Game Inventors Corner

Introduction

This section is dedicated to the dedicated individuals who aspire to break into the realm of marketing their own casino game concepts. Here, you will come across numerous tips and resources aimed at helping you transform your game idea from a concept at your kitchen table to a reality on the renowned gaming floors of the Bellagio.

Advice for Newcomers

Do you believe your game could rival the popularity of Three Card Poker? Is your idea so ingenious that it will compel casino operators to compete for the rights to feature it? Are you convinced that players will be eager to line up for a chance to experience what you have created? Perhaps this confidence stems from your friends echoing what you want to hear.

If this resonates with you, welcome to a substantial and fiercely competitive arena. Most casino game concepts meet an unfortunate fate – they tend to be overly complex, play too slowly, can be exploited for advantage play, or are simply not enjoyable. Yet, you believe your creation defies this trend, don’t you? It often seems that way. If you haven’t been disheartened, we encourage you to delve into the following resources crafted for entrepreneurs who are new to the creative and marketing sides of casino game development.

Articles

• The Ten Commandments for Game Creators by Michael Shackleford.
• Key Components of a Winning Carnival Game by Eliot Jacobson.
• GLOBAL GAMING EXPO 2006: Please Take My Game authored by Benjamin Spillman from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
• Seeking a place at the gaming table , from the May 10, 2009 Las Vegas Sun.
• Challenges Associated with Provisional Patent Applications by Jon H. Muskin.
• THE NEW TREND IN TABLE GAMES: THE RISKS MAY BE WORTH IT, BUT MANY INVENTORS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT GOING ALL IN written by Madison Zornes, contributor to the UNLV Law Journal.
• Aiming to Enter the Online Casino Industry, One Card at a Time by Jeff Edelstein.
• Unique and Unusual Casino Games (and the Visionaries Behind Them) by John Bloom from the August 2004 edition of Playboy.

Books

• For inexperienced game inventors, Current Trends in Casino Table Game Design by Eliot Jacobson is a must-read. Eliot and I have witnessed the common errors that newcomers continually make. This book thoroughly examines the typical pitfalls that lead most new games to fail and provides strategies to circumvent them. After engaging with this material, you might be deterred from venturing into this field. Given the slim chances of success, even with a solid game, your hesitation might be justified.
• Fundamentals of Designing Casino Games by Dan Lubin. Here is an excerpt (PDF 144k).

Videos

Dan Lubin interview An interview with Dan Lubin, the creator of EZ Pai Gow, discussing the intricacies of inventing and marketing new casino games. New Casino Games – The Pros, The Cons, and The Disasters Dr. Eliot Jacobson has compiled a collection of various casino games he has encountered. It demonstrates that if you believe you have the next Three Card Poker, you are not alone in your ambitions.

Dragon's Den This is a Canadian television program featuring venture capitalists, similar to our own Shark Tank. In this episode, the creators of a game called Chuck 'Em seek investment for their innovative dice game.

Resources

You will require significant assistance to transition a casino game from your kitchen concept to a casino environment. Specifically:

• A mathematical analysis.
• At minimum, securing a provisional patent, if not obtaining a comprehensive one.
• Game cloth.
• Rack cards.
• A website showcasing your game, ideally with a demo and promotional video.

Here are some individuals and companies we recommend for assistance.

Mathematicians

• Total Gaming Science , by Charles R. Mousseau.
• Vegas Math , by Diana Gruber.

Intellectual Property Attorneys

• Jon Muskin in Philadelphia ( E-mail )
• Richard Newman in Las Vegas.

Other Services

• Vegas Aces Heather Ferris not only specializes in dealer training, but she also creates websites and instructional videos. I highly suggest her services when it comes to showcasing your game. You can get in touch with her via the Vegas Aces website.
• Olympian Gaming They are involved in the design and marketing of new casino games and also provide expert witness services.
• Nicely Done Gaming For expert reports and testimony, game table and slot design, along with mathematical analysis.
• For table game cloths Steve Tamura. ( E-mail Contact: 206-920-2181, located at 1423 South Plum St. (Lower), Seattle, WA 98144.

Services to Casinos

• Lollipop Guild , by Michael Shackleford.
• Bill Zender . Game protection and promotions expert.

External Links

Our forum at Wizard of Vegas has a dedicated section for game inventors, where you can pose questions, receive feedback on your concepts, and support each other. Many seasoned game inventors are actively engaged, ensuring you're surrounded by knowledgeable peers.

Written by: Michael Shackleford