Exhibited Poker Table at WSOP Amplifies Vegas's Automation Advancement in Gaming Technology
May 30, 2025 - 12:02h (Last updated: 12:28h)
Las Vegas' gaming industry is taking a significant technological leap, with automation becoming increasingly prevalent and electronic table games (ETGs) growing in popularity. Jackpot Digital, a leading manufacturer of dealer-less poker tables, showcased their latest product, Jackpot Blitz, at the 2025 World Series of Poker starting Tuesday at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
In post-pandemic Las Vegas, many customers have already interacted with automated services, from check-ins at resorts to pushing their luggage up to their rooms at certain resorts. Etched deeper into the industry is the ongoing inclusion of ETGs, initially introduced as a COVID-19 necessity but now remaining due to their cost-saving potential. Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps are just a few game options simulated on touchscreens at casinos such as Bellagio, Venetian, Resorts World, and Rio.
Amid falling gaming profits, these machines appear destined for further proliferation. Increasing job displacement, a shift primarily affecting dealers, may contribute to the adoption rate of poker automation. Jackpot Digital aims to capitalize on this trend by offering a dealer-less poker table, Jackpot Blitz, that incorporates advanced features like 84-inch 4K touchscreens and gesture-based gameplay.
More than a decade ago, Excalibur tested dealer-less poker tables (excluding video poker) but encountered player dissatisfaction due to the systems' perceived lack of engagement and distrust in the random number generators. However, Jackpot Digital, having acquired PokerTek in 2015, has developed improved technology for these devices.
In light of poker rooms being phased out or segregated from casino main floors and offering lower profit margins to casinos compared to slot machines, automating poker could be the means to preserve the game in Las Vegas.
The ongoing revolution of automation in Las Vegas casinos is part of a broader move towards digital and AI-driven services, leading to changes in employment, increased operational efficiency, and adjustments in response to declining visitor volumes. For instance, MGM Resorts International has eliminated concierge services at several properties, resulting in restructuring and job losses. This trend has been facilitated by technological advancements, improved management of games, and the reduced need for human dealers in some instances.
- In the expanding landscape of Las Vegas casinos, Jackpot Digital's latest innovation, Jackpot Blitz, a dealer-less poker table, is set to influence the gaming industry.
- The 2025 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas will host Jackpot Digital's showcase of their touchscreen, gesture-based Jackpot Blitz poker table.
- As automation and electronic table games (ETGs) gain prominence in Las Vegas, traditional casino games like poker are being automated to cut costs and adapt to technological advancements.
- More than a decade ago, Excalibur experimented with dealer-less poker tables, but player dissatisfaction with the technology has since been rectified by Jackpot Digital, now equipped with advanced features.
- In an era of declining visitor volumes and increasing operational efficiency, the automation of dealer-less poker could help preserve the game in Las Vegas casinos, where poker rooms are being phased out or relocated.
- Amid the ongoing shift towards digital and AI-driven services in Las Vegas, automated poker tables, like Jackpot Digital's Jackpot Blitz, could impact not only the gaming sector but also employment opportunities and visitor experiences.
- The rising popularity of automated services in Las Vegas casinos mirrors the broader trend of AI-driven services, potentially marked by job losses in sectors such as concierge services at MGM Resorts International.
