Supplier News
US – California casino to send slot into space
By Phil - 3 June 2015
California’s Soboba Casino will become the first casino in history to launch a slot machine into space as part of its 20th anniversary in a marketing initiative planned for June 14 in partnership with JP Aerospace.
Nicknamed Icarus, the slot machine will also carry with it a special payload of commemorative 20th anniversary Club Soboba cards and a time capsule created by the casino’s team members. Friends, family and the casino’s valued guests will have a chance to join in the celebration on June 27 at Soboba Casino for an Out of This World Party, to see the worldwide release of the online trailer Soboba’s Mission to Space. The entire adventure will be documented on film with production and editing done by Inman Productions of Riverside, California.
Soboba Casino’s Director of Marketing Michael Broderick said: “Our guests have come to expect stellar service, out of this world experiences, and supernova-sized jackpots. What a better way to celebrate our birthday and 20 years of existence by sharing the magic and wonder of space travel with our customers. We will go to the ends of the Earth, literally, to provide a fun and unique gaming experience like no other.”
Ten lucky winners, as well as some of Soboba’s VIPs will receive one of the 120 commemorative club cards that will be launched 20 miles above the Earth’s surface. These cards, produced by Ablecard of Azusa, California, will feature a hologram seal with a certificate of authenticity verifying the card’s incredible voyage to space.
Executing this historic trek is JP Aerospace, a not for profit, independent space program and research organisation founded by John Powell. For the past 31 years they have flown low-cost aerospace systems designed, soldered, tested and assembled by volunteers. Having created some of the most innovative hardware in aerospace today, their two active projects include the PongSat and Airship to Orbit (ATO). PongSat has already put real missions into the hands of thousands of elementary and high school age students across the world.
“At JP Aerospace, shaking up old notions is core to what we’re all about,” said founder John Powell, “in fact it is our mantra. Every day we are making space more and more accessible and now we are bringing the universe closer to Soboba Casino patrons. We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership and truly unique experience.”
The Flight team and Mission Control team will consist of key casino team members including General Manager, Scott Sirois, who will be on hand to view the 4 a.m. liftoff from the launch site in Lovelock, Nevada. Upon its ascent into space the slot machine will experience the edge of outer space, zero O2 atmosphere, extreme cold, and low to zero gravity before beginning its rapid decent back home with its payload. Once the time capsule slot machine is recovered, it will be on public display at the casino and kept closed until another 20 successful years passes.
