According to Eilers Research, North American slot machine sales fell 40 per cent year-over-year in the third quarter.
Sales of US replacements have been lower than anticipated so Eilers has reduced its full-year forecast to sales of 72,500 slots, 33.2 per cent lower than last year.
The third-quarter drop also reflected the winding down of VLT replacements in Canada.
According to Eilers, replacement sales would have declined 15.7 per cent excluding comparisons to last year’s VLT replacements in Canada and Oregon, US.
Casino closures in Atlantic City and Mississippi will also hurt future replacement sales.
Eilers expects that 445 table games will be added in North America this year, 224 next year, and 681 in 2016 when new casinos open in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California.
Source: Fantini’s Gaming Report
