NES Expansion Port Mystery Solved!

SpongeBobfan1987

"I'm so spice!"
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Have you guys ever noticed that strange expansion port on the bottom of the "model 1" NES? I found out that the Minnesota Lottery used it in 1991 for gambling purposes, complete with its own special modem and cartridge. Another item that almost used the slot was the Teleplay Modem in 1993.


Here's the Lottery modem attached to the NES:
18hbisoyzteimjpg.jpg


The modem itself, as well as the Minnesota Lottery Gambling cartridge, and some in-game lottery screenshots:
UP-Lottery-620x.jpg

18j1iw9q0tlobjpg.jpg




And here's two ads for the Teleplay Modem (a device similar the X-BAND modem), which was supposed to be released in 1993:

Teleplay_large.jpg


baton.jpg


Read more about it here:
http://kotaku.com/5838193/when-nintendo-wanted-to-bring-gambling-into-american-homes

...and here:
http://nescat.blogspot.gr/2013/09/the-nes-expansion-port-why-is-it-even.html

...and here:
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/27/business/nintendo-and-minnesota-set-a-living-room-lottery-test.html?src=pm

"PRESS START" to discuss! :)
 
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