The historic Sigma Derby horse racing game is officially relocating from its longtime home on the second floor of The D Las Vegas to the nearby Golden Gate Hotel and Casino. Casino management announced that the transition will take place on June 16, accompanied by a public promotional parade along the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas. The scheduled celebration is set to feature Shetland ponies and performers to mark the relocation of the vintage betting machine.
Casino owner Derek Stevens has maintained the electro-mechanical attraction since its installation at The D in 2012, when the property rebranded from Fitzgeralds. First introduced to casino floors in 1985 by Japan-based manufacturer Sigma Game Incorporated, the quarter-operated machine remains highly popular among gambling enthusiasts. The upcoming move is intended to increase foot traffic and bolster the gaming floor energy at the Golden Gate, which recently removed its traditional live table games.
Fremont Street visitors had until midnight on June 14th to play the vintage console at its current location. Technicians will then begin the process of moving the heavy machinery across the street, with a goal of having the operational Sigma Derby unit available to the public at its new location by the afternoon of June 19.
Maintaining the forty-year-old machine presents constant operational challenges for the property. Because the original manufacturer is no longer in business, casino technicians frequently acquire broken units and look for individual replacement parts on secondary internet auction sites to keep the mechanical horses running. The coin-operated game features ten individual betting stations arranged around a central track where five mechanical horses race.
The relocation reflects a broader trend among downtown operators balancing modern slot floor optimization with nostalgic attractions. While modern electronic table games have largely replaced coin-handling devices due to high maintenance costs, the survival of Sigma Derby relies on its status as a destination attraction. Players wager traditional quarters on quinella combinations, with odds ranging from two-to-one up to two-hundred-to-one. According to representatives, the loyalty point systems and evening promotions at the Golden Gate will integrate the newly arrived machine into the nightly casino schedule to attract low-rolling players and vintage gaming fans.