Slot-machine training program is a winner for college

Jim miller/VIEWCCSN instructor Jim Jennings opens up a slot machine during a demonstration for students in the school?s slot technicians program, March 21. Jim miller/VIEWPablo Ramos, a first-year student in the slot technician program at CCSN, replaces a reel on a slot machine as part of his studies, March 21. Advertisement

Community College of Southern Nevada offers students a slot technician training program at its Cheyenne campus. The college recently received a pledge of $300,000 from the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers to fund its classes.

In the two-year program, students receive lecture material and hands-on slot tech training by working on real slot machines. In addition, students learn to run equipment tests and operational functions on coin comparators and bill validators.

The slot machines for the laboratory were donated by IGT, WMS Gaming, Aristocrat Technologies and Bally Technologies, according to program director Jim Jennings.

"We are the best-kept secret in Las Vegas," Jennings said. "I don't think too many people know about what we teach here. Our students come out with an extensive background and we teach them to become bench technicians. They're a step above a slot tech."

Previous graduates from the program have gained employment with IGT, the Mirage and The Orleans .

"When Wynn opened, they required their slot techs either to have previous experience or the slot technician certificate from CCSN," said Peg Pankowski, interim dean of the applied and advanced technologies division of the community college. "That speaks volumes."

Students in the program seem to appreciate the hands-on approach of the class.

"We're not just looking at it, but we're working with it," said Brian Reilly, a first-year student. "It's better to actually touch the machine than just look at pictures."

Fellow first-year student Pablo Ramos agreed.

"I like the fact that we start from the bottom and learn how the machines work -- all the technical aspects," Ramos said. "We learn all the parts down to the smallest and why it does something, not just how it does it."

The program tries to stay on the cutting-edge of technology and provides slot machines with liquid crystal displays for the students to work on, in addition to the reel slots, Jennings said.

"LCD consumes less power and weighs less," he said. "Slot machines are going from the reel-style machines to LCD because in the future, casinos will run off of server-based gaming."

Theme games, such as Creature From the Black Lagoon and Enchanted Unicorn, will be able to be interchanged with the push of a button once all screens on the machine go to LCD technology and are running off a server.

"Eventually, customers will be able to switch them out themselves," Jennings said.

"The technology exists that you can order drinks from your slot machine, but no casinos have it here yet," Pankowski added.

Requirements for the slot tech program are that students must be 21 years old by the time they graduate and they have to complete basic electronics courses before graduation.

For more information on program, contact CCSN at 650-2276.