Maximize Your Money. With the amount of “free money” being offered through bonuses, slot.
Anyone in Nevada can now play in real-money online casino-style tournaments in a major step forward for online gambling in the state.
The offering is from MGM Resorts International, which allows users to compete in slot tourneys via the easyPLAY platform. Previously, easyPLAY users had to be on an MGM property and using MGM wifi. Now, the tournaments can be accessed anywhere in the state, for users who are over21 years of age.
Michael Jabara, President and CEO of oneLIVE inc. — the developer of easyPLAY — talked about the move with USPoker:
It’s the latest example of MGM’s increasing interest in online gambling.
More about the online tournaments
The easyPLAY product includes slot machine, video poker and bingo games.
Itis not for pure player-against-the-house play. The platform allows users to play against one another in regularly scheduled slot tournaments for prizes. Users pay an entry fee for a chance to win a larger prize.
easyPLAY currently has four different variants on which it bases its tournaments. Prize pools range from as small as $50 to upwards of $1,000. For one promotion in September, a tournament awarded $10,000 in prizes.
Registration is straightforward and requires a funding method, such as a credit or debit card, or PayPal. Users’ ages are verified via a third party, and geolocation determines if a user is inside the state of Nevada for real-money play.
If not in Nevada, easyPLAY users can still enter free-play tournaments with no cash prizes.
What’s new for MGM and easyPLAY
While the easyPLAY platform is not new — it rolled out in July — the ease of access has now increased dramatically for players.
USPoker understands MGM sent out an invitation to all members of its loyalty program — MLife — that reside in Nevada to try the easyPLAY tournaments. It comes with a deposit match bonus of up to $500.
Previously, access was quite limited for the slot tourneys. Users had to be located at one of nine MGM resorts: Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, New York-New York or Excalibur.
Now, with players able to access easyPLAY from anywhere in the state — on their cell phones, computers or other mobile devices — the universe of potential players opens up immensely.
It should also lead to larger prize pools for the online slot tourneys, which have been quite small so far.
What’s next for iGaming and Nevada?
It’s unlikely this is the last step forward for online gambling in the state. Online poker has been legal and regulated in Nevada for some time, but the revenue generated has been minimal.
The Nevada Gaming Policy Committeemet in the spring and expressed interest in the expansion of online gambling offerings.
While MGM is the first and only mover outside of the online poker space, one would not expect that to continue with today’s revelation that online slot tournaments can be played anywhere in the state.
And don’t look for MGM to rest on its laurels here, either. After the statewide rollout, expect more products — chance-based and/or skill-based — to be offered at easyPLAY in the future.
“Speaking only for ourselves, oneLIVE is extremely happy with our partnership with our first customer, MGM Resorts,” Jabara said. “It has been a terrific experience working with such forward-thinking professionals. They truly want to drive this very traditional industry forward toward mobile and other attractions for the next generation of players.”
What is clear is that more online gambling is coming to Nevada. It’s just a matter of how quickly it happens.
MGM Resorts has launched a new Web-based app, EasyPlay, being touted as the “first mobile casino slot platform in the country.”
The EasyPlay app allows players to participate in virtual slot and bingo tournaments away from the casino floor at MGM Resorts destinations. The difference between this app and other “just for fun” social casino games is the prizes are paid in cash, on site.
It’s easy to play. Which may have inspired the name, EasyPlay. Just a hunch.
EasyPlay (the official style is “easyPLAY,” but we have an aversion to random capitalization and shouting) can be accessed free via a Web site.
For the time being, one must be logged into the Wi-Fi at an MGM Resorts hotel-casino to use the app and take part in the virtual tournaments. (EasyPlay tournaments are also be accessible on InteractivePro Tables located throughout MGM Resorts.)
There’s a small cost for tournament entries, and tournament jackpots vary based upon the number of participants.
The EasyPlay app makes it a breeze to see how many people are taking part in a given slot or bingo tournament and where you rank against other participants, all in real-time.
EasyPlay was developed by a Las Vegas company, oneLIVE, Inc. We’ll let them get away with the random capitalization and shouting just this once because we sort of like their app.
Mgm Resorts Slot Machine Tournaments Near Me
MGM Resorts sees this app as the next evolution of casino gambling, although, technically, the tournament element keeps this type of mobile gambling from being considered “gambling,” because mobile gambling isn’t legal in the U.S. at the moment. It’s complicated.
Of course, MGM Resorts and the game developer have made sure EasyPlay has the blessing of Nevada Gaming Control Board.
MGM Resorts reps seem to have high hopes their new app will appeal to younger gamblers, specifically, those pesky Millennials. Will Millennials like slot machines more because they’re on a smartphone? It’s possible. They do seem to enjoy competition, and EasyPlay slot tournaments certainly provide that experience.
The EasyPlay app is being described as “the new keno,” which sounds about right. We’ll definitely use the app when we’re having lunch at a casino restaurant or a cocktail at a casino bar. But mainly that second thing.
The fact there are real money payouts certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
If you win one of the EasyPlay slot tournaments, just go to the casino cage, provide a valid I.D. and your e-mail address, and you’ll get your cash. (All the usual rules apply for wins greater than $1,200, you’ll have to fill out the appropriate tax forms.)
Mgm Resorts Slot Machine Tournaments 2019
Other details: A payment method is set up within the app prior to play, entry credits can be purchased for varying amounts (starting for as little as $1), you can play free trial games, and the app lets you check winnings, credit balances and scheduled tournaments with ease.
Just scan the available tournaments and dive right in. You’ve got 25 spins to get the high score. No pressure.
If you have questions, visit an M Life players club desk (yes, we know it’s “M life,” don’t get us started) at your favorite MGM Resorts casino.
Here’s some sweet news coverage of the release of the EasyPlay app. By “sweet,” of course, we mean this Las Vegas blog is featured in it.
Casino social games have been a huge windfall for casino companies (yes, people spend millions of real dollars purchasing virtual coins), and casinos are champing at the bit for real money mobile gambling to be legalized.
In the meantime, virtual tournaments it is, and EasyPlay may end up being your new favorite obsession when visiting an MGM Resorts casino in Las Vegas. Those resorts include Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, New York-New York and Excalibur. Sorry, but at Circus Circus, you’ll have to play slots the old-fashioned way. (Circus Circus is owned by MGM Resorts, but isn’t part of the M Life players club family.)
Here’s a tip: Even if your chances of winning a tournament look bleak, don’t give up. We’ve personally seen someone get six million points on one spin, so a miraculous, come-from-behind victory isn’t out of the question.
If you give EasyPlay a try, let us know what you think, and if you win a jackpot, our usual commission applies.