Vegas Social Gaming Boom
Las Vegas-based casino giant MGM Resorts will launch myVegas this month: a free-play social gaming casino where virtual money is wagered and virtual prizes are won. MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren told a gaming conference in May that a combination of casino gaming and social media will be the industry's "next big thing."
Caesars Entertainment bought a majority share in social media and mobile gaming business Playtika for approximately $90 million last year, and slot machine powerhouse International Game Technology bought virtual casino Double Down Casino for almost $500 million in January this year.
Facebook, the world's largest social network, now houses a variety of free gambling options. These include myVegas, Playtika, Double Down, RocketFrog, and the biggest name of them all - Zynga Poker. Facebook users can treat the network like a virtual Vegas, moving from casino to casino and choosing their favorite games and offers.
Bwin.party to Spend Big
Bwin.party joined the party last week, announcing that it will spend $50 million over the next two years to broaden its social gaming reach. It said it had agreed to pay a total of $23m. to eastern European gaming developers Velasco and Orneon to buy their contracts of 300 internet software engineers.
According to Bwin's head of social gaming strategy, the social gaming market today has about 750 million global users, and this is expected to grow to 1.5 billion users by the year 2015. In other words, a market currently worth a staggering $8 billion is expected to grow even further to $15b. over the next three years.
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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
call us at 425-449-3000 if you get a "sold out" or encounter any difficulties at all
===================================================
SMART-TECH 2013
PLATINUM SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
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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Paul's Wall
2012 Public Gaming Magazines
PUBLIC GAMING OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012
Click here to read the .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING SEPTEMBER 2012
Click here to view the .pdf version
Click here to read the regular .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2012