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Back in like the 1890s a slot machine was probably the coolest entertainment device anyone had ever seen. In 2017, though, despite a lot of advances in slot technology, those flashy one-armed bandits just aren't drawing in "the youngs" who all have access to both Candy Crush Saga and Internet porn on a magical device in their pockets.

To try fight back, casino owners are turning to purely skill-based video games for their betting floors, and the trend is getting a big-name boost in Pac-Man Battle Casino, a newly announced machine from Namco and Gamblit Gaming hitting casinos next year.

The multiplayer Battle Casino bears a striking resemblance to the 2011 arcade game Pac-Man Battle Royale, and is co-developed by the same Japanese team. In the incredibly fun arcade version, two to four players chomp pellets and avoid ghosts on the same ever-shifting playfield, racing for power pellets that increase their size and grant the ability to eat opponents.

Based on screenshots provided by Gamblit, gameplay in Battle Casino looks largely identical to the arcade version, only now players are competing for real money rather than virtual points. The exact prize pool for each match will be determined by a randomized wheel, and the winnings will often be less than the combined total bet by the competitors, ensuring the casino gets its cut.

Gamblit and other publishers already have a host of other skill-based gambling titles available for casinos, including some based on popular franchises like Jetpack Joyride, Doodle Jump, and The Walking Dead. Most of those are single-player competitions against an unforgiving machine, though. Pac-Man Battle Casino adds the potential for a classic-gaming hustler to lure in unsuspecting rubes with fake humility before unleashing their skills on a big bet. Hey, if dedicated and skillful players can already make money selling prizes they win at Dave & Busters, maybe my dream of becoming a professional Pac-Man shark isn't so far-fetched?

With Namco now getting in on the skill-based gambling act, we can't help but think of what other classic arcade franchises could see revived interest from casinos. Money matches have been an integral (if unofficial) part of the fighting game scene for decades, so an official way to bet money on a Street Fighter II match could definitely attract nostalgic casino-goers. Or how about competitive light-gun or racing games, where only the most accurate shooter or fastest driver wins the money? Sounds more interesting than staring at a slot machine, that's for sure.

Pac-Man Battle Casino will be unveiled at the Global Gaming Expo next week, ahead of launch in select casinos in 2018.