Scowling dealers, rude players, high limits and complicated rules are just a few of the reasons why potential table game players are often scared to sit down at blackjack, craps or roulette games at some of the nation's largest casinos.

Casinos have developed some interesting solutions, from low-limit "teaching" games, where players learn the basics without risking their money, to "party pits," where fun is the objective. These programs have met with varying degrees of success throughout the country, but often have failed to lure the slot player from his element.

However, a new collection of machines developed by Minneapolis-based Innovative Gaming Corporation brings the tables to the slot players in an effort to allow non-table game players to experience the excitement of blackjack, craps and roulette.

The company's Power Pit gathers all three games in a section of the slot floor devoted to teaching the games to new players. The attractive devices are big--like table games--and offer state-of-the-art technology.

Lightning Strike, the roulette game, features two large video displays that replicate the roulette layout, along with five betting positions. To place the bets, the player inserts bills and uses a "Track Ball" to place his bets where he desires, with 106 betting options.

A vertical 29-inch monitor provides the players with the rules of the game and information on how to make the bets. This monitor displays the winning number. Players are also prompted by audio narration from speakers within the machine.

After a period that allows players to make the bets, the roulette wheel is "spun" and the winners are paid, while the losing bets simply disappear.

BJ Blitz, the blackjack game, contains five slant-top style terminals, each with a monitor, and one central monitor that displays the dealer's hand. The video "dealer" assists novice players, without the sarcastic tone of many of his "live" counterparts. Buttons allow the player to bet, split, double down, surrender, hit or stand. Players can consult an easily understandable information screen at any time during play. Rules can be designed to mirror almost any "live" blackjack game, and allows one- to four-deck operations.

The most difficult game to convert to a machine is craps, but Innovative Gaming has done an admirable job. The Hot Shot machine incorporates many of the best features of the traditional craps game, in a "crapless" craps format. Therefore, players are not permitted to make "don't" bets, but don't lose their pass line bets when a two, three or 12 is rolled. That also means that 11 is not a winner on the come-out roll.

The six-player machine contains two large monitors mounted horizontally. Like the roulette game, the player directs his betting by the Track Ball. Rules are displayed in a canopy above the game. The game allows the player-friendly odds bets, and displays the amount allowed behind the pass line bet.

Some of the payouts, the two, three, 11 and 12, shortchange the player by paying 15 or 30 for one, rather than 15 or 30 to one, but that's just nit-picking.

Rolling the "dice" is the best part. The designated "shooter" spins the Track Ball, and the dice careen crazily around the table before coming to rest on the winning number.

For the novice player, the shortcoming of Hot Shot is that it does not teach the traditional craps game. The "live" game found in the craps pit is quite unlike Hot Shot. Nonetheless, it's a fun game.

The concept of teaching players the tables via the slots has been tried before, but never with such a program like Power Pit.

In these days of soaring table minimums, Indian casinos or racetracks with slots that don't permit traditional table games, the Power Pit machines have a definite place. Even in casinos with live table games, the Power Pit is a good "entry level" table game experience, without the intimidation.