I find it amazing that nobody has noticed, but the biggest trend today is the almost total elimination of video poker in favor of penny slots. It is absolutely striking to see the percentage of slots to video poker shift from 70/30 to more like 90/10.

When I visited Cherokee (NC), I was struck by the preponderance of slots. The mix has to be well over 90/10, and maybe closer to 95/5.

Then I noticed at Primm, the percentage of vp is lower than in the past, and with a clear pattern -- that is, the machines near entrances or high-traffic areas have the highest slot ratio.

Walking through the new "D" in downtown LV, reality finally hit home. Downtown, once a video poker stronghold, has this new place with virtually no video poker in the front half of the first floor. It's all slots.

If a 95/5 slot/vp ratio isn't the end, it's damn near the edge of the cliff.