Pokémon Go is so yesterday as cell phone gambling hits the Vegas strip

Pokémon Go is so yesterday as cell phone gambling hits the Vegas strip

Gamblers compete against other MGM resort gamers in bingo, slots, and video poker.

David Kravets – Jul 13, 2016 2:15 pm | 32

Jester Poker is one game you can play virtually at MGM Resorts in Vegas. Credit: easyPLAY

MGM Resorts on Wednesday unveiled what it’s billing as the nation’s first “real-money” mobile tournament gambling platform. The new platform enables gamblers 21 and older, who are connected to the Wi-Fi network of an MGM-owned hotel in Las Vegas, to throw down their kids’ college funds for the chance to strike gold—all from their mobile phone, tablet, or laptop.

The easyPLAY Mobile Tournaments platform allows resort guests “at nine iconic Las Vegas resorts to compete with other players in a variety of tournament games using their own mobile devices whether they are at the pool, sipping cocktails at the bar, or simply relaxing in their rooms,” the company said.

Bettors compete against fellow resort guests in bingo, slots, and video poker. Other methods of throwing away your hard cash are in the works, the company said. There are plenty of Vegas-based, MGM-owned resorts where bettors can play, too. They include ARIA Resort & Casino, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, New York-New York, and Excalibur. What could go wrong? It has all been approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

This is the latest method Vegas casinos are employing to attract younger, digitally connected gamblers. Under Nevada legislation approved last year, some slot machines will no longer be the luck of a draw but will have a skills-based element to them. That skill would be akin to shooting aliens, driving cars, or performing other acts in a video game setting. Some of the prototypes of these machines are expected to be unveiled at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas this September.

Here are some pictures of the MGM mobile games and their descriptions from easyPLAY:

Meanwhile, MGM says not to worry if you forgot your electronic devices. You can hit the real casino or get in on the easyPLAY tournament action with MGM’s InteractivePro Tables conveniently located throughout MGM properties.

But don’t take our word for it. Tom Mikulich, senior vice president of business development for MGM Resorts International, said it’s a win-win situation for everybody involved:

The introduction of easyPLAY® Mobile Tournaments at our MGM Resorts properties gives our guests an exciting, new opportunity to play their favorite games while enjoying the best Las Vegas has to offer. The tournaments are extremely user-friendly, provide players with a variety of game options including slots and bingo, among others, and bring an element of competition that our guests will enjoy whether they are sitting at a bar enjoying a drink or simply hanging out by the pool.

Whether MGM’s virtual gambling would be accepted by real-world gamblers is another story. Las Vegas-based online poker company Ultimate Gaming folded in 2015 after 19 months in operation.