I love this freaking machine! It's still alive and kickin' (for now) at the MGM Grand, near the buffet. We played several times, and there was always a lively crowd surrounding this game.
I love that you can play with ACTUAL quarters instead of this "insert at least $1" crap that most of the other, digitized "25 cent" games are pulling now.
Sutton C said it well - you'll definitely develop a sense of camaraderie with the folks around the table with you as you all bet the odds (playing it safe or putting it all on the highest stakes). I haven't seen anyone "make it big" on this machine; mostly everyone who plays seems to just fritter away their quarters slowly, or break even in the end.
There's something so charming about the actual, metal horsies under the glass running the course. And it's exciting - any pair of them could win each time! It's impossible to tell at the start who will cross the finish first, and if there is a pattern, I couldn't pick up on it, making this game a thrill every time.
I hope it lasts a long, long time!