Much of the news in Las Vegas for this week comes from the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). The casino business doesn’t entirely stop but it comes close. This expo and convention is for the casino industry to meet peers, learn about the industry, and buy new products for their casino.
I usually attend seminars to try and understand how casinos operate. This year was different since I mostly attended sports betting seminars. That was the hottest topic at G2E this year and couldn’t be avoided.
The expo area at G2E is where the fun is because this is where manufacturers show off their new games that we might see in casinos. There’s a lot of cool stuff on display but I try to look for interesting games that we’ll definitely see at some point.
New Craps – Roll To Win Craps
When I recapped G2E last year, I probably mentioned the prototype of this game that was on display. While people thought the new craps game from Aruze was kinda cool it didn’t move the needle. The finished version of Roll To Win Craps that will debut at The Linq next year is definitely moving the needle. The response has been either extreme love or extreme hate. There’s very little in the middle.
The craps traditionalist in me hates this but then the tech dork can’t wait to play this when it’s in casinos. I wrote about the specifics of the game here. The article has a few more trends and cool tech items.
Gaming Trends From G2E
Wide Slots
Last year there was a trend of building taller slot machines. This year, the slots are growing sideways. The World’s Largest Buffalo slot machine is larger than just about all new slot machines but it’s a good example of what a large slot can be.
The screens can offer a better widescreen display of a game. The seats can offer a more comfortable group slot experience or extra space for someone playing alone. I love playing slots with friends and look forward to sharing a seat instead of standing off to the side.
Sports Betting
It seems that sports betting is all anyone cares about now that all states can legalize sports betting. There were so many seminars dedicated to the topic that it was mind-numbing. I skipped a few just because they were an introduction to the topic for people that have never thought about the topic before. Some were a bit more informative for higher level learning.
The expo floor at G2E is still dominated by slot machines but there were a few more sports betting products that we’re already seeing in casinos. Sports betting kiosks are popping up in New Jersey and Mississippi. They will be in even more casinos next year. You can read about the kiosks and a sweet In Play betting terminal that will be in field trial shortly here.
Electronic Table Games
Dealerless table games are still hot with manufacturers. The tech might not be embraced in all casinos around the country but the popularity of the lower denomination electronic table games continues to grow in Las Vegas. The manufacturers are still offering new versions of popular table games. Expect to see more of these in Las Vegas casinos.
SLS Renovations Set To Begin
The new owners of SLS Las Vegas has been dropping hints that they’ll be renovating the casino since they purchased the property last year. Well, more than a year after the purchase was announced they’re finally going to start the upgrades and changes.
The Meruelo Group will spend more than $100 million renovating the casino floor, upgrading hotel rooms and renovating the existing pool and entertainment venues. The casino floor will be given a new layout for the slot, table games pit and high-limit areas. There will also be a new ceiling, carpeting, and lighting.
Hotel room renovations will include a redesigned Story Tower and a remodel of the World and Grand Tower corridors. There will be some suite upgrades with a promise of more renovation and upgrade information to come. Don’t be surprised when the rumored name change to Grand Sahara happens after the renovations are complete.
Related: SLS Las Vegas signed a deal with a company to encourage you to buy upgrades. Read more here.
Rumor Of The Week: Total-Rewards Changing Name To Caesars Rewards
Everyone’s favorite rumor monger Vital Vegas says “Total Rewards Will Reportedly Rebrand To Caesars Rewards.” This sounds entirely legit and wouldn’t be surprising.
You’d probably be surprised by the number of people that don’t know Total Rewards is part of Caesars Entertainment. As the company tries to expand beyond the casino market it makes sense to connect the loyalty program to the company name.
Existing Total Rewards customers would probably like a warning if there are changes to the loyalty club. Unfortunately, Caesars usually just makes changes without warning. A rebrand could bring a big announcement but who really knows with Caesars. It will be interesting to see if Caesars makes sweeping changes to how they reward guests like Boyd Gaming did with B-Connected a couple months ago.
The Stratosphere Proposes A Tent
The Stratosphere Proposes A TentThis came out of nowhere. The Stratosphere submitted plans (74 and 75) this week for a new 1,250 capacity venue to house a show outside of the casino. The proposed project is for an entertainment event tent for a show that features magic, dance, music, acrobats, illusionists, and circus performances.
A little research shows that the show will be called Celestia. The website for the production company says the show “brings together state of the art technology, classical Russian Ballet, live music, and elite acrobatic arts to tell a dramatic, timeless love story.”
Quick Hits:
The news from Las Vegas never really stops. It just slows down a bit. Here are a few more Vegas nuggets from the past week.
- Just Won One on twitter found the plans for the Fremont Hotel and Casino expansion. Check em out here. You can see more about the expansion at the Fremont here.
- George Strait is extending his Las Vegas residency at T-Mobile Arena into February 2019. Read more here.
- The Bellagio is using the internet to save water. Read more here.
- The Hard Rock isn’t going away quietly. They just signed a deal to increase revenue. You’ve been warned. Read more here.
- A week after Johnny Avello announced he was leaving Wynn, the company signed some kind of sportsbook deal that I don’t entirely understand. Read the press release here.
- The Las Vegas Ballpark next to Red Rock Casino had a topping off ceremony this week. Read more here.
Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork.
Please join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday afternoon Eastern Time, and includes our popular weekly Vegas news series)
