Casino companies MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment Corp. and slot machine giant International Game Technology are investing in a growing number of free-for-play casinos, as detailed in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Some of the new free-play casinos are not connected with any land-based casino or a Nevada gaming licensee.
RocketFrog was developed by a team headed by Los Angeles-based Brett Calapp, who co-founded Centaurus Games, a subscription-based gaming network that was sold to PartyGaming in 2010. Calapp was also the president of Ultimate Blackjack Tour, which was televised by CBS.
While play on RocketFrog is free — and there is an opportunity for players to purchase virtual chips for premium games — the site will offer sponsorship opportunities to businesses. Calapp said a business could sponsor pages on the site, where gaming tables, playing cards, chips and slot machines would carry that business’s logo.
Facebook, Calapp said, provides a large audience of potential customers.
“There are hundreds of millions of embedded users,” he said.
Other companies have shied away from Facebook and created mobile gaming applications for smartphones and tablet computers.
U.S. Playing Cards, which produces such brands as Bee and Bicycle, is involved with the Zeniz Mobile Social Casino, which offers a variety of casino games, including slot machines and hold’em poker. The initial download is free but players can purchase additional chips.
U.S. Playing Cards President Marc Hill said the concept, which was recently launched, is similar to the virtual casinos found on Facebook. Initially, the idea is to build the Zeniz brand.
“We need to give consumers a reason to stay with you,” Hill said.
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LOTTERY EXPO 2013
Co-Hosted by PGRI and the
Florida Lottery
November 4 to 7, Miami, Florida,
Trump Miami Beach Hotel
18001 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Phone: Domestic: 855.244.2964 International: 786.522.3523
**Use Group Code 10W820 to get our
special rate
Monday, November 4: 5:00: Opening Night Reception
Tuesday, Nov. 5: U.S. focused conference sessions; Reception 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Wednesday,Nov. 6: Joint U.S. and Latin America Sessions; Reception 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Thursday, Nov. 7: Focus on Latin America
Three Receptions and luncheons provide lots of time to visit with colleagues For complete Lottery Expo info, including registration materials and conference updates: PublicGaming.org Conference Venue: Trump Miami Hotel - Limited special rate of $175 Reserve your room click here online booking
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===================================================
SMART-TECH 2013
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Thank you to all
of you who presented, served on a
panel discussion, and participated
at Smart-Tech. This was PGRI’s
fourth annual event in NYC and has
become a great venue for lotteries
to delve into the most relevant
issues of the hour, and we so
appreciate the privilege of hosting
it and visiting with you. The next
issue of PGRI Magazine will include
an in-depth analysis of the issues
we explored. Too, the conference
was video-recorded and will be made
freely available to everyone on
www.PGRItalks.com. We’ve
received much positive feedback and
hope that everyone accomplished
their objectives. Our next event
will be held at the Trump Miami
Beach Hotel on November 4, 5, 6, and
7th. Lottery Expo Miami
is especially exciting for the
participation from our colleagues in
Latin America. The North America
track is on Tuesday, the LatAm track
on Thursday, and we all come
together on Wednesday. Thanks to the
support of our commercial partners
and sponsors, the hosted receptions
held every night of the conference
have become a wonderful venue to
talk with industry leaders from all
around the world. Please check in at
www.PublicGaming.org for PGRI
conference updates. Thank you again
- We look forward to seeing you
again. Please e-mail me (pjason@publicgaming.com)
with any questions, feedback,
guidance, or comments of any kind.
Smart-Tech 2013 was held
April 8,
9, 10, 2013
at the Helmsley Park Lane,
New York.
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2012 Public Gaming Magazines
PUBLIC GAMING OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012
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