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Companies Move To Make Poker Machine Playing A Communal Activity

Poker machine makers are trying a different approach in selling the traditional game. Now, these companies are making an effort to link up machines so that poker players will be able to share the payouts as well as the high that comes from winning.

During the last few years, the sales of poker machines have slowed in down in the US. This decline happened after a strong growth period, when most casinos shifted from using coin-based poker machines to those that issue paper tickets.

"I think the whole industry has to look at ways of making the industry more interactive. I think there will be much more communal playing - it adds to the overall excitement," CEO of Aristocrat Technologies Paul Oneile said at the gambling industry's annual trade show.

The trend was started 2005 when the popular Wheel of Fortune poker machine allowed up to nine players to sit around the wheel and share the payout.

"The interest was incredible," said Ed Rogich, vice president of marketing at International Game Technology, maker of the Wheel of Fortune poker machine.

"The spectator value really makes it a fun draw."

"A powerful and developing trend over the next two years will be the movement toward multi-station, communal play gaming devices," agreed Merrill Lynch analyst David Anders.