space-age gaming at the rio.

Harrah's is going after the millenials with new gaming options. From the AP:

Casino debuts new touch-screen bar table
By OSKAR GARCIA

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (MSFT) and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. introduced a high-tech interactive bar table Wednesday that lets patrons order drinks, watch YouTube videos, play touch-screen games and even flirt with each other.

The tables offer Harrah's a new way to track its customers' habits and behaviors, adding to its sophisticated costumer rewards program that tracks users' gambling habits.

"Of all the goodies up our sleeves lately, this is one of the most dramatic," Tim Stanley, chief information officer of Harrah's, told The Associated Press. "The range of opportunities are fairly limitless."

The six rectangular tables with built-in 30-inch flat screens using Microsoft Surface technology were installed in a lounge at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, with custom applications built for Harrah's.
Read more.

I am very curious to see this in action. I may have to swing by the Rio in August to check it out. Touch-screen gaming isn't necessarily a new thing, but I'm going to bet (ha!) this system is much more sophisticated than the standard video poker consoles embedded in casino bars. The "flirt" option makes me laugh because I can see that being used by those who are working in "the oldest profession." I know. Hookers in Vegas? I'm shocked...shocked. :-)