The entrance into the highly competitive casino game market is practically impossible to gain traction into without the right guidance and education. Fortunately for students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the solution is being offered.
The Center for Gaming Innovation at UNLV offers a course in Gaming Innovation, taught by the program’s executive director, Mark Yoseloff. Yoseloff is the former head of SHFL Entertainment, Inc. and a gaming innovator himself, having created the popular table game Mississippi Stud. During his time at SHFL, some of his notable moves include acquiring the rights to wildly successful 3-Card Poker, in addition to the automatic shuffling machines found in table games throughout the world.
Students are given the unique opportunity to create a casino game in the class, and given both assistance and guidance on entering their games onto casino floors. So far, 25 patent applications have been filed, six gaming products are either in or nearly in the field, three companies have been formed, and one game, “Pai Wow,” is on the floor of Palace Station.
The class gets a unique look into a side of the industry most people overlook, and receive guest lectures from industry leaders. The course gained wide-spread attention when one student, Hien Nguyen from the inaugural class, sold her slot machine idea to industry giant Konami Corporation, in addition to winning first place and $3,500 in the class contest.
