In August 1981, Singapore Airlines launched a gamble on inflight entertainment, installing jackpot machines on a Boeing 747-200B flying the route from Changi Airport to San Francisco, with stops in Hong Kong and Honolulu. The initiative, dubbed “Orchard Rows,” aimed to offer passengers a novel form of amusement during the 23-hour journey, but ultimately proved short-lived due to mechanical failures and logistical challenges.
The concept originated from a desire to enhance the passenger experience, building on previous attempts at inflight entertainment such as live singing troupes and fashion shows, according to reports from The Straits Times. Singapore Airlines sought a latest trend and David Flexer, the head of Cemae Investment, presented a solution: adapted slot machines. Flexer was already known in aviation circles for pioneering inflight movies, having overcome initial airline skepticism about the cost and complexity of such systems. He had developed a lightweight, automated projector in 1956, leading to the debut of TWA’s “Strato-Cinema” in 1961.
The “Orchard Rows” machines were specifically modified for aircraft use, weighing just 16kg compared to the standard 68kg. They operated on rechargeable batteries and were designed to be quiet, minimizing disruption to other passengers. A payout ratio of at least 90% was promised, significantly higher than that found in land-based casinos at the time. Passengers aged 18 and over could exchange cash for tokens with the flight crew and win up to US$200, with a special one-off jackpot of US$25,000 announced, though never awarded.
The airline emphasized that the machines were intended solely as recreational entertainment, not an endorsement of gambling. However, the initiative drew criticism from some quarters. A concerned citizen writing to The Straits Times questioned whether Singapore Airlines was promoting tourism or gambling. Competitors were similarly unimpressed, with a Japan Airlines official dismissing the idea as “ridiculous,” suggesting a traditional hot bath would be a more appropriate inflight amenity.
The inaugural flight on August 25, 1981, initially saw a positive reception, with 148 out of 330 passengers taking advantage of the 15-minute playing slots. However, the machines soon began to malfunction. The weight reduction achieved by replacing metal components with plastic proved detrimental, as the plastic parts were unable to withstand the use, and the coin slots jammed. Two arms were broken off by frustrated passengers, forcing the flight crew to shut down the system before the flight reached its destination.
Repairs took eight months, and when the machines returned in May 1982, further modifications were implemented, including a computerised credit system to replace physical tokens and aircraft power instead of batteries. Despite these changes, and a confident prediction from The Straits Times that the problems were resolved, the venture ultimately failed.
By 1984, Singapore Airlines had quietly discontinued the jackpot machines, citing issues with tokens jamming the machines and the unsatisfactory performance of the computerised credit system. The airline later experimented with virtual jackpots and other casino games on its KrisWorld entertainment system in 1998, but abandoned physical gaming machines altogether, citing economic concerns related to space, maintenance, staffing, and operating costs.
Today, the “Orchard Rows” experiment is largely forgotten, remembered only by a small display at the Singapore Airlines Training Centre. While passengers can now access virtual casino games on KrisWorld, the era of physical slot machines in the skies is over.
