And Then There Was One

I was hoping that somehow, somewhere, another Sigma Derby machine would pop up anywhere in Las Vegas. It seems that hope was not enough and the MGM is the home of the last remaining Sigma Derby in Las Vegas.

 I am not sure if the MGM is motivated to keep the last Sigma Derby operating. Some might have the opinion that having the last Sigma Derby is reason enough to keep it operational. Offer a game not found anywhere else in town. My argument comes from the darker side. Watching every other casino pull Sigma Derby out. Imperial Palace, Riveria, Bally’s, Luxor and the camel version, Caesars and the chariot version, Excaliber and the knights version. All of them pulled the game from the casino floor. Sigma Derby must not have been making the dollars per sqaure foot that other games earn. And the upkeep on those machines must have been costly as it seemed to me every machine had a players position or three out of service. Why would MGM want to keep this game? If they pull it no other casino would have a Sigma Derby advantage over the MGM

But here is my arguement against the MGM pulling the Sigma Derby. Every trip I will set aside some time to play this fun little game. I make a special trip to MGM if I am not staying there. I do more than play Sigma Derby. I’ll put in a few hours at their poker room since I am already there. I usually have a meal and I stop in for a few drinks at the circle bar right there near the poker room. I’ll spend hours in MGM all because of the Sigma Derby game. Lots of casinos have poker and a circle bar but only the MGM has Sigma Derby and that is why the MGM must be the keeper of all things Sigma Derby.

One Last Ride at the New Frontier

Here are some links to blogs that covered the last night of the Sigma Derby game at the New Frontier - Sunday, July 15, 2007.

 Roy Vegas

While Las Vegas Sleeps

Vegas Rex Visits the Last Sigma Derby in Las Vegas

Come July 16th the New Frontier will be no more and that will leave the MGM with the last remaining Sigma Derby Machine

Vegas Rex visited the MGM and posted a video of a Sigma Derby race at the MGM on his Vegas Rex Blog. You should bookmark Vegas Rex and visit often if you are a fan of Las Vegas and wouldn’t mind reading a blog the offers a no-punches-pulled, twisted, opinionated and humorous view of Las Vegas.

Sigma Derby Trophy

Donna, a frequent poster to AVLV,  posted her photos of the Big Empire’s Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge and it includes a shot of the awesome trophy that went to the winner of the Challenge. Take a look at the trophy and the fun being had by a good looking crowd of punters.

Click here and you can read Donna’s trip report with plenty of links photos of some of the other Soiree events.

Direct link to the photo - best use is to copy and paste into your browser (stupid Tripod)

http://donnaavlv.tripod.com/joone/sd.JPG

The Big Empire’s 1st Annual Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge

The Big Empire hosted their 10th Annual Cocktail Soiree on June 8th and 9th and this year it featured the 1st Annual Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge. This year for the first and last time the Sigma Derby handicapper’s Challenge was held at the New Frontier Casino.

I’ve followed the fun and splendor that is the B.E.A.C.S. on AVLV and bigempire.com for a few years now and with the Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge added for this year I almost made my first appearence but once again the ususal summer work load blocked me from my dream Las Vegas trip.

This year the live coveage of the B.E.A.C.S. was  very good what with cell phones and Wi-Fi hot spots. So here are a few links to the early reports of the Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge, the Cocktail Soiree and the Solar System Series of Poker.

The original announcment of the B.E.A.C.S.

Walt from AVLV pictures of the Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge.

Walt from AVLV and his usenet post of the SSSOP, the Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge and the Cocktail Soiree with pictures.  Almost like being there.

The latest podcast from fivehundybymidnight had live reports of the Sigma Derby Handicapper’s Challenge from a caller by the name of Alonso.

I guess these links are the next best thing to being there. I think it is great that the New Frontier’s Sigma Derby was so well documented during this event. We’ll need the memories as in about a month us Sigma Derby lovers will be down to the one Sigma Derby that is at the MGM.

VegasRex and Sigma Derby Video

One of my favorite Las Vegas bloggers VegasRex paid a visit to the New Frontier and a took a shot at the Sigma Derby there. He also posted a video of the New Frontier’s Sigma Derby game in action.

Vist VegasRex

Sigma Derby Posts

Here are some links to various Sigma Derby threads at Las Vegas Talk.

 What is Sigma Derby Thread from 2007

 Sigma Derby at the MGM 

Please give me a Sigma Derby tutorial

How to Cheer on your Sigma Derby Horses

A Sigma Derby thread from 2005 

Another Sigma Derby thread from 2005.  Ah, the good old days.

New Frontier Sigma Derby in Action

For your viewing pleasure “Burt Cohen” from AVLV has posted some pictures of the New Frontier’s Sigma Derby game in action. 

Need a Derby Fix?

There is a free but not-so-much-like-a Sigma Derby game online.  Just scroll down to section 9 and click on the Derby Days game.

So if you need to fix your Sigma Derby jonez and can’t make it to the real one this may be as good as it gets. If anyone has a better free game let me know by posting the info in the comments.

 Direct link to the Derby Days game.

Uh Oh - New Frontier Sold - Sigma Derby in Jeopordy!

One of only two remaining Sigma Derby games in Las Vegas  may be in jeopordy as the New Frontier Casino has been sold. Looks like the MGM Sigma Derby game will soon be the only one left in Las Vegas. Read the article here in the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The article states there isn’t much time left for the New Frontier. 

“Ruffin and gaming sources familiar with the deal said El Ad will close the aging Western-themed hotel-casino when the transaction is completed in 90 days“

 Looks like the  The Slatin Report www.theslatinreport.com got the news of the sale of the New Frontier correct on March 19 despite denials by Ruffin and El Ad.

 Yikes! We fans of the mechanical ponies are running out of Sigma Derby’s. Could we be so lucky as to have another Las Vegas Strip casino take over this Sigma Derby Game. What about upstairs in the Imperial Palace were the poker room was? Hey Riviera Casino, how about it - ya need a Sigma Derby? Probably available on the cheap.