Gambling in the USA
Light & Wonder to Debut Five New Casino Game Titles Exclusively at IGA 2023
Light & Wonder Inc., the leading cross-platform global games company, announced that it will be unveiling five new exciting proprietary casino game titles during the Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) on March 27-28 in San Diego, CA. Casino operators and game enthusiasts at the event will receive an exclusive first look at L&W’s new titles including BIG HOT FLAMING POTS, ZODIAC LANTERN, and RICH LITTLE HENS, an extension of the evergreen hit game franchise RICH LITTLE PIGGIES.
On the Systems side of the business, the company will showcase L&W ENGAGE, a comprehensive loyalty platform, in addition to launching new hardware in the form of IVIEW PRO which provides operators more security, faster response times, and sharper, more dynamic, graphics for the player experience. Additionally, in the electronic table game (ETG) space, L&W is starting to roll out a newly designed podium and several new sign packages for its QUARTZ Hybrid product line.
“Now more than ever, casinos are reinvesting in their floors and seeing the tremendous value created for their players who want more modern, immersive game content with solutions and services to enhance the guest experience. To respond to these needs and the demand for next-generation content, our team of award-winning game designers and studios have created a robust pipeline of new games that will continue to launch throughout the year across multiple platforms,” said Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder CEO of Gaming.
Devised by renowned game designer Qin You, BIG HOT FLAMING POTS is a three-pot mechanic game that features Yummy, Upsized, and Spicy pots as well as vibrant animations including a whimsical “dumpling tossing” feature. The game allows scatter prizes to be removed and won before the end of the Hold & Spin feature for a more exciting and extended gameplay experience. BIG HOT FLAMING POTS will be available for sale on L&W’s powerful new COSMIC display cabinet, which was unveiled last year.
Also making its debut on the COSMIC cabinet is the new ZODIAC LANTERN series that features two titles, ZODIAC LANTERN – TIGER and ZODIAC LANTERN – RABBIT, combining the Persistent Pot from 88 FORTUNES with a multi-reel array Hold & Spin feature. These thrilling games – created by Jamie Knight, the innovative designer behind the hit MONEY LINK franchise – were inspired by the Chinese zodiac cycles, the Year of the Tiger (2022) and the Year of the Rabbit (2023). Free Game bonuses in both games are triggered by three Koi Fish Symbols and the Lantern Feature – the main Hold & Spin feature for these titles – which triggers by landing six Lantern Symbols.
RICH LITTLE HENS is a new franchise focused around three hens that continue to grow until a bonus is triggered. With the opportunity to combine all three hens into one MEGA feature, players can experience up to a 7x wild multiplier, progressive free games, and a jackpot chase all at once. Designed by Shawn Soong, the studio behind the success of BLAZING 777 2x3x5x NUDGE and BLAZING 777 TRIPLE DOUBLE JACKPOT WILD, RICH LITTLE HENS also offers a high-denom option with newly added denominations setting it up for success with all players.
During the event, L&W will be unveiling several new game titles that are extensions of some of its most popular brand franchises including MONEY LINK POWER 4 and DANCING DRUMS ULTIMATE EXPLOSION. MONEY LINK POWER 4 allows players to play all four of the franchise’s amazing titles – THE GREAT IMMORTALS, NEPTUNE’S REALM, EGYPTIAN RICHES, and GIFTS OF ODIN – at the same time. DANCING DRUMS ULTIMATE EXPLOSION features new enhancements such as multiple progressive resets.
Attendees are also encouraged to visit the Light & Wonder booth (#1341) at the tradeshow to learn more about the company’s upcoming Class II gaming offerings including a new Class II WAP link launching on COSMIC.
Light & Wonder gaming experts Jon Wolfe, President of Global Systems and Services, and Nathan Drane, SVP of Global Product Management, will also be joining panel discussions on “Trends You’ll be Seeing in 2023” and “The Latest in Class II Gaming.” Both sessions are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 28 at 9:00 AM PT during the education series.
PENN Entertainment announced that its stand-alone Hollywood Casino app has launched in New Jersey. The new Hollywood Casino platform is available on Android, iOS, and desktop and can also be accessed via the ESPN BET app. Customers can login to Hollywood Casino using their ESPN BET credentials, allowing for a seamless experience across PENN’s online betting and casino platforms.
Ranked by Eilers & Krejcik as the #2 overall iCasino product in the US, Hollywood Casino offers a variety of online slots, table games, and live dealer content, including original titles from PENN Game Studios, the company’s in-house casino game development studio. Hollywood Casino also includes bespoke live dealer tables and exclusive games such as the recently launched Devils Blackjack, an original title leveraging PENN’s partnership with the New Jersey Devils.
“We’re thrilled to introduce our dedicated, casino-first experience to customers across New Jersey. Hollywood Casino delivers a best-in-class experience with an extensive game library, seamless gameplay, and exclusive content from our in-house studio. This launch builds on the strong momentum we’ve gained since introducing our enhanced standalone app in December,” said Aaron LaBerge, Chief Technology Officer of PENN Entertainment.
The stand-alone Hollywood Casino platform debuted in Pennsylvania last December and is also available in Michigan.
Gambling in the USA
Bitline and Everi Announce Crypto Liquidity for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts in Industry First Development
Bitline, the only provider for casino chip access directly from cryptocurrency, has announced its first major collaboration in the U.S. casino market, teaming up with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts through its collaboration with Everi, a premier provider of financial technology and gaming solutions. This collaboration introduces cryptocurrency and digital assets as a new source of liquidity for casino patrons and marks the first time that such a functionality has been enabled within the American gaming industry.
Leveraging Everi’s CashClub’s comprehensive payment infrastructure, Bitline’s solution is able to efficiently board, screen and verify patrons looking to leverage their digital assets whilst also allowing patrons to move screened assets into custody within minutes. Bitline’s integration with Everi Cash Club, the leading financial access services suite for casino payments, will enable the technology for the benefit of Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, and is the first time that such a functionality has been possible in the U.S. regulated casino market.
Catering to the growing demand for greater cryptocurrency and digital asset integration within the casino industry, the collaboration between Bitline and Everi’s forms a transferable blueprint that offers casino operators and their patrons an alternative way to manage funds, access liquidity, and leverage the benefits of cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
This milestone reflects a strategic shift in how casino operators view and manage financial interactions with their guests. The introduction of cryptocurrency as a liquidity solution provides additional options for guests and lays the foundation for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts as it looks to the future of gaming sector finance, setting a new standard in financial accessibility and convenience.
“Working with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts and Everi to make this a reality is a historical moment for both the casino and blockchain industries. Bitline was conceptualized to advance the gaming sector and offer a wider variety of financial options for the casino industry,” said Richard Jones, CEO at Bitline. “We’re entering an era where digital assets can fundamentally enhance the gaming experience, providing casino operators with a future-ready financial framework that can expand and evolve as the industry does. This collaboration is just the beginning of our vision to modernize casino payment capabilities on a global scale.”
Victor Newsom, SVP Product Management, Payments Solutions at Everi comments “This unique integration combines BitLine’s additional payment accessibility options with Everi’s ability to enable seamless, secure, and regulatory compliant financial transactions for casino patrons. Designed from the ground up to exceed the rigorous compliance demands of the industry as well as the discerning expectations of gaming VIPs around the world, Choctaw’s patrons are now no longer limited to the access, times, amount, and speed constraints of the legacy financial systems. This also significantly reduces risk for our casino customers, such as Choctaw.”
“We are excited to be the first casino in North America to offer our guests another way to play,” said Thomas McDonald, Senior Director of Cage and Credit at Choctaw Casinos & Resorts. “Through our long-term relationship with Everi, a leader in fintech solutions, we will continue to invest in innovative offerings that provide the discerning gaming VIP access to funds in a safe and secure manner.”
The Choctaw Casinos & Resorts integration represents only the first phase of Bitline’s broader mission to bring cryptocurrency solutions to casinos and casino patrons worldwide. As cryptocurrency and digital assets continue to gain traction in the gaming sector, Bitline’s easy to integrate and patented payment model stands poised to become a key player in transforming gaming finance. Future plans include expanding services across other major casinos and gaming markets, both domestically and internationally, establishing cryptocurrency as a new standard feature of the gaming experience.
The solution is to be formally rolled out on March 7, 2025, with the first transaction taking place at Choctaw’s Durant, Oklahoma, location.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has taken decisive action against five offshore online casinos, sending cease-and-desist letters for violating state gaming laws. These websites offer a variety of casino games, such as slots, poker, blackjack, Keno, bingo, and game show games, in addition to sports betting.
The following unlicensed operators are now under scrutiny following the MGCB’s action:
BetWhale Casino, Curaçao
Black Lotus Casino, owned by TD Investments Ltd., Belize
Coins Game Casino, Curaçao
Love2play Casino, Curaçao and Costa Rica
Orion Stars 777 Players, Sichuan Province, China
“These illegal platforms not only violate Michigan’s gaming regulations but also put consumers at risk by offering unreliable withdrawal options and lacking essential consumer protections. Our top priority is safeguarding Michigan residents by ensuring that all online gaming activities are conducted legally and safely. These operators must stop their activities or face additional legal consequences,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said.
Investigations into these illegal activities have revealed that the operators are in violation of multiple Michigan state laws.
Despite offering various payment options like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin and Ethereum), these illegal operators impose strict withdrawal conditions, often requiring players to wager their initial deposits multiple times before they can access their winnings.
The MGCB has given these operators 14 days from the date of receipt of the cease-and-desist letters to halt their illegal activities.
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