The TITO Revolution (2000s)

The transition from coin-operated machines to Ticket-In, Ticket-Out (TITO) technology represented one of the most significant operational changes in casino history. For video poker specifically, TITO removed physical barriers that had constrained the game since its inception.

The Coin Problem

Before TITO, video poker operations faced constant challenges:

Hopper Fills

When machines ran out of coins for payouts, play stopped until attendants could refill them. High-traffic machines might require multiple fills per day, each representing:

Lost revenue during downtime

Labor costs for attendants

Security concerns with coin handling

Coin Jams

Physical coins frequently jammed mechanisms:

Worn coins didn't feed properly

Foreign objects entered hoppers

Mechanical failures required technicians

Limited Denominations

Coin systems constrained game design:

Machines typically offered only one denomination

Changing denominations meant changing machine hardware

Player preferences required multiple machine types

The TITO Solution

IGT's EZ Pay™ system pioneered the TITO approach:

Barcode Tickets

Players received printed tickets with unique barcodes instead of coins:

Each ticket encoded its exact value

Barcodes validated against central servers

Tickets could be used at any compatible machine

Cashout at kiosks or cage

SAS Protocol

The Slot Accounting System (SAS) protocol enabled:

Real-time ticket validation

Centralized tracking of all transactions

Enhanced security and accountability

Sophisticated player tracking

Impact on Video Poker

Increased Hands Per Hour (HPH)

The removal of physical coin handling dramatically accelerated gameplay:

OperationCoin TimeTITO TimeCredit machine10-30 seconds2-3 secondsCollect winnings10-60 seconds3-5 secondsChange denominationsMove to different machineTouch screen

This efficiency allowed serious players to play significantly more hands per session, improving both their earning potential and the casino's handle.

Multi-Denomination Play

TITO enabled a single machine to offer multiple denominations:

Switch between penny, nickel, quarter, and dollar games

Match denomination to bankroll and game volatility

Explore different variants without moving

Players no longer faced the friction of finding specific denomination machines.

Multi-Hand Expansion

The speed of TITO made complex multi-hand games practical:

50-hand and 100-hand games became viable

Each hand could resolve quickly

Large wins didn't require massive coin payouts

Games that would have been physically impossible with coins flourished in the TITO era.

Psychological Abstraction

TITO introduced a subtle but significant psychological shift:

The Money Distance

Barcoded tickets felt less like money than physical coins:

Abstract numbers replaced tangible coins

The weight and sound of money disappeared

Winning felt less concrete; losing felt less painful

Extended Sessions

Players tended to stay longer at machines:

No natural breaks for coin handling

Easy crediting encouraged continued play

The seamlessness promoted flow states

Casinos discovered that removing friction removed stopping points, encouraging longer play sessions.

Integration with Advantage Play

For advantage players, TITO offered mixed implications:

Benefits

Faster play increased hourly earnings

Multi-denomination allowed strategy optimization

Easier movement between machines

Challenges

Better player tracking

More precise RTP monitoring by casinos

Easier identification of skilled players

Legacy

The TITO Revolution transformed every aspect of slot and video poker operations. Modern casinos are unimaginable without it, and the physical coin—once synonymous with gambling—has become a nostalgic artifact.

For video poker, TITO enabled the complex, high-speed, multi-variant gaming experience that defines the modern game. The psychological and operational friction of coins was replaced by seamless digital play, paving the way for the next generation of innovations.