On December 10, Hoboken-based Esports Entertainment Group signed a deal with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City to present the first sanctioned esports skill-based wagering games in the U.S. The two cross-state companies will unveil LANDuel January 22 and 23. The tournament will be the first of many and could lead to a permanent installation in the hotel in the future, according to ROI-NJ.
“We are extremely excited to partner with one of the top global hotel and casino venues to kickstart the world of regulated peer-to-peer wagering in esports,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “This partnership and event are a tremendous accomplishment for our brand and creates a wide variety of opportunities for our groups to explore more innovative esports events.”
The competition will include 256 players involved in skill-based games where participants can bet on themselves, believed to be a first approved by the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Players will be able to wager on their own games as they move up In the competition.
“We are extremely proud to offer a one-of-a-kind e-sports wagering experience in partnership with EEG,” said Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. “We are confident that this innovative and highly regulated partnership will prove to be a success, contributing to our market-leading gaming offerings.”
The venue will also include PCs for non-tournament participants to compete in side matches on LANDuel. This permits tournament spectators or casino guests to make side-wagers in their own games outside of the tournament. The event will include a showcase stage for the tournament with spectator seating.
