Gambling in the USA
Push Gaming’s 2023 report: the US, more games and new horizons
As 2023 draws to a close, Push Gaming’s Director of New Business and Markets, Fiona Hickey, reflects on its recent progress on and off the reels and how the news of its acquisition has been received stateside, where the popular studio intends to make a splash.
With Push’s much-anticipated entry into the US market looming, has this influenced the agenda of US event attendance in 2023?
We’ve been diligently preparing for our US market entry for the past few years, gaining valuable insights and developing a comprehensive strategy as to our approach to the jurisdiction. With the potential of the US market being so great, it is worth taking our time and preparing for our launch accordingly.
During our pre-planning stage, we attended events like G2E Las Vegas among others where we met with regulators and gathered a broader understanding of the US gaming market so that we were sufficiently knowledgeable and informed of the market.
We’ve also been studying popular game concepts in both the online and the land-based market to ensure that our launch offerings will resonate with US players. By carefully considering the regulatory environment and player preferences, we have been able to develop a comprehensive plan to market that will position us for success when we begin to roll out there.
Has the recent acquisition by MGMRI/LeoVegas furthered this agenda at all? Or is it business as usual in terms of your US debut?
Our recent merger with MGM Resorts has significantly enhanced our US expansion strategy. The deal enables us to capitalise on BetMGM’s market-leading position and introduce our globally celebrated titles to American players for the first time on one of the most prominent operators’ platforms.
This will catapult our brand awareness in the US and help integrate our titles into the public zeitgeist of online slots within that market, encouraging more growth thereafter with additional operators and partners.
Your product roadmap has been boosted by an acceleration in game launches – what impact does this have on selling Push Gaming to operators?
We’ve been consistently raising the bar for our games in terms of quality and quantity over the past few years. Each new game provides an opportunity to innovate and expand our knowledge whilst delivering new features to players. With each successive release, we become a stronger provider and the recent uptick in these launches has amplified our already well-known inclination to innovate.
With over 60 direct integrations and partnerships with nearly all tier-one operators in the regulated markets that we are live in, we’re in an incredibly strong position. Adding more award-winning games to our portfolio allows us to capitalise on this position and expand even further, both with new operators and with our existing partners.
The big product news of 2023 was Razor Returns. Has this resulted in more interest in your content?
Our portfolio has always garnered significant attention from both players and operators because we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of slot development. We don’t simply replicate trends, we add our unique touch to create something truly exceptional and this is sought out by players and proves beneficial to operators. Razor Returns was a resounding success and since its launch, it has remained a top game for our partners. Players are drawn to its mix of familiar gameplay and the evolution of a fan-favourite franchise with new additions to its mechanics, the slot has proven to be a hit since release.
As we move into 2024, we’ve already crafted an impressive roadmap for Q1, featuring seven games, one of which is the highly anticipated Wild Swarm 2 which we believe has the potential to be our most successful sequel yet. We also have Retro Sweets upcoming, the long-awaited sequel to Retro Tapes, which we know our partners will love. For them and ourselves, content is king and consistently delivering high-quality entertainment experiences is key to garnering more interest in our games.
What other regions and new markets are in the pipeline for Push?
Following our entry into Greece, Italy, and Switzerland towards the end of 2023, we plan to continue our expansion and aim to be live in Spain in Q2 next year. We will also be looking to continue our growth and expansion into Latin America, along with our much-awaited entry into the US being on the horizon. We are excited to continue to grow our business, offering our innovative games to new players around the world and providing existing Push enthusiasts with new games to enjoy. There are exciting times ahead.
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.
-
Latest News7 days agobet365 and Incentive Games Launch $10 Million ‘Bracket Challenge’ for 2025 Men’s College Basketball Tournament
-
Latest News7 days agoAeropay Joins the Coalition for Fantasy Sports
-
Latest News7 days agoUNLV’s PGA Golf Management University Program partners with Las Vegas-based AI technology company Evenplay to study the effects of rewards on skill level
-
Gambling in the USA7 days agoPENN Entertainment Launches Stand-alone Hollywood Casino App in New Jersey
-
Latest News7 days agoBGaming Expands into Brazil with Pixbet Partnership
-
Latin America7 days agoSharpLink Gaming Reports Full Year 2024 Financial Results
-
Compliance Updates6 days agoDCP Issues Summary Suspension of High5Games License for Conducting Illegal Gaming Activity
-
Latest News6 days agoBrazilian Volleyball Confederation Partners with Sportradar