My Name Is Rex, and I Am a Sigma Derby Addict
November 19, 2008
Admitting it is the first step …
After yesterday’s stinging poker loss, I figured that today I would embark on a gambling endeavor with slightly less risk.
Sigma Derby Machine in the Las Vegas MGM Grand Casino
Sigma Derby Machine in the Las Vegas MGM Grand Casino
Namely, the cult classic game known as “Sigma Derby”.
Sigma Derby is a bit of a local’s favorite, although tourists really like the thing too.
I have a session at this game about once a week. There is just something relaxing, yet ridiculous about it. It’s arguably the most stupid game ever to be invented, yet there is no doubt that it is also one of the most addicting gaming machines to have ever been invented.
I used to divide my sessions between the MGM Machine, and the Derby machine at the New Frontier, but of course, both the New Frontier and their racing machine are long gone.
In all likelihood, the MGM machine is on borrowed time as well. I don’t know what I will do when they take it away. Suicide seems a bit extreme, but I am keeping all options on the table.
Most of you have probably played this game at one time or another, but if not, these are the rules:
You check the LED odds on the side of the game, and drop quarters into quinella slots. A quinella is picking which two horses will place first and second. The order doesn’t matter. If the the two horses you pick are the first two horses to cross the line … you win.
You get paid according to how much you bet, and the odds being offered, and you can bet on any or all possible combinations. For instance, you can put one quarter on the long shot, 4 quarters on the favorite, and 2 quarters on a medium-shot. If you play like this, your money can actually last quite a long time as you are likely to win something on nearly every race.
The horses are mechanical, and the odds are generated by a computer, so there is little “handicapping” to be done. Some people swear that they do have systems to beat this game, but I’m kind of skeptical of it. Much like a slot machine, the winning horses are determined by the number generator before the race even starts, and the actual “race” is only for show.
Nonetheless, it’s kind of fun to stand there and scream at your 3-inch motorized horse to “hurry up!”
Sometimes I swear the #4 horse moves faster the louder you scream, but that’s probably just the flashbacks talking.
I can usually get about an hour out of two rolls of quarters, but today I only lasted about 45 minutes. My favorite horse just didn’t seem to be himself today.
Even though I walked away with nothing, losing $20 in 45 minutes is far better than losing $200 in three minutes.
Long live Sigma Derby.
Written by Pyramid_GM on November 20, 2008 at 6:18 am
Rex ill be in town next monday if your around lets play some sigma derby !!What a cool little game.
Written by T Edmundson on January 21, 2009 at 5:00 pm
We loved it so much. We found a Sigma Derby in Atlantic City and bought it for our basement.
Written by connie on September 24, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Rex, I have a sort of love hate relationship with sigma derby, but trust me, it’s more love than hate. I spent hours trying to figure out a pattern or system … to no avail. Moving back to Vegas soon. You can bet I will be looking for (and will find) every sigma derby game in town!
Written by Tyler Durden on February 26, 2010 at 2:38 am
Best game, evah!