Why the Pit is only at the 50-yard line
When Robyn Brewington joined Light & Wonder’s tables division, she brought with her an unusual perspective: a deep grounding in casino systems. Having previously led global sales and marketing at Galaxy Gaming before stepping away from the industry and returning in 2023, Brewington initially entered Light & Wonder through its systems division. That experience, she argues, reshaped her understanding of the casino floor.
“I really learned what makes the casino floor run,” explains Brewington. “All of the technologies, software and hardware that go into the slot machines and the actual floor. And quite a few of those products now translate over to the table side of our business.” That systems grounding now informs her view of how table games are evolving, and why the pit is no longer operating in isolation. Understanding systems architecture is now central to the future of the pit.
“I recommend it for anybody that wants to get into slots or tables, to have had that journey on the system side,” says Brewington. “It’s certainly not the most glamorous part of the casino, but I always describe systems, especially the CMS, as the engine under the hood of the car. You cannot run a car without the engine.”
From Traditional Tables to Smart Infrastructure
Over the past five years, table games have entered a new technological phase. The emergence of “smart tables” – incorporating chip recognition, bet tracking, camera technology and real-time data capture – has transformed what was once an analogue environment into a measurable, data-rich ecosystem.
Operators, increasingly data-driven across their businesses, want the same analytical clarity from tables that they have long relied on from slots. Brewington believes the industry is significantly further along than it was pre-2020, but far from finished.
Adoption varies by geography. Asian markets have historically embraced technological experimentation at tables, while North America has moved more cautiously. Cost considerations – particularly around RFID chips – remain a barrier, but the operational upside is becoming clearer.
The “Slotification” Debate
One visible shift is the convergence between slots and tables. Linked progressives, digital displays and animated overlays are now common on live tables.
Brewington describes this as a balancing act. Traditional players still value anonymity and a quieter experience. Yet operators are equally focused on attracting casual customers who may find the energy of a live craps or blackjack table intimidating.
The addition of attainable progressives – in the $10,000 to $20,000 range rather than headline-grabbing seven-figure sums – appears to be driving meaningful engagement. Multiple side bets and linked jackpots also play into a simple psychological truth: players dislike watching a prize hit that they chose not to back.
Data, AI and the Real-Time Pit
If the tables sector once lagged behind slots in analytics sophistication, that gap is narrowing. Integration between table performance systems and the broader CMS infrastructure is becoming more seamless, enabling real-time reporting rather than delayed batch analysis.
Brewington is cautious about overhyping AI. Much like “big data” in the late 2000s, the term means different things to different operators. The opportunity lies not in the label but in the practical application: extracting insight from the behavioural and betting data now available.
Crucially, this data journey is not uniform. Smaller casinos can be remarkably advanced, while larger operators may still be navigating internal alignment over who owns table analytics. The rise of electronic table games – often managed by slot departments despite their proximity to the pit – further blurs organisational lines.
Integration and the Seamless Floor
For multi-property operators, integration is becoming a defining theme. Bringing ticket-in, ticket-out functionality to tables, and aligning table play with loyalty ecosystems, reduces friction and encourages cross-play between slots and live games.
In this environment, technology is not positioned as a replacement for the dealer but as an enhancement. Labour challenges and efficiency pressures are real, but Brewington emphasises the enduring value of human interaction. The camaraderie of a blackjack table remains a cornerstone of the casino experience.
Only the Halfway Point
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Brewington’s outlook is her insistence that the industry is only at the midpoint of table evolution. There is more to build, more to test and more to refine. Not every concept will succeed, but the willingness to explore – in collaboration with operators willing to challenge suppliers – defines the current moment.
For a sector long considered traditional and resistant to change, the pit is no longer playing safe. And in Brewington’s view, that is precisely where its future lies.
