Don't Play the Slot Machines at Casinos - Look Under Them!

Some readers may know that I once dabbled in designing slot machine video theme games and bonus rounds. I actually had Non-Disclosure Agreements with three of the largest slot machine manufacturers in the world. But it was hard work and the paychecks were few and far between.

However, as the technology continued to leap forward at blinding speed, it was just taking up too much time for a freelance outsider to keep abreast of developments in order to produce competitive designs. So I gave it up, and now look what I'm doing!

Nonetheless, I continue to have several friends and associates in that industry and during a recent trip to visit my money in Atlantic City I became aware of the following:

Nearly $20,000 coins, gambling tokens, and even paper currency notes, including a $100 bill, were discovered as slot machines and other gaming paraphernalia were removed from the 79,802 square foot Sands Casino in Atlantic City in 2007 as the property was awaiting a date with the wrecking ball.

The Sands, at Indiana Avenue and Brighton Park, was Atlantic City's smallest casino. It was purchased on November 17, 2006 by Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas and, at this writing, is in the process of being demolished to make way for a Las Vegas-style $1.5 billion resort.

The closed casino is part of a complex which once had more than 2,000 people on its payroll, and includes a 623-room hotel and six restaurants. During its lifetime the Sands proffered between 2,100 to 2,450 slot machines and ninety-three table games for patrons. Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddies played there.

The bulk of the cache, mostly in loose change ranging from dimes through half dollars, apparently accumulated from overflow spills of full coin catching bins inside the machines with open frame bottoms. The errant change made its way into the narrow space between the sides and bottoms of the machines and the cabinets they sat on (nothing like that ever happened with machines I designed!)