Mobile casino tournaments launch at 9 MGM resorts

MGM Resorts International announced today that it has launched a mobile platform through which customers at nine of its Las Vegas resorts will be able to gamble with real money in tournament games.

On the platform, called easyPLAY Mobile Tournaments, customers will be able to win cash and other prizes in regular tournaments of casino games such as slots, bingo and video poker, in addition to free-to-play games. The platform was developed by Las Vegas-based mobile gaming company oneLIVE inc.

Customers must be logged into the resort’s Wi-Fi network to use the platform. The tournaments are accessible via mobile devices, laptops and the interactive tables at MGM Resorts properties.

Poker is the only form of online gambling that's legal in Nevada. But A.G. Burnett, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said regulators had no issues with the easyPLAY platform because it only offers contests — not full-fledged casino gambling.

EasyPLAY is offered at Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, New York-New York and Excalibur.

Circus Circus isn’t included because the tournaments require a high-density Wi-Fi infrastructure that is not available there, according to a spokesman. Vdara and Delano aren’t on the list because they’re nongaming hotels.

Tom Mikulich, senior vice president of business development for MGM Resorts, said in a statement that the tournaments give guests “an exciting, new opportunity to play their favorite games while enjoying the best Las Vegas has to offer.”

Mikulich called the tournaments “extremely user-friendly” and said they would add some competition for customers to take advantage of, “whether they are sitting at a bar enjoying a drink or simply hanging out by the pool.”

EasyPLAY is only available to customers who are U.S. residents and at least 21 years old.

Gaming

This story has been updated to clarify the position of gaming regulators on the easyPLAY platform.

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