For TAB-Austria, poker has been available as an offering on its touchscreen games for some time. But the company has noticed that popularity has increased in recent months.

"In the last year, parlour games and card games like poker have become very popular. For many years we already installed such games to our Silverball touch screen terminals. But since the launch of our tournament mode Silverball Championsnet in 2002 we have recognized a tendency towards poker and card games," says the company's Dietmar Straubinger.

The debate over whether or not poker is a skill-based game, or one predominantly guided by chance, has long raged. Last month, Cigital, a U.S software firm, released a study of over 100 million Texas Hold'em hands, and claimed that the statistics showed that poker is in fact primarily a game of skill.

"Texas Hold ‘Em is a phenomenon of our time and Heads Up Challenge (the last game of any tournament) is a real part of the phenomenon that everybody wants to play largely due to the incredible TV coverage to be found every night of the week," says John Farringdon from CVA. "So as an amusement game, in a familiar surrounding, players can enjoy and learn the game play without the restriction or fear of losing money, their identity on the internet or making any embarrassing faux pas!"

Peter Robinson from Nova Productions agrees that poker is ideal for an amusement only game. "Poker is a game that has been around for such a long time and although it is generally thought of as a gambling game it contains elements which makes it extremely entertaining. If one takes the Internet, it is a fact that there are more on-line players playing for fun chips there are playing to win money.

"This alone establishes that Poker must have a strong element of amusement without gaining monetary prizes or else why would so many people play fun poker? Playing games is a natural part of the human psyche, and we need to play games at all levels to reach a good balance in life. This is not to say that a prize element would not be important in Poker, but just it is not the be all and end all a cash prize."

Bernhard Eber from Bally Wulff agrees that non-prize poker is gaining in popularity. "In Germany there exist a lot of poker-clubs where you can gamble without winning a prize. And people love it. Poker with prizes is in Germany only allowed in licensed casinos. Our tests show that people feel enthusiastic about our poker machine. Also people how dont know the real rules can play straight away. Another important factor is that a solo player can also play with our machine, as it is designed for up to four players."

Poker is a game that can prove to be daunting for beginners, who may feel more comfortable playing against a machine as they learn. Peter Robinson has found that in order to attract new poker players, it is essential to present the machine well, so people are drawn to it. "In general we find that other players introduce new people to the game and the new players realise that it is fun to learn.

"A new player can learn the basics in a few minutes and without any pressure and without risking money gambling. And his game can last up to half an hour. Of course, to properly master the game can take years!"

TAB's Dietmar Straubinger agrees that the look of the machine is very important. "The position the design of the machine/table are essential. A good sound system and a positive sound design are also very important to arouse a great deal of interest," he says.

CVA's Heads Up Challenge has introduced a new attract monitor at the rear of its table, in order to arouse interest in a location. "This screen allows casual non players to watch the game play just like on the TV," says John Farringdon. "It isn't the actual table game itself but the variance allows the viewer to watch the play as a voyeur...it's great! Also the second screen is a great advertising bill board and operators can set up intermittent adverts during the attract mode, which is another great opportunity."

For those players who are used to the real thing - how do the new range of poker machines match up? Peter Robinson says the challenge is to create a video pack of cards that the players can relate to. "The players are the people who matter, we provide the basically a video pack of cards. It is vital that the feel of the game, use the playing cards, is what the player is comfortable with. Players need a modern interface - touch screen - not buttons and roller balls, after all we are in the 21st century. By using a 37 inch high definition top quality monitor ensures the presentation is the best than can be achieved with present technology."

The Nova PokerKard machine is dedicated solely to the card game as is Bally Wulff's Play4Pro. "Our philosophy is, that poker must be a single game. Therefore we created a real poker area with a special carpet, table-displays, poster and tournament-plans. Poker should be like a solitaire in an arcade," says Bernhard Eber.

 Meanwhile the TAB Fun4Four table is an all-round entertainment offering with skill and quiz games as well. John Farringdon of CVA says that his company is looking into the possibility of offering a compendium of games in the future.

"Realistically the game is based around a roller ball, buttons and a screen so the world's our oyster! But yes we have been developing and testing games on the platform but with such a strong game as Texas Hold ‘Em you have to ensure that you do not detract from the coin box drop. We hope to be able to offer operators option game packs that can be added for specific locations, along with Heads Up Challenge LIVE multi game tournaments to establish National Champions and obviously online tournaments are a possibility when a sufficient installed base has been established," he says.

Tournaments are a tricky area due to the fact that they can change the status of amusement machines by introducing a prize element. Gamestec, the leading UK operator, has had great success recently with a national Texas Hold ‘Em Poker tournament held using digital SWP quiz machines.

Anne Kennedy of Gamestec says. "Gaming machines are a vital part of the pub entertainment mix and by running tournaments like this, it shows we are keen to move with the times and offer interactive challenges for players. We offer games that we know will be popular with pub customers. For example, a growing number of pubs are starting to run poker nights, this Texas Hold ‘Em Poker game means customers can be involved in playing, even if they miss the pub's traditional poker night."

The tournament was run through internet connected terminals, which allowed Gamestec to record player scores and run leagues. Additional benefits of internet connected terminals include the ability to frequently update game content providing players with a continuous choice of leading games.

Peter Robinson from Nova is steering away from tournament play in the UK. "We do not use tournament play in the UK due to the current legalstatus of Poker and the consequences of giving a prize. The English courts have determined that Poker is a game of chance and so falls under the Gaming Commission if any prize is offered.

"Tournament play puts forward the idea of a winner and with a winner one can too easily assume that a prize could be offered. It does not matter what sort of prize is awarded, if it has a monetary value then it falls with the 2005 Gaming Act. A seemingly innocent item such as a Tee-shirt or cap that would render the machine a gaming machine. This would attract AMLD for each player position as well as permits, which would lead to undoubted exclusion from a public licensed premises. We have legal opinion, of which the Gaming Commission have a copy, stating that PokerKard is not a gaming machine.

"In one European country, we are supplying a tournament game connected to the Government gaming network," he continues. "This means people can play poker, for cash, under governmental guidelines and supervision, Nova has been working in this field for more than 12 months and expects to have a few thousand machines in place and connected together in order to provide large tournament cash prizes. It is expected that a one million euro first prize, will be offered later this year."

By keeping an amusement status for the machines it means that locations can be wide and varied. CVA has sold its Heads Up Challenge machines into bowling alleys, universities, bars and cross-channel ferries as well as casinos. Bally Wulff is finding that arcades and bars are the most popular locations for its Play4Pro tables in Germany and TAB-Austria has found the sky is the limit with Fun4Four. "The game is popular in pubs, bars, casinos, lounges, clubs, bowling and entertainment centres and hotels to name but a few," says Straubinger.

"The different licencing requirements for each country decide on the location we sell to," says Peter Robinson. "The UK for instance is an amusement game is aimed at the licensed premises.The casino model is obviously aimed at casinos, not in the UK as the machine being four players would need four permits and four AMLD's which account yearly to £8,000 AMLD, so is not really viable. We have all sorts of venues taking the game in various guises."

Heads Up Challenge: CVA

"Heads Up Challenge is the only game licensed by the ‘World Series of Poker' ensuring that it is the best representation of an actual live game available. This ‘Head to Head' game means that there must be a winner, players cannot just join in and leave an established game. Aesthetically Heads Up Challenge is the market leader with its radical stylish cabinet and small footprint. It is suited to locations of all types and sizes. It is a one or two-player game with an option of an eight-man on-screen, knock-out tournament to be played.

We have sold over 600 games in the last ten months throughout the UK and Europe. We have customers in Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France, Denmark - in fact 14 different countries!

Fun4Four: TAB-Austria

Our unique multigame table Fun4Four with Texas Hold´em and many more games is the result of an intensive market research. Through the reliable multi touch response it is possible to play for up to four players such games simultaneously. It gives them a new player experience and more fun in addition, they are closer connected.

The table incorporates a 42" Touch Screen, allowing fast and reliable touch response for a simultaneous four-player experience. The new concept presents a significant return on investment for casino or arcade owners, encouraging increased use through multi-player interaction.

The Fun4Four multigame table has a unique ability to respond to a player's intended touch and ignore the presence of any inanimate objects such glasses, bottles, ash trays or keys should they be placed on the touch screen rather than the table frame. The touch screen also has a chemically-strengthened glass substrate, which is sealed to prevent contaminants from penetrating.

Fun4Four was demonstrated in autumn for the first time and is already shipping to customers with great success throughout over Europe.

Fun4Four is much more than a gambling table: card-, skill and trivia games, Internet Browser and Google MapsTM. It's the versatility of this ingenious games mixture that persuades. The design is distinctive. Workmanship at the highest technical standards. The concept is unique. The ROI (return on investment) amazing.

Do players prefer to stand or sit? The Fun4Four height can be varied and be operated standing just as well as sitting. You adjust the height to the best advantage of your circumstances and the particular location. Glasses, bottles, ash trays - these all can be placed comfortably close at hand on the robust framing. Even dirty marks on the play area surface do not get in the way of enjoyment."

Play4Pro: Bally Wulff

"The Play4Pro poker table provides endless gaming fun with its full-size 32 inch monitor, high resolution graphics and a wide assortment of gaming features. The table offers room for four players. With its compact design it fits perfectly even into the smallest location - pubs, bars or arcades. And the "Texas Hold'em" poker variation fascinates and connects millions of players worldwide.

For a successful start, an exceptional promotion set is included: a big oval carpet customized with a poker design, four height-adjustable bar stools, a 2x2m display for a perfect poker environment, table mini displays, posters, gaming vouchers and a box of mini cigars for the first exciting rounds (provided that smoking is allowed at the respective location).

The package is completed by several tournament posters and a set of cups for the first poker tournament.

Play 4Pro is distributed by Bally Wulff in the following countries: Austria, The Netherlands, Germany, Norway and South Africa. Other countries are being discussed."

PokerKard: Nova

"PokerKard is unique. It is a full multi-touch-screen game with one to four players and the player keeps the fun chips he wins on his own personal Pokerkard. The game play is slick, with high definition graphics along with Big Tony - a surrogate computer player, who plays and adjusts his play to his opponent.

Most importantly our game is the only game that gives a player a set period of time and chips. The player gets 30 minutes and 1,000 chips for the price of the game. He personalizes his card with his nickname and this card holds all the points won or lost,. In future games the player can bring his stored points from his card.

Pokerkard has four coin acceptors and is completely touch screen operated and of course does not offer a tournament games. The game has a GPRS modem fitted which allows for e-maintenance, updates and operator information. The game and machine was designed specifically for the public house marketplace.

It is built in UK and is backed up by Nova's service department.

We have distribution in and are shipping machines to the UK, Eire, Spain, Italy, France, Gibralta, Malta, Switzerland, Finland, Australia, South Africa, USA, Canada, Mexico and the Carribbean and expect to cover other territories as we expand our production. We also provide a Casino model which TCS Huxley distribute on a worldwide basis."

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