Posted on: June 10, 2026, 01:16h.
Last updated on: June 10, 2026, 01:23h.
- The last remaining Sigma Derby slot machine still in casino use is moving from The D to Golden Gate
- A public parade down Fremont Street will celebrate the machine’s relocation on June 16
- The vintage electro-mechanical game is a massive cult phenomenon
The last Sigma Derby horse racing slot in casino use will be trotted from The D to a sister property in downtown Las Vegas, the Golden Gate, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. And there will be a parade to celebrate its permanent relocation
The public procession will take place at 10 a.m. along Fremont Street. According to Vital Vegas, it will feature appearances by Derek Stevens, owner of both properties, as well as Shetland ponies and little people.
Colt Following
First introduced in 1985 by Japan’s Sigma Game Inc., Sigma Derby became a staple in Las Vegas casinos through the late ’90s. Today, The D’s machine is the only one currently available for public use anywhere in the world — a status that has turned it into a cult phenomenon. A handful are believed to be in the hands of private collectors, but they don’t welcome strangers into their game sheds.
The D’s machine originally operated at the New Frontier, where it was removed and placed into storage. After Derek Stevens acquired Fitzgeralds in 2011, his team located the machine, restored it, and installed it as the centerpiece of the casino’s vintage‑themed second floor when the property reopened as The D in 2012.
“When we bought Fitzgerald’s, we wanted to give the second floor a vintage feel,” Stevens told Casino.org in 2022. “I always had a special place in my heart for Sigma Derby and it was perfect for the vibe we were going for.”
Quarter Horses
Sigma Derby is an electro‑mechanical, communal horse‑racing game featuring 10 betting stations surrounding a miniature racetrack. Players wager a quarter per race, selecting which two horses out of five will finish first and second. The odds change before every race.
According to Las Vegas lore, tourists would enjoy a lucky stay in town should the first wager of their trip be on a Sigma Derby race.
Even though the house advantage on Sigma Derby is about 15% — making it three times less lucky than even double-zero roulette — the game still costs more to operate than it generates in quarters because long-discontinued replacement parts must be procured on eBay.
Nevertheless, Stevens has said the game holds personal significance: his first-ever Las Vegas wager was on a Sigma Derby machine at the long‑gone Dunes. (According to Vital Vegas, Stevens’ attempt to sell his machine for $80,000 during a 2016 appearance on “Pawn Stars” was a “a publicity stunt, not a real attempt to sell.”)
The decision to move Sigma Derby is widely believed to be strategic: the machine is a destination draw, and the Golden Gate — which removed its live table games in March 2026 — stands to benefit from increased foot traffic.
The last day to play Sigma Derby at The D will be at midnight on Sunday, June 14. The machine will be up and running at the Golden Gate by 4 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, when Stevens is scheduled to deliver opening remarks and a champagne toast.
