What is it about AGS’ Diamond Lotto slot machine that makes it so popular in South Florida? Out of 450 Diamond Lotto machines in the U.S., about 400 are located there, said AGS Vice President of Slot Products Andrew Burke. He explained AGS bought the game, created in 2001, from a Quebec company. It flourished when it was introduced 10 years ago at the Miccosukee Resort & Casino in west Miami-Dade County. At the time, slots had not yet been approved by referendum in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Burke said, “My in-laws live in South Florida, and I took a trip to see the Miccosukee casino,” which only offers Class II instant-bingo games. “At 11 a.m. on a Tuesday there were people five deep, with rows and rows of Diamond Lotto machines,” Burke said.
In the game, players choose six numbers from 0 through 9, and they win if their numbers match the ones that are drawn, like an instant Pick Six lottery game. South Florida’s Hispanic population grew up playing the “bolita” lottery game, so Diamond Lotto’s concept is appealing, as well as its basis in bingo among the Miccosukee players who appreciate that they can play their lucky numbers—birthdays or anniversaries–on Diamond Lotto.
Calder Casino Senior Director of Marketing Wade West said at first the casino offered five Diamond Lotto machines. “Now we have about 50 on the floor. I think people kind of get to help determine outcome by selecting their numbers, like a lottery. You feel a little more in control.”
When South Florida approved racinos, Gulfstream President Steve Calabro, among others, scouted Miccosukee. Impressed by Diamond Lotto, they asked AGS to create a Class III version of the game, which would operate on a random number generator. AGS had converted other products from Class II to Class III for Gulfstream Park and Hialeah Park, where Calabro now is general manager.
Today every South Florida casino has at least one row of Diamond Lotto, which are the most-played according to many slot managers. The games help increase a casino’s slot payback rate by returning higher than the usual 92 percent, which is made up for by users playing many more spins per hour.
Diamond Lotto machines still come in their original bulky blue boxes. Burke said, “It’s totally underwhelming. Until you see the revenue numbers.”
