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The traditional one-armed bandit, with its whirring reels and symbols of cherries and oranges, is seeing its position in US casinos usurped by a new generation of TV themed slot machines, according to reports.

Visitors to states such as Florida and Las Vegas are queuing up to play on machines based on shows like Wheel of Fortune, Deal or No Deal, Miami Vice and The Price is Right.

One entertainment complex where these modern machines are rivalling more traditional recreational gambling pursuits such as horseracing is the Gulfstream Park racetrack in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Steve Calabro, vice-president of gaming for Magna Entertainment, parent company of the complex, told the Orlando Sentinel that the Wheel of Fortune game has become the most popular slot machine ever.

He added: 'Traditionally slots have a life cycle of 18 months to three years. Most last about two years. Wheel of Fortune has completely bucked that trend.'

The same phenomenon has emerged on America's west coast, with Gary Bitner, spokesman for Hollywood's Seminole Hard Rock casino, saying that visitors can find it difficult to find at a seat at a Wheel of Fortune machine at busy times.

A fairly recent development in some US casinos is the jumbo-sized Wheel of Fortune carousel, which allows multiple players at one time.

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