Luxor to open Esports Arena March 22nd

An Esports Arena has been in the works for some time in Las Vegas, via the Luxor Casino property. Last year it was announced that MGM Resorts International and Allied Esports had created a new partnership to bring the unique gaming venue to Sin City. Now it has been announced that the new sports venue will be opening in just over two months.

Once a nightclub, the former Luxor LAX is being transformed into the first permanent esports venue on the Las Vegas Strip. The new Esports Arena Las Vegas is set to open on March 22^nd, featuring a series of gaming events, including an invite-only live streamed tournament that will last for several days.

Once the Esports Arena is completed, it will encompass 30,000 square feet of space and include a 50-foot light-emitting diode video wall. A production studio will be located onsite with telescopic seating for those in attendance. Jose Andres, a celebrity chef, will be providing the food and beverage selection of the venue.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the new Esports Arena, Tyler Enders, said that the venue will probably be selling day passes to the public for $20 per person. However, the final price has yet to be set. Gaining access to events or taking part as a competitor will have an additional fee.

Enders also reportedly stated that individual events will have national and local sponsorship’s which will help to push prices of tickets down. Gamers will also have the advantage of enjoying Luxor amenities.

The overall goal is to see Nevada become a hub for the video gaming industry as it converges with casino gaming. Regulators in the state approved skill-based gaming rules two years ago which led to an increase in esports competitions as well as betting on the outcome of esport games. The International Gaming Institute of UNLV opened the first esports lab in 2016, not long after regulators approved the industry.

Play’n GO’s Viking Runecraft slot nominated for prestigious EGR Game of the Year

Viking Runecraft, Swedish slots developer Play’n GO’s first 7×7 grid slot game, has been nominated for this year’s EGR Game of the Year.

Renowned for its unique game mechanics and play style, Play ‘n Go’s Norse-themed, HTML5-enabled, level-based game, does not disappoint. The game transports players to various worlds with the Norse Gods of Thunder, Wisdom, Beauty and Guarding and has been a must-play ever since it launched at The Brew in Sliema, Malta on the 27 April.

Viking Runecraft features quality themes, graphics, and gameplay and entices players with its cascading reels, immersive playability, and world class sounds and visuals. In addition to Gift of the God bonuses, the game’s unique features include Ragnarök free rounds and Charge of Destruction.

The game’s omni-channel appeal has ensured it’s equally exciting on mobile devices as on desktop, making it a smash hit. Operator’s bottom lines have likewise benefitted from the game’s success, as the game’s popularity steadily increases.

The highly sought-after EGR Game of the Year award will be bestowed upon the winner as part of the EGR Operator Awards, which will be held on October 26, 2017, at Grosvenor House, London. Attendees of the 2017 award’s event, will vote for their favorite game via competitive shortlist and ultimately decide the winner.

Play’n GO CEO, Johan Törnqvist, said, “Viking Runecraft has been a huge success since we released it earlier in the year and I’m thrilled it’s been nominated for EGR Game of the Year. “I’d like to thank our designers and developers for producing such an immersive and hugely playable game that has introduced a number of new features to the slots market. Törnqvist added, “The game has achieved an extraordinary feat in seeing its popularity increase since launch, and its revenue and average play time has consistently outperformed the market.”

Play’n GO continues to up the ante for quality themes, graphics, and gameplay, and counts among its successful game titles; Gemix, Energoonz, Golden Ticket and the wildly popular Leprechaun Goes To Hell and Moon Princess.

Play’n GO won the highly-coveted 2017 Slot Provider of the Year accolade at the prestigious 10th International Gaming Awards held on February 6 at a packed InterContinental London Park Lane.