual environment, DTS retains the live dealer, so players get the same interaction and camaraderie as the genuine games," he added.
From its demonstrations at G2E, DigiDeal received many sales inquiries. The DTS should reach the market later this year, once tests that were set to begin in February are completed, Krise said.
At G2E, DTS offered only one game, the blackjack-like Digital 21. Since then, DigiDeal has reached agreement with Lakeside Entertainment to convert its All-In Texas Hold 'Em game for play on the DTS. In the virtual environment, monitors all game play, including which players are betting the blind ante, hold card bonus, and final game outcome, and for how much.
On completion of the hand, the DTS automatically signals on players' screens who won which bets and for how much. This, Krise noted, frees the dealer from having to total up winning himself, thus enabling twice as many hands of All-In Texas Hold 'Em to be played per hour. This also keeps the game fast and exciting, attributes younger people desire, he added.
DigiDeal also is adapting for use on the DTS games played on its earlier DCS (Digital Card System), including Trips, Fishin' Buddies and Slot Jack.
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