Casinos have been hard hit by the economic downturn, the ban on smoking in public places and the liberalization of online gaming.

To face up to these different factors casino managers have invested in smokers’ areas, have diversified and have bet on new machines: electronic roulette. This new generation machine has revolutionised classic tables. The player sits at a tactile screen and bets as usual. The chips are of course virtual and a credit system is put in place. The dealer is still present but his work isn’t the same as that he did at classic roulette tables. He no longer needs to give out or collect losing bets or pay out winnings. He just has to seat the fourteen players at the gaming table and has to roll the ball.

Casino directors believe that this new way of playing will definitely attract players en masse. Playing at an electronic roulette table allows one to play more quickly and to avoid any risk of error. Moreover, with electronics becoming more and more popular casinos are being forced to adapt to new ways of gambling. It must also be said that by adopting these electronic games that casino directors can reduce their salary costs.

Even though this new way of gambling is finding new fans there are however some players who remain reticent. They consider the new machines lacking in conviviality and that they prevent the interaction between dealers and players which is a characteristic of casinos. Taking this into account, they no longer need to go to casinos to play and can do so in their own homes by logging onto online gaming sites.

The casinos are caught between the desire to attract new players by investing in new electronic machines and keeping the convivial atmosphere which characterises them and in which players are welcomed by a large and attentive staff which comes at a high cost.