Aristocrat Gaming, a leading developer of land-based casino products, will release NFL-themed slot machines this fall, according to a recent report by Marija Malenovic for World Casino News. Although the exact number of casinos that will add the NFL-licensed slots has not yet been determined, Aristocrat Gaming’s marketing director, Mark Wadley, emphasized that the machines will be widespread throughout Las Vegas and other gaming jurisdictions in the United States.
The upcoming release is being promoted on the east side of Allegiant Stadium, using the giant media grid screen. Aristocrat Gaming is a proud partner of the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium, and the company is using some of its high-value channels to advertise the games.
The slot machines are not yet finished, as they require design and programming completion. Aristocrat Gaming wants to incorporate user feedback into the design and programming process. Fans can design their unique slot machine by completing a short interactive questionnaire on the Aristocrat website. Questions relate to the style of the jersey, the user’s favorite teams, and whether their favorite NFL players should be involved in the games.
Las Vegas has been a key city for the NFL since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, allowing the Raiders to move to Las Vegas in 2020. Since then, the city has been the site of two Pro Bowls, the NFL Draft, and will host Super Bowl LVIII next year. The NFL, the Raiders, and Allegiant Stadium also have many unions with gaming companies.
David Schwartz, a UNLV professor and game historian, commented on the future release of NFL-themed slots, saying, “It signals a 180 on the NFL’s attitude towards gambling. For decades, the league took pains to eliminate any associations between football and gambling. In the 20 years since then, the expansion of gambling (both casino and sports) nationwide, as well as the significant public investment in Allegiant Stadium, have helped to soften the league’s stance.”