I have spoken to a few casinos this week and it has been enlightening. Obviously casinos main goal is to make money. Few seem to really understand that a strike machine is more than a slot machine one just places on the casino floor. It needs a strike program which generally consists of having good looking strikes and changing tham out over time. A nice looking $200 strike sure doesnt hurt either. WhenI heard TI took out their machine it was no surprise. Most casinos need to make about $150 a day on a 25 cent machine. Many are hanging in there around $115 a day. Really not quite what they need. If TI had come out with another $200 and had 4 strikes or so to play for I would think their daily average would have doubled at least. Same strike has been in their machine for 2 years now.

I have the feeling that in the coming months several casinos will sign on with the new program and others will come on board shortly afte rthat once the whole process of ordering new strikes is figured out. I think the ccasinos will tend to be ones that have a closer ear to the silver strikers and much nicer looking degigns will be one of the several positive results.Any casino with a good theme and a steady flow of tourists can do very well on strikes. I eastimated that the Palms made over $58,000 profit just on the last Playboy release alone. There is plenty of money to be made when the program is given the needed attention.

The hobby should continue to flourish for many years to come as well as the many friendships made through the hobby.