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Nevada isn’t known for horse racing. But a downtown Las Vegas casino put the ponies in action as part of the relocation of a vintage Sigma Derby machine.
The classic coin-operated racing game features mechanical steeds. Players make their selections and watch the horses race around the glass-enclosed track.
The D Casino & Hotel hosted the last remaining coin-operated machine and held a parade through downtown Las Vegas to move the machine to the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino.
Casino employees paraded the machine down down Fremont Street, accompanied by a host of Shetland ponies and “jockeys.”
A Loyal Following
Like Sigma Derby itself, the Golden Gate is a vintage property that dates back to 1906 and is the oldest casino in Las Vegas. That may have spurred the move to relocate the game. Derek Stevens owns both The D and Golden Gate Casino. He also owns and operates the Circa Resort & Casino.
The Circa Resort is home to the largest NFL Survivor contest in the country. Last season, poker players dominated the competition, taking home millions in winnings.
Sigma Derby has a loyal following of gamblers who enjoy the old-school experience of betting using coins. Coin-operated slot machines, including other horse racing games, are mostly a novelty or collector’s item.
“Sigma Derby is more than just a game, it’s a piece of Las Vegas history,” Stevens told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “For generations, it has brought together friends, families and complete strangers who instantly became part of the excitement the moment the horses started moving.
“There were people who plan entire trips around playing Sigma Derby during its time at the D Las Vegas, and we’ve heard countless stories from guests who made lifelong memories around this machine.”
Watch the Sigma Derby parade below:
There was an official parade for a slot machine on Fremont Street today.
Shetland ponies and little people escorted the world’s last remaining Sigma Derby horse racing game from The D to Golden Gate. pic.twitter.com/Y8KiXjglhe
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) June 16, 2026
Golden Gate Launches Game On Friday
Sigma Derby was introduced in 1985 by Japanese manufacturer Sigma Game Inc. Like a real race, odds are placed on each horse and winners are paid out accordingly.
Up to 10 players can participate. Quinella wagering, which is picking the top two horses, is available.
The Sigma Derby action resumed at Golden Gate last Friday at 4 p.m.