The Fab Four – Viva Las Vegas

Las Vegas is Beatles town, except for the casino slot machines, one thing Elvis (one of the band’s biggest influences), has over the FabFour.   

Las Vegas is home to a lot of things that hardcore Beatles fans would not like to miss. There’s the theatrical production Love which is performed by Cirque du Soleil in a purpose-built theater at The Mirage. The brainchild of Paul McCartney and Guy Laliberte, one of Cirque’s founders, Love has been a staple at the popular casino for years now and continues to draw a huge audience.   

And then there’s the Revolution Lounge, another Cirque du Soleil project. The ultra-lounge, which is also located at The Mirage, “blends cutting-edge interactive design, art and sound in a contemporary interpretation of The Beatles era.”   One thing you’ll have trouble finding, though, are Beatles slot machines on many of Las Vegas’ numerous casino floors. That’s one thing Elvis, one of the band’s biggest influences (John Lennon is known to have famously declared that “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”), has over them. Oh, and Elvis impersonators that can get you married in ten minutes, of course.   

Elvis-themed slot machines pretty much litter the casino floors in Vegas. Even in the online gaming landscape, they’re ubiquitous. Earlier this year, BetFair Casino even debuted the online slots game Elvis – The King during the week of what would have been Elvis’ 78th birthday.   

It’s not like that there have never Beatles-themed slot machines before, though. A quick search on Google would yield a few old Beatles slot machines, including some fully restored machines from the 60s and 70s like the three-reel Jubilee fruit machine from Monkey Gamesroom.   

The boys themselves didn’t exactly shy away from pumping coins into a slot machine, either. When the Beatles juggernaut hit Las Vegas in 1964, there was some apprehension about the band heading out to the casinos. To pass the time, they instead had the casino brought to them – in a manner of speaking.  

 “After the second concert The Beatles were advised to stay away from Casinos, after police concerns that underage fans would be tempted to follow them,“ writes Tony Bramwell. “In true Las Vegas style, slot machines were brought up to the Beatles private suite for their enjoyment.”   

Those who really want to play a Beatles slot machine without going out to Vegas used to be able to, thanks to Eight Days A Week. Sadly, it doesn’t exist anymore. There’s also Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, a new slot machine that plays the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” every time you spin it.   

If you’re looking for a true-blue Beatles slot machine other than the Love video slots, however, you’d be better off looking for a complete cabinet online rather than trying your luck on Vegas floors.