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Ahhh, Sigma Derby. I have such a soft spot for this machine. It's utterly impractical, but also beautiful. Sigma Derby is oversized and breaks down often, and the manufacturer is long out of business by now. This is one of the reasons why you can only find it at two casinos in Las Vegas: The D, and the MGM Grand. Sigma Derby machines used to be a common sight in Las Vegas casinos. Even as of mid-2004, you could find them in the Hilton, Orleans, MGM Grand, New York New York, Caesar's Palace, Imperial Palace, Riviera, Bally's, the Excalibur, Luxor and the New Frontier — and each and every one of them was constantly surrounded by fans and newcomers. Sigma Derby hit a special place in the hearts of casino guests. Unlike most games in casinos today, Sigma Derby is a coin-operated machine that's a throwback to a different era of casino gambling. The minimum wager for Sigma Derby is a quarter. Even more nostalgic, the machines haven't been modified to accept dollars like many older games. The owner of D called Rick to the casino to see if he wanted to buy the Sigma Derby machine. The owner wanted $80,000 for it. Rick called in one of his 'buddies' to evaluate it. He said it was worth about $25,000-$30,000. The LVRJ just published an article on the remaining Sigma Derby machines. I have fond memories of the Camel race Sigma Derby version that used to be at the Luxor, but was removed when they started de-theming the Luxor. Here is a link to the LVRJ article. And they're off at the Sigma Derby Continue reading Sigma Derby Article →.
Previous locations?[edit]
I just removed a paragraph from the page which referenced machines that no longer exist. I'm not opposed to having that information on the page, but I think we need to create a new section listing 'previous locations' for the game, with cite-able links to be able to prove that they existed there.
For that matter, the mention in the current edit of the page that references the New Frontier would be better served in a 'previous location' section, too. For what it's worth, I played the machine at the New Frontier before it closed, and it's also believed that the New Frontier's machine was bought by the owner of The D Hotel, and the machine is used for parts to keep the game they have on the casino floor up and running. It's possibly worth finding a reputable source and including that information in the article, too.
For the record, the paragraph I removed was:'There are also two Sigma Derby machines near the sportsbook area of the MontBleu casino/resort in Stateline, Nevada. (As of October 2015, MontBleu no longer has Sigma Derby.)'
Knagl (talk) 09:54, 8 May 2016 (UTC)
MGM Machine[edit]
FYI the MGM machine is gone, it has been replaced by a Fortune Cup machine. I was there on 11/2/18
204.87.68.252 (talk) 22:52, 6 November 2018 (UTC)
Update: A fully operational Sigma Derby machine is now up for sale on eBay.
And then there was one. The beloved Sigma Derby game is now in only one US casino after MGM Grand removed their installation from the casino floor.
Now, the single remaining Sigma Derby game is at The D, the Las Vegas, Nevada, hotel located along downtown's Fremont Street.
What is Sigma Derby?
Sigma Derby Machines In Las Vegas
Sigma Derby is a mechanical horse race game that was introduced in 1985.
The game has had ups and downs in popularity. The horse racing game was initially embraced, but that changed as gambling preferences evolved to newer games.
However, in the past 10 years or so, Sigma Derby saw a resurgence in popularity with a near cultlike audience.
Sigma Derby hit a special place in the hearts of casino guests. Unlike most games in casinos today, Sigma Derby is a coin-operated machine that's a throwback to a different era of casino gambling.
Sigma Horse Racing Machine
The minimum wager for Sigma Derby is a quarter. Even more nostalgic, the machines haven't been modified to accept dollars like many older games.
The mechanical toy horses in Sigma Derby don't run smoothly. They bounce around the racetrack like they were born in the mid-1980s. Each game has 10 betting stations.
The low price to play in combination with the vintage feel, slow pace (90 seconds between races) and social environment made this game popular for gamblers looking for an inexpensive and fun time at the casino.
Sigma Derby Machine Locations
Why Did MGM Grand remove Sigma Derby?
Las Vegas was home to the last two Sigma Derby games in casinos. They've been a special attraction for years, and visitors would visit MGM Grand and The D specifically to play these games. Sadly, the end has been near for a while.
Sigma Derby, at MGM Grand, had been closed for repairs almost as much as it's been operational over the past few years. MGM Grand has some dedicated technicians who tried to keep their Sigma Derby game working. Unfortunately, it was time to pull the plug.
Sigma Derby is more than 30 years old and no longer manufactured. Finding replacement parts to fix the game becomes more difficult every year. The game was breaking down so frequently and its parts are nearly impossible to find, thus keeping the game on the floor was a labor of love.
An unnamed source told Vital Vegas that MGM Grand has 'done everything possible to prolong its active lifespan, but that's simply no longer possible.'
Depending on the resource, Sigma Derby has a house edge for the casino of between 10 to 20 percent. Regardless of the house edge, the low limits can't make Sigma Derby a very profitable game for MGM Grand. Ruby red casino.
The popular casino game lives on at The D
There's only one Sigma Derby game remaining in a casino. The D Las Vegas has the game in the 'Vintage Vegas' section of the casino along with numerous older slot machines.
'We're proud to share that the D Las Vegas is now officially home to the only Sigma Derby horse-racing slot machine in Las Vegas, and one of the very few left in the world,' said Derek Stevens, owner of The D. 'We look forward to welcoming even more guests from around the world to stop by and place a bet on their favorite horse.'
Located next to Sigma Derby on the second floor is the Fortune Cup horse racing game. This isn't a vintage game like most of the other games in this section of the casino. Fortune Cup is the latest horse racing game to hit casinos and offers an alternative to those looking to bet on plastic ponies.
Fortune Cup is a bit too slick for the most diehard Sigma Derby fans. The horses run smoothly, the video betting stations can seem complicated and there's just a lack of kitsch found with the older horse racing game.
However, Fortune Cup offers the amenities that many casino customers are looking for an electronic game today. Best of all, like Sigma Derby, it's located close to the Vue Bar at The D.
Fortune Cup can be found in many casinos around the country, but its popularity is hit and miss.
While it outperforms slot machines in some casinos, it remains empty in others. The experience isn't the same as Sigma Derby, but it's sufficient for some gamblers looking for a change.
