Grand Bazaar Shops and OfferCraft launch digital promotional games where shoppers are rewarded with discounts, shopping sprees and more.

Adding to the distinct mixture of experiences found at Grand Bazaar Shops, the Las Vegas outdoor shopping attraction introduces new interactive, digital games. Guests can now play games on their phones and the center's website to win prizes redeemable across Grand Bazaar Shops' retail and dining venues. 

"The interactive games we've launched are a fun and exciting way for our customers to earn surprise rewards to make use of when visiting our center," said Allen Bowman, general manager of Grand Bazaar Shops. "Now guests have the ease of simply picking up their phone to find something special, and it is simple to receive the rewards. We're excited to spearhead this activation because the first shopping mall at the Las Vegas Strip to launch the digital games."

"We couldn't be more fascinated with this chance to work with Grand Bazaar Shops," said OfferCraft CEO Aron Ezra. "Together we're bringing life to the following generation of rewards and smart coupons to make shopping at this attraction much more memorable."

A number of games might be available within the coming months on digital signage at Grand Bazaar Shops, while additional games could be accessible from guests' phones by visiting PlayGBS.com and online via Grand Bazaar Shops' website. Currently Spin to Win and Slot Machine games has been revealed and a number of other additional game types are slated to be introduced later this year, starting from scratch-to-win style games to fit machine-type games, and more. 

Rewards include varying levels of discounts, prizes and complimentary shopping vouchers. Way more interactive than traditional coupons, future games will allow shoppers to win a reward and have the ability to trade it in for something else and revel in perks reminiscent of the power to transfer a reward to a friend.

Read More... [Source: Featured Products]

If you've played in any respect at the Australian poker circuit, chances are high that one day you've run into Australian Hall of Famer Leo Boxell.

'The Mechanic' as he's also known, Boxell has a poker resume dating back to the nineties. And to mention that resume is impressive really wouldn't be doing him justice.

With four Aussie Millions gold rings, three Aussie Millions Main Event final table appearances, three APPT final tables and an APPT title among his over 1.3 million dollars worth of live scores it is easy to look why Boxell was inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame back in 2012.

Australian Poker Hall of Famer - Leo Boxell

He was set to sit down this week after satelliting his way into the principle Event, but a nasty knee meant that Boxell couldn't take a seat for greater than ten minutes at a time. While this bad fortune meant 'The Mechanic' would not have a shot on the last ANZPT title, it opened the door for his son Danny to step in.

Danny Boxell only has two live cashes to his name, the last of which dates back to 2011, but that hasn't stopped him from putting on a show here usually Event. It seems like poker ability might be genetic as Danny started Day 2 third in chips with 107,100 and has already accumulated more this afternoon.

Making waves this week - Danny Boxell

One of the primary critical pots propelling the more youthful Boxell to his current chip position came yesterday during Level 4. Holding king-nine he lead out on a nine-high flop and after two callers, a 3rd player moved all in for 20,000 in chips. Danny made the decision and with the opposite two out of ways he discovered he was up against two overcards and a flush draw. He would ultimately fade danger and scoop the pot for a stack of 70,000.

While we missed the action on another crucial spot that Danny found himself in, his father was nice enough to fill us in at the details. Leo said it appeared like his son was in trouble after finding himself a part of a three-way all in with pocket kings against pocket nines and pocket aces. Chasing a king to stick alive he found one when the board ran out and tripled as much as keep his tournament run alive.

With his Hall of Famer father here supporting him and with some of the big chip stacks maybe Danny Boxell can follow in his father's footsteps this week. We'll be watching to peer if he could make it to the cash tonight and push directly to the general table to chase that $261,200 first place prize!

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Australia New Zealand Poker Tour]

For the third time in a year, PokerStars hosted a web based poker tournament that set records because the largest poker event ever held.

Breaking a record it set itself this past summer PokerStars, the web poker operator, held the biggest poker tournament ever on December 27th. Authenticated by the Guinness Book of global Records, the development hosted 149,196 players.

PokerStars had set the former record with an internet poker tournament in July, featuring over 65,000 players. This marks the third time in lower than a year PokerStars has broken the sector record.

While the choice of countries participating this time hasn't been released, the July event had players from 155 different countries, out of 194 recognized on the earth by the united states State Department.

Last December, PokerStars set its first record when 35,000 players paid $11 to shop for into the tournament. This year's online poker extravaganza had a buy-in of only $1, with a guaranteed $300,000 prize pool.

PokerStars has surpassed such early industry leaders as PartyGaming and newer competition from Full Tilt Poker to become the world's largest poker network, as measured by independent site PokerScout.

Published on January 5, 2010 by EdBradley

Read More... [Source: Poker News]

Slot manufacturers appear to agree that even though it remains a demand, the progressive slot market is pretty mature. But on this day and age, “mature” does not mean progressive slots are forever unchanging and staid.

Due to popular demand, slot manufacturers are continuing to supply quite a lot of linked progressive (LAP) games, which provide the similar jackpot levels as traditional progressive banks but with fewer machines. Basically, operators are addressing the demand for LAPs by reducing the dimensions in their progressive banks and placing several several types of LAPs on their floor.

Standalone progressive (SAP) technology has also continued as a typical add-on for a person machine. However, the variation between LAPs and SAPs is that SAPs usually incorporate engaging bonus entertainment along with standard play. This link can also be within an area area network (LAN) or involve machines in a large area network (WAN).

“As the slot products evolved into video reel slots, multi-level progressives became the dominant sort of progressive games,” said Allon Engleman, senior vp and chief design officer at Scientific Games Corporation. “Now many sorts of traditional progressives and mysteries with three, four, five or more levels are the standard.”

“We continue to look enthusiasm for multi-link progressives and standalone progressives,” added Victor Duarte, global chief product officer, gaming for IGT.  “Our new 99 Riches standalone mystery progressive offers four different progressive levels that help drive gameplay and lines more ways for the player to win. This title spotlights another progressive trend—enabling players to win a progressive jackpot at any bet level.” 

Meanwhile Ainsworth is drawing operator attention with games that provide what they give thught to to be obtainable progressives. “Something that players see incrementing at a gradual pace, they know at the ceiling, they know when it'll hit, they know what to appear for and the way that progressive operates,” said Cody Herrick, product marketing manager at Ainsworth.

Few would argue that the best good thing about progressive slots are the jackpots; not only for the players, but for casino operators seeking the promoting draw created by these large jackpots as well.  “Different progressives reach different player demographics,” said Steve Walther, director, product management, games at Konami Gaming. “There are some progressives with large or life-changing, high dollar jackpots that cater more to entertainment-style players who will throw some money towards that jackpot hoping they win it big. Or there are lower progressive top awards with greater hit frequency that appeal more to the regular gambler who wants that extra pay-out potential or is asking to make their money go a little bit further at the floor.”

Manufacturers are continuing to adapt progressive awards, experimenting with new play mechanics, interactive components and skill-based concepts. Walther sums up why progressive slots are so enticing to players, “There’s something that gamblers inherently enjoy about watching their wager go towards an incrementing award meter that they are able to potentially win on every spin,” he said. “When a player puts money right into a progressive machine, they may be able to actually see the jackpot steadily grow higher and better with each bet, so that they know the money they’ve invested within the game has the prospective to be won back. Players bet that investment into the jackpot, hoping they are able to win a better return.”

So… what are manufactures doing in any such mature market to carry interest? Below one can find a listing of slot manufacturers and their latest progressive slot developments:

IGT

IGT operates in additional than 100 countries worldwide and gives the industry’s largest end-to-end product portfolio. Their industry-leading R&D investment enables them to foster innovation and deliver compelling games to varied progressive players within each market.  IGT continues to provide customers a large choice of progressive-themed configurations including wide area progressive, linked, standalone, mystery progressives and others.

“IGT has the biggest amount of progressive jackpot titles within the market,” Duarte said. “We are introducing a compelling collection of progressive links, combined with market-attuned content, to construct our progressive business.  We’re also leveraging our cross-platform content development and distribution with progressive game themes similar to Megajackpots Cleopatra and Siberian Storm, elevating IGT’s interactive portfolio for desktop and mobile content offerings.”

Wheel of Fortune was established because the most successful slot theme of all time for IGT, revolutionizing the progressive slot experience with greater than 200 game themes enjoyed by players in additional than 20 countries worldwide. Wheel of Fortune has created greater than 1,000 millionaires and awarded greater than $3 billion in jackpots, setting it excluding every other game theme within the industry.

IGT has enhanced its progressive content portfolio with its award-winning TRUE 3D technology. “Our TRUE 3D library has transformed slot play with a singular glasses-free 3D gaming environment, and has integrated compelling progressive bonuses to ignite the player experience,” Duarte said. “We originally introduced SPHINX 3D slots, which provide five progressive jackpot levels while IGT’s Cash Fever 3D game offers various bonus progressive levels. IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Double Diamond 3D melds probably the most successful slot theme of all time with one of the crucial celebrated video slot technologies of new years. Leveraging three unique multi-level progressives, Wheel of Fortune Double Diamond 3D is the industry’s first wide area progressive to add TRUE 3D technology.”

Progressive fan-favorites similar to Megajackpots Cleopatra and Siberian Storm have successfully launched in Europe and are enabling players to qualify for progressive jackpots at any bet; offering more opportunities to win in any respect levels while boosting operator revenues.

Moving forward, IGT is building at the evolution of progressive slot play by delivering game content across channels, to desktop and mobile devices.

INCREDIBLE TECHNOLOGIES

Incredible Technologies (THIS CAN BE A) Class III slot manufacturer currently licensed in 23 states within the U.S., multiple international jurisdictions and on iGaming platforms. IT introduced the Infinity Link premium product segment in 2015, with a nationwide rollout set for 2016.

Infinity Link is a bank-wide local area progressive that utilizes a modified version of the company’s Simple Sign Display Kit with a wise controller to promote progressive meters, bonus wins and other merchandising effects. IT also features linkable progressives in games featured within the Infinity Skybox product segment, in addition to in several high performing core games.

IT recently launched a brand new premium product segment, Infinity Skybox, which heightens their Infinity U23 cabinet with the addition of an integrated 55-inch vertical monitor to display local area progressives in an impactful way. Infinity Skybox debuted with two flagship titles—Crazy Money Deluxe and Money Rain Deluxe. Each game is outfitted with a linkable Sky Wheel—a massive digital bonus wheel displayed overhead to trigger progressive jackpots and other bonus awards.

“Progressives became the most important component of product segmentation for Incredible Technologies,” said Dan Schrementi, vice chairman of gaming sales & marketing at IT. “Customers wish to see depth in a catalog, and within that depth must be categories that touch on their players’ needs.  Kinds of progressives and the shape factor they’re shown in became crucial pivot-point in our product marketing mix.”

Infinity Link launched with two progressive game families—Color Pays and GoldLink Progressives. “Color Pays and GoldLink are both innovative game families utilizing unique progressive triggers that players will find not just exciting but in addition easy to grasp and approachable,” Schrementi said.

In 2016 WILL PROBABLY BE debuting ways that they leverage the joy of progressive jackpots to affect more players on a selected bank of linked games.

KONAMI GAMING 

Konami Gaming creates all kinds of progressive slots—from SAPs which can be integrated within select game themes to SAPs that exist a la carte, like Quick Strike and Jackpot Streams. These progressives have compatibility across multiple cabinets and ready to be put on top of most any in their base game products, their linked products that work the similar way and to their most common—the add-on extended ROM-style progressive.

Konami allows casino properties to possess and create their very own custom progressive games using system-delivered progressive functionality through its SYNKROS casino management system. “Because SPM can launch progressives to any slot machine at the floor without a additional in-machine hardware required, operators have the versatility to deploy linked progressives to the precise banks or standalone machines they want,” said Michael Ratner, director, product management, systems at Konami. “In addition, future development of SYNKiosk Mobile will provide customers with real-time information at the casino’s own progressive jackpots—such because the current progressive values and the volume of time since they last hit—all via smartphone, so players can get the most recent updates on their favorite jackpots from anywhere.”

Konami’s latest progressive slots games are Wheel of the Imperial Eggs and Jackpot Ball. Both being the primary standalone progressives offered at the new Concerto video cabinet, and will be combined with quite a few KP3+ platform base games at the bottom screen. With the improved power and speed of Concerto’s KP3+ platform, these new extended ROM games feature more vivid bonus animation across both video screens, which makes for a bigger, bolder celebration. “For the primary time, we’re also introducing a longer ROM to our Rapid Revolver video-mechanical hybrid cabinet that may be combined with most any KP3 base game at the lower screen.” Walther said. “It’s a game called Lucky Sticks, and the bonus awards are now delivered through a mixture of interactions between the lower video screen and 6 big mechanical reels stacked around the top box.”

 “Our R&D team is actively exploring a diversity of recent opportunities to create games that captivate casino audiences like nothing else before,” Walther added. “We will continue to push the envelope to search out new how one can bring engaging entertainment to the following generation of progressive slots, similar to you saw us do with Titan 360.”

SCIENTIFIC GAMES

Scientific Games provides an entire range of progressive slot products, offering games with standalone progressives, multi-level linked progressives, mystery progressives and wide area progressives. A lot of their hottest games, like Blazing 7’s, Quick Hit, Hot Shot Progressive, Lifetime of Luxury, and 88 Fortunes have incorporated progressive jackpots and their wide selection of WAP games include one of the most top third-party brands within the industry today. 

The award winning, 88 Fortunes is currently considered one of Scientific Games’ most successful progressive slots. “The game is renowned around the globe and leads the market within the United States, Australia, and Asia,” Engleman said. “The unique theme, authentic Chinese artwork, enticing progressive jackpots starting at $10,000 for the penny denomination, and frequent jackpot hits set it excluding the competition.”

In addition, Quick Hit progressive games stay a staple of progressive products in North America. The max bet progressive games are available countless styles, but all offer progressives which can be triggered by scattered Quick Hit symbols at the reels. “Quick Hit progressive’s games became so popular that casinos will include several banks of games in one property,” said Engleman. 

TwinStar is certainly one of Scientific Games latest games and provides two new types of progressives with Bally’s new Quick Hit series Volcano and Jungle; each offering a five-level progressive jackpot. Additionally, Zeus Son of Kronos and Kronos Father of Zeus are WMS branded progressive games which might be featured on TwinStar.

AINSWORTH GAME TECHNOLOGY

Progressive slots encompass a big a part of business at Ainsworth.  “Out of all of the games we make, that's 60-plus games a year, 99 percent of these have progressive or may have some form of progressive on them,” Herrick said.

Ainsworth is continuous to grow with customized progressives throughout the QX32 Link Controller which will run progressives on 1,000-plus Ainsworth machines. A single QX32 Link Controller can support 12 separate progressive parameter sets and every parameter set supports eight levels of progressives.

Ainsworth could be very versatile within the progressive market with standalone progressives, standalone mystery progressives, in addition to linked symbol-driven and their hottest customizable linked mystery progressives, featuring customized start amounts, hit before amounts and increments.

Sky High Stacks is the most recent addition to Ainsworth’s Premium Plus range. In accordance with max bet jackpot play, Sky High Stacks features four standalone progressives, bonus prizes, special expanding wild symbols and other entertaining features.

Moving forward, Ainsworth could be that specialize in continuing and improving support of the QX32 Link Controller. “Initially we developed it and we put it behind the closet where shall we run progressive graphics off of it,” Herrick said. “Starting to advance that, and looking out to do a large area with it within the future, in addition to some accounting features, remote auditing and hot swat backup, in addition to we've designed some new design packages [regular overhead, overhead topers, LCD toppers, or some LCD monitors], it'll support that with custom graphics.”

Read More... [Source: Slots]

Published on August 30, 2013 by April Gardner

Churchill Downs is already the location of essentially the most prestigious horse race within the world, the Kentucky Derby. Now the parent company that owns the famed horse track, Churchill Downs Inc., is preparing to go into a market that may be suddenly saturated with participants.

Churchill Downs announced this week that they have got gained approval from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on $1 million in tax benefits by hiring 50 new employees. The precise job description of those new employees was not revealed, but many believe they know what Churchill Downs is preparing for.

"Online gambling is coming to the U.S. in a large way," said analyst Steven Ryan. "Whether the government regulates the industry, or whether regulation comes throughout the Kentucky Legislature, Internet gambling may be in Kentucky sooner in preference to later, and Churchill Downs desires to be ready when that happens."

The company did announce that the brand new employees could be coping with a technology based job. The figures regarding how much these employees will make were estimated at $165,000 annually. Churchill Downs did acknowledge that they were associated with online gambling.

The move towards providing online poker began for Churchill Downs back in early 2012 when the corporate acquired Bluff Media. Bluff runs a web based poker site, in addition to one of the most largest and most successful poker magazines within the US. Bluff has already been approved for a web based gaming license in Nevada, where online gambling have been accepted by lawmakers.

With New Jersey also regulating online casinos earlier this year, analysts now believe the door was opened for the united states to become the biggest online gambling market on the earth. Dozens of businesses have submitted applications to function online casinos in Nevada. New Jersey and Nevada both hope to have fully operational online casinos by the tip of the year.

Kentucky was on the forefront of an internet gambling controversy when Governor Steve Beshear attempted to grab the domains of 141 online gambling sites. Beshear claimed the sites put Kentucky's youth in danger.

A Department of Justice ruling back in December of 2011, clarified the 1961 Wire Act, signaling that only sports betting was illegal under the law. Soon after, lawmakers from dozens of states, including Kentucky, began lobbying their colleagues to modify state laws, allowing regulation throughout the online gambling industry.

Read More... [Source: Online Casino News]

On Thursday, April 21 2016 poker pros Olivier Busquet and JC Alvarado met inside an MMA ring to settle a six-figure bet that was within the works for 6 months now. Alvarado, who had more prior experience in mixed martial arts publish $150,000 to Busquet, the bigger of the 2 but with less fight training previous to the bet.

The two agreed to fighting weights of 187.5 pounds for Busquet and 165 for Alvarado, they usually both made weight the day before the fight. Card Player TV was on site to catch the fight and before the 2 tapped gloves caught up with poker pro and MMA fighter Terrence Chan to get his thoughts generally situation. Chan’s interview is within the video below, at the side of highlights from the fight and an interview with the eventual champion.

Fight Recap (SPOILERS BELOW)

At roughly 7:00 PM local time the fight got underway on the Syndicate MMA facility in Las Vegas. After three two-minute rounds of visceral, violent and intense fighting the medical staff was brought in to inspect Alvarado, whose face was soaked in blood together with his left eye nearly swollen shut. It’s unclear if Alvarado, his corner, or the medical staff made the decision, however the fight was called at that time and Busquet was awarded the victory by technical knockout.

“The journey itself was near to testing myself,” Busquet told Card Player after being declared the winner. Studying what I USED TO BE manufactured from and if I MAY handle something like this. I owe everything to the folks who helped me, especially [coach] Tito Hartz and everyone at ECU (East Coast United BJJ and MMA)… I MIGHT have just gotten my ass kicked without them."

“I have such a lot respect for JC. He's so tough. If the location was reversed I'D have given up way before he did,” Busquet continued. “I came in bigger and stronger, and he knew I MIGHT be and he still went through with it and still lasted three rounds. At the bottom a few of the time, taking tough shots. I just have a large number of respect for him.”

“I’m so relieved and thrilled. I can’t believe it’s over and that it ended like this,” concluded the exhausted and battered Busquet.

According to his Twitter timeline Alvarado went to the hospital afterwards but left by around midnight local time, apparently in adequate condition to smile.

This was removed from the primary fight-based prop bet between poker players, with Elky vs. Lex Veldhuis and Sorel Mizzi vs. Brian Rast having taken place lately. Possibly there'll be more poker players battling it out within the ring at some point. Players just will need to think carefully before choosing Busquet as their opponent.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]

Organizers of the brand new United Football League pooh-poohed NFL claims that gambling is a threat to sports, and said they hope sports betting helps their league up to it has the NFL.

Gambling could be a subject that causes National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell's eyes to bug out, however the innovators taking off the United Football League don't understand the NFL's problem with sports betting. UFL leaders have installed a team in Las Vegas, and say they hope gambling does as much for his or her game because it has for the NFL.

Michael Huyghue, commissioner of the UFL, says sports gambling has caused success for US pro sports leagues, and he welcomes lines being posted on his games by Las Vegas sports books.

"I think it's hypocritical to behave adore it (gambling) doesn't exist," said Huyghue in a press conference held on the Palms Casino. "WE WILL BE ABLE TO embrace it."

The UFL will play its inaugural season with four teams, including Las Vegas, Florida, New York, and San Francisco. Teams are sprinkled with coaches and players with NFL experience, including Jim Fassel, who coached the brand new York Giants into the Super Bowl.

Huyghue asserted that, although NFL executives refuse to recognize it, sports betting is very important in establishing public interest in games. He downplayed NFL terrors about disruption of game integrity, declaring that sports gambling has co-existed for many years with football.

"The approval for the NFL has grown abundantly as a result of that," said the brand new commissioner.

Published on August 11, 2009 by JoshuaMcCarthy

Read More... [Source: UK Casinos in the News]