Best New Table Games of 2015 contest among the highlights from Cutting Edge Table Games Conference

Texas Switch by Texas Switch, Inc., was named Casino Journal’s Best New Table Game of 2015, winning an attendee vote at the 8th annual Cutting Edge Table Games Conference, which was held last November at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

Half Back Blackjack by Lucky Paradigm Gaming and Super Sweep Poker by Katrillion Entertainment finished in second and third place respectively.

There were 23 entrants in the contest, whose games were showcased during dedicated “play times” during the opening night reception and all networking breaks between sessions. The voters were full conference attendees, namely table game operators and other casino executives from across the casino industry, and they were asked to choose the game with the best combination of player appeal, ease of understanding, and potential commercial success.

The award was presented by Robin Powell, inventor of E-Z Baccarat, and winner of the conference’s first ever Best New Table Game contest in 2008. Texas Switch was developed last June, according to inventor, Sean Henn. “It was a light-bulb moment for me,” he said. “I was playing Ultimate Texas Hold’Em and I kept getting lousy cards and having to fold them and I was thinking, ‘God, I wish I could just switch my two cards and play.’ The light bulb went off, I started tinkering and here we are.”

An especially compelling feature of the Best New Table Game Competition is the chance for game trial at leadership properties across multiple markets. As the winning game, Texas Switch will, upon meeting the necessary licensing and regulatory requirements, receive floor space at Akwesasne Mohawk Casino & Resort, Bucky’s Casino, Grey Eagle Casino, Muckleshoot Indian Casino and Bingo and Saratoga Casino Blackhawk.

“Having five placements is a huge edge,” said Henn. “It will be an enormous benefit to us to be able to enter the market with that kind of momentum.”

This year’s Cutting Edge Table Games Conference featured 33 exhibitors in all, the most ever for the event.

“With over 325 total attendees and unprecedented levels of vendor participation, this was the most successful Cutting Edge Table Games Conference ever,” said Randy Green, group publisher, BNP Media Gaming Group. “Congratulations are in order for each of our winners, and to all of our exhibitors, sponsors and industry presenters, who made this an event that will continue to help move the table games category forward in the coming year.”

Cutting Edge Table Games Conference 2016 will be held November 14-16 at Flamingo Las Vegas. For more information on the event, visit www.tablegamesconf.com.