Eight Ways to Play the Slots

With the proliferation of casinos all across the United States, especially on Native American reservations, there may be an opportunity in the manufacturers of the slot machines, video poker machines, and bingo machines. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, because of the growth of and increasing popularity of Indian casinos and racinos [a racetrack with a casino], employment in gaming services occupations is projected to grow by 23 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

You will have to decide if any of the following stocks are worth betting on.

• International Game Technology (IGT) makes and sells computerized slot, video poker slot, and other gaming equipment and network systems, including big better tracking. The stock has a P/E of 26, a PEG of 1.77 and pays a yield of 1.6%.
• Bally Technologies, Inc. (BYI) makes and markets slot and other gaming machines and computerized monitoring systems for the casino industry. It also has player tracking technology. The stock has a P/E of 27 and a PEG of 0.8.
• WMS Industries Inc. (WMS) makes and sells gaming machines and video lottery terminals for casinos around the world. It is also expanding into networked gaming machines. The stock has a P/E of 35 and a PEG of 1.58.
• Scientific Games Corp. (SGMS) provides gaming related technology products including server-based gaming machines, video lottery terminals, pari-mutuel racing wagering systems, and sports betting systems. The stock has a P/E of 51 and a PEG of 1.37.
• Multimedia Games, Inc. (MGAM) is a provider of technology and equipment to casinos. It markets server-based gaming systems, interactive electronic games, player terminals, video lottery terminals, electronic scratch ticket systems, electronic instant lottery systems, and slot management systems. The stock has a P/E of 40 and a PEG of 3.28 . This is a low cap stock and should therefore be considered very speculative.
• Shuffle Master Inc. (SHFL) makes and sells gaming technology products, including automatic card shufflers, chip sorting machines, and PC-based video slot machines. The stock has a P/E of 17 and a PEG of 1.15. This is a low cap stock and should therefore be considered very speculative.
• GameTech International Inc. (GMTC) manufactures and markets portable and fixed based electronic bingo systems. The stock has a PE of 17 and a PEG of 0.57 . This is a low cap stock and should therefore be considered very speculative.
• FortuNet, Inc (FNET) makes and sells multi-game server-based gaming platforms for bingo gaming markets, and can also be adapted to keno, poker, and slot machines. The stock has a P/E of 20 and a PEG of 2.65 . This is a low cap stock and should therefore be considered very speculative.

 

The related industry to the slot manufacturers is, of course, the gaming industry.

 

Disclosure:  The author does not own any of the above.