Summit deals new machine, upgrades
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
In an optimistic statement about Montana's future gaming environment, Summit Gaming is introducing a brand-new sit-down cabinet and new upgrades for its existing machines.
The move indicates the company's faith in the future of Montana's gaming and shows an understanding of its role in the industry, said Kevin Peterson, Summit's general manager.
“With our install base, we still have the largest market share in Montana,” he said. “We take that very seriously.”
Summit introduced its first machine in the Montana market place over 14 years ago.
The new machine and the upgrades to Summit's existing machines are available to all Montana licensees.
Summit Gaming, he said, understands the importance of these “affordable upgrades” to its customers, especially “when times are tough and capital expenditures are limited.”
For those operators who want the latest machine available, the new sit-down cabinet called the Royal Touch Evolution offers an array of high-tech enhancements designed to attract and keep players.
“We signed an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) agreement with Bally Gaming that allows us to license the use of their popular Cinevision cabinet with our operating system for the State of Montana,” Peterson said.
The enhancement that is noticeable immediately is the 26-inch wide touch LCD screen, the largest currently offered in the state. The Royal Touch Evolution also boasts an ergonomic design to improve the players' comfort level.
Of course, the machine comes with an all-star suite of players' favorites from both Royal Touch and MegaPlex along with new games, including Cash Countdown.
Summit is offering a trade-in program for the new machines, as well.
Operators also have the choice to upgrade their existing Royal Touch and MegaPlex machines.
“We want to keep those games out on the floor generating revenue for our customers,” Peterson said. “Everybody's budget is tight. A lot of people can't really go out and buy a new machine.”
The Royal Touch conversion's improvements include Summit's latest operating system, already approved by the Gambling Control Division, that will accommodate future upgrades, and a larger screen size of 20 inches to accommodate wide-screen graphics.
The upgrade comes with enhanced poker and keno games and will be thermal-printer compatible.
“Here's an opportunity to offer new technologies in an existing, recognizable cabinet that players love to play,” he said.
“We're excited about the upgrade paths for existing products as well as introducing a new machine that is available to every customer in Montana,” Peterson said about Summit's new products. “Operators now can have a brand new cabinet in their place, or they can have new bells and whistles in their existing cabinet.”