Kansas City's coin-op slots will soon be gone

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- As reported by The Kansas City Star: "If you're nostalgic about playing slots with old-fashioned metal tokens, you'd better hurry over to Kansas City's Isle of Capri casino.

"In recent weeks the casino has replaced almost all of its remaining 130 or so coin-operated devices. The final seven machines - the only ones remaining in service anywhere in Missouri - are scheduled for retirement soon.

"...In Missouri the phase-out of classic coin-operated games began in 2000 when the General Assembly allowed gaming devices to accept paper money and convert that folding cash directly to electronic credits on meters that tallied players' wins and losses after each spin.

"Until that change paper money buy-ins were automatically converted to metal tokens spit out by each slot machine and which had to be played - one at a time - by chipped fingernail and coin-stained hand..."