Gaming News

Monticello Gaming & Raceway to get games

MONTICELLO, New York -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Monticello Gaming & Raceway, a unit of Empire Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: NYNY), will be one of two facilities to host the first ever Wide Area Progressive Video Gaming Machines in New York State. Beginning June 12th, Monticello Gaming & Raceway will link with Saratoga Gaming & Raceway to offer Wide Area Progressive video gaming machines to its players.

"This is a history-making event in New York State," said Monticello Gaming & Raceway Video Gaming Director Chris Palmer. "We have been having conversations with all of our vendors regarding these types of machines for at least two years now. Bally's stepped up to the plate and made this happen. It really is a great opportunity for our players."

Monticello Gaming & Raceway will link ten of its Bally's Lucky Wheel Progressive video gaming machines with six similar Bally's machines at Saratoga Gaming & Raceway. A percentage of credits from each machine at both facilities will enter into one jackpot. The jackpot will begin at $50,000 and grow "progressively" until someone from either gaming facility wins the pot. The jackpot will then reset to $50,000.

There will also be secondary jackpots available on each video gaming machine with the payout determined by the amount wagered by the players.

The largest jackpot ever won at Monticello Gaming & Raceway was $105,000 on a Bally's in-house progressive machine. The largest jackpot ever won at Saratoga Gaming & Raceway was $195,700, also on a Bally's in-house progressive machine. It is very likely that each facility will set a new record with the arrival of the Wide Area Progressive video gaming machines.

Although the jackpot starts at $50,000, the potential jackpot is limitless. The highest pay-out ever recorded on a wide area progressive machine is $39,713,982.25 in Las Vegas on March 23, 2003.

Bally's will be taking on the cost to transform all of the machines into the new progressive format at Monticello and Saratoga. The transformation involves linking the progressive machines on a digital network to a central determination system and programming the machines to recognize that link. Players at each facility will be able to view the jackpot on a digital display located near each machine.

"This is really a great opportunity for our product," said Mark Casto, marketing manager for Bally's. "Many people say that these jackpots are life changing and we are happy to have our product linked to that idea. We have a great relationship with Monticello and Saratoga and this opportunity will only strengthen that relationship."

Currently each facility offers local area video gaming machines which are linked together within one facility. "Wide Area" covers multiple facilities and, in this case, includes Monticello Gaming & Raceway and Saratoga Gaming & Raceway.

Casto added, "Bally's is in talks with all six gaming facilities in New York State and it's likely they will join with Monticello and Saratoga by the end of the year. We are also looking into bringing other wide area gaming machines into each facility."

Progressive gaming machines have been a staple of gaming facilities throughout the country and the arrival of these machines at Monticello Gaming & Raceway is a step forward for the facility.

Palmer added, "I think this puts us on par with some of the larger gaming facilities in the country."

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