New Take on Classic Sigma Derby Game Headed for Downtown Vegas’ Four Queens

One of Las Vegas’ most enduring casino cult favorites is making a comeback. A newly manufactured version of Sigma Derby, the mechanical horse-racing game that once drew crowds throughout Nevada casinos, is scheduled to debut at Four Queens on Fremont Street next year, according to the Las Vegas Advisor.

The installation will mark the first new Sigma Derby machine placed into service in decades and comes as the game’s popularity has surged after all but one of the original machines has disappeared from casino floors.

Colt Following

That machine, currently at the neighboring Golden Gate, has helped sustain a cult following among gamblers who appreciate its unique blend of mechanical action and pari-mutuel-style wagering.

First introduced in 1985 by Japan’s Sigma Game Inc., Sigma Derby became a staple in Las Vegas casinos through the late ’90s. It gained a loyal following by creating a social experience rarely found in traditional slot machines.

But maintaining those machines often proved challenging, particularly as replacement parts became scarce and aging mechanisms required constant attention.

The Golden Gate’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.”

This summer, Stevens elected to move the game from The D to the Golden Gate, which he also owns. On June 16, 2026, a parade was held to accompany the machine during its move west along Fremont Street.

Sigma Beta

The revamped Sigma Derby was unveiled at last month’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, where, according to industry reports, the reproduction proved so faithful to the original that some observers thought it was a restored vintage machine.

It’s no coincidence that the new version will be installed at Four Queens, since property owner Terry Caudill is also the founder and owner of Next Gaming, one of three companies responsible for bringing Sigma Derby back to market. Next Gaming partnered with Highbrow Gaming and VSR Industries to develop the updated version of the game.

While the game’s appearance remains largely unchanged, the technology behind it has been modernized. The new Sigma Derby features ticket-in/ticket-out functionality, bill acceptance, and a digital display tracking previous winning horses.

Players can wager in denominations ranging from 25 cents to $5, while casino operators can configure the game’s theoretical return-to-player percentage between 86% and 94%.