The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the launch of the Play Smart Consumer Hub, a new online resource designed to help consumers game responsibly. The hub builds on AGA’s Play Smart from the Start, a messaging platform that encourages players to make informed choices and develop habits that keep gaming fun.

“The AGA is committed to making responsible gaming a seamless part of the player experience. Part of the fun of gaming is that everyone plays differently, but no matter how or where you play, staying in control starts with habits that work for you. The Play Smart Consumer Hub provides players with straightforward, actionable tools to help them stay in control and keep gaming fun,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA.

Grounded in player research, Play Smart from the Start centers around three key principles:

• Right State of Mind: Start every game with the right mindset—stay present, know your limits, and play on your terms.

• Know the Game: Understand the rules, odds, and bet with intention.

• Act Intentionally: Set a budget, take breaks, and stay aware, win or lose.

The Play Smart Consumer Hub offers practical tools, including:

• A Pre-Play Checklist to help players assess their mindset and set personal limits before betting.

• A Know the Game section that demystifies odds, house advantage, and common sports betting terms.

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• A Responsible Gaming IQ Quiz that allows players to evaluate their gaming habits.

• Easy access to support resources like the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) and state self-exclusion options.

In addition to the consumer tools, the platform also features an Industry Toolkit, providing operators and other stakeholders with resources, including messaging guidance, creative assets, customer communications and activation ideas to support the integration of consistent, responsible gaming programs.

“Whether an operator or supplier is building a new responsible gaming program or looking to refresh existing efforts, this toolkit makes it easy to deliver consistent, player-first messaging across every customer touchpoint,” Miller said.

The Play Smart Consumer Hub is now live at playsmartfromthestart.org.

There is a new hero in Mexico as FBM® launches the thrilling Croc’s Lock™. This slot game merges an engaging storyline with a disruptive game mechanic based on the Lock feature and two accumulators, taking players into a cartooned adventure with Super Croc full of golden coins to collect.

Croc’s Lock is a 30-line slot filled with adrenaline and great prizes. Super Croc is the character around all action happens. Working with 15 independent reels, Croc’s Lock offers gaming sessions where Super Croc exploits lead the player through an entertaining journey with three new features. The surprise element is always present, as the big prizes can come on the main game or bonus free spins modes.

Extra Coins and Extra Spins unlock extra fun!

The central reel is the focus of the Croc’s Lock game mechanic. Every time players obtain a Super Croc on this position, the Lock Feature is activated. Super Croc liberates all the existing lock symbols and may open the bonus with Extra Coins, Extra Spins or both accumulators combined.

If the bonus mode starts with one chest open, players get five free spins. This number increases to ten free rounds when Super Croc triggers Extra Spins and Extra Coins at the same time. Each accumulator of the Croc’s Lock slot game presents a different feature:

• Extra Spins – Super Croc releases thunders from its fingers, increasing the free spins counter during the bonus rounds.
• Extra Coins – Super Croc changes the reels by shooting flaming coins to introduce more lock symbols on each free round.

The character stays on the central reel during the bonus plays. The features attached to each accumulator appear in the first free spin and can be repeated several times during the bonus rounds.

When players get into the bonus with one of the accumulators active, Super Croc keeps contributing with coins for the unopened chest. These contributions can lead to the opening of the other accumulator, allowing players to benefit from the combined effect of Extra Spins and Extra Coins.

Four jackpots, reel rewinds, and Luck Has Arrived to collect bags of coins

The Lock feature is just a part of Croc’s Lock’s adrenaline injection. This FBM slot offers a complete feature set, including four Progressive Jackpots and two game features ready to keep the players engaged on the screen: Rewind and Luck Has Arrived.

• Progressive Jackpots – Croc’s Lock offers access to four different prize levels – Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand – through a jackpot vault that can appear on the reels during the main game or bonus rounds.
• Rewind – part of the Super Croc special powers, this feature changes the game round outcome. When Crocs hits the paw, one or more reels will change the symbol displayed and deliver a winning round to the player.
• Luck Has Arrived – the lasers coming from the eyes of the Super Croc pre-announce this feature, anticipating a big win for the player.

A villain, a hero and great graphics engage players in a disruptive FBM slot!

Several factors contribute to the immersive game experience offered by Croc’s Lock. Besides the rewards included in the product’s feature set, this FBM slot involves casino players and operators through a compelling narrative with the traditional duel “hero vs villain”.

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On one side, the Lock represents the evil force of the game and is visible on all lock symbols landed on the 15 independent reels, bringing challenges to the game hero on each spin. On the other side, Super Croc embodies the superpowers of the good forces on a joyful character, who guides the player on all relevant moments of the game with entertaining animations like the dances, the paw hit, the Extra Spins thunders, the Extra Coins flaming coins or the Luck Has arrived lasers.

The sound effects of Croc’s Lock add an extra layer of enthusiasm, completing the visual effects and animations of the game with sounds that keep on the player’s mind with catchy rhymes and melodies.

Available for the Galaxy II, Auria and Shadow III casino cabinets, Croc’s Lock starts its expansion journey in Mexico. Designed for players looking for significant prizes in durable and long-lasting gaming sessions, this title promises to enchant slot fans spread all over the country.

Following the releases of Jin Qián Link Spirits™ and Xing Fú Fortune Money Trees™, FBM continues renovating its slots portfolio with an innovative, reliable, high-performing casino game. Croc’s Lock is compatible with different casino floor layouts and ready to add value to the casino operator’s portfolio with an exciting narrative and compelling aesthetics, features, and game mechanics.

AGS, a global gaming supplier known for its high-performing slot, table, and interactive products, has been named one of U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 Best Companies to Work For.

AGS was selected as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Companies to Work For, placing in the top 30 percent of 2,119 publicly traded companies evaluated. To be eligible, companies were required to have more than 75 employee reviews on Glassdoor submitted between 2021 and early 2025, alongside strong workplace data across key metrics.

The U.S. News evaluation assessed companies based on employee sentiment and six key workplace factors: quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belonging and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

AGS was honored in the following categories:

• Best Companies to Work For – Overall
• Best Companies to Work For in the West
• Best Companies to Work For in the Media and Communications Industry
• Best Companies to Work For – Top Workplace Environment
• Best Companies to Work For – Top Engineering Jobs

In Nevada, AGS was one of only two companies featured on the 2025–2026 list.

“Our recognition by U.S. News & World Report is especially meaningful because it reflects what our employees have shared about their experience working at AGS,” said Kim Nasuta, Senior Vice President of Human Resources. “The hundreds of Glassdoor reviews submitted over the past several years tell a powerful story about a culture rooted in trust, transparency, and opportunity. We are proud to foster an environment where people feel supported, empowered, and excited to come to work every day.”

AGS was also recently named a 2025 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation and in Atlanta, and recognized by USA TODAY as a 2025 Top Workplace in the U.S.