You don't have to be a high roller to like your gambling stakes high. Slot machines manufactured for the Asian market are designed to have less frequent pays, but a better chance of big wins.
International Game Technology Asia's managing director John Gomes said there was no doubt Asian gamblers preferred the idea of big payouts.
'In North America it is more about having small frequent pays,' Mr Gomes said. 'But Asian gamblers are different and the machines are built to accommodate what they like.'
Not only are the payouts different in Asia, but the graphics on some slot machines are designed to appeal to the local market. Chinese characters, lucky symbols and numbers are all popular.
Mr Gomes said the concept of yin and yang, the Chinese philosophy of mutually correlated opposites, was another major draw card. 'We obviously do research and examine what things will be attractive to particular markets,' he said.
'Recognition of the graphics and the name of the game are all very important. Symbols and icons are extremely important.'
Commonly used images include the lotus flower, goldfish, lucky coins, the Great Wall of China, good luck characters and the eight immortals.