Gaming industry executives from around the world gathered last week at the Venetian Expo Center for the 2023 edition of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the most important event on the annual gaming calendar.
Initial reports put the attendee list for this year’s event at more than 25,000 attendees, who toured some 350 exhibits covering every aspect of the gaming business.
“We’re proud to bring the industry together for gaming’s premier event, convening leaders from every segment of our industry, and from every country involved in gaming,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, in his welcome keynote address.
“We have literally tens of thousands of industry professionals here this year, and more than 350 exhibitors, showcasing the future of gaming.”
G2E turned 22 in 2023, and this year’s show set a post-pandemic record with over 269,000 square feet of exhibition space.
“G2E continues to be the premier destination for gaming stakeholders worldwide,” G2E Event Vice President Korbi Carrison said in a statement. “From our new brand and innovative activations to world-class exhibitors and blockbuster keynotes, we continue to raise the bar on G2E to deliver an experience that drives business and propels the industry forward.”
Next year’s event is set for October 7-10, 2024.
The Value of Education
This year’s education sessions covered a range of topics, from casino smoking bans to influencers, the future of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and new cashless payment technologies. There were many sessions on the Monday program, but panels continued throughout the four-day event after the exhibit floor opened on Tuesday.
What’s Next for U.S. iGaming
The growth of iGaming in the U.S. or lack thereof was a topic that drew a packed crowd as Light and Wonder’s Global Head of Government Affairs Howard Glaser was joined by Wondr Nation President and CEO Anika Howard and Continent 8’s Chief Product Officer Justin Cosnett to discuss the difficulties of growing an industry in a segmented regulatory environment.
Howard, whose company is entering its third year of operations, cautioned that further regulation will likely be coming to the sector in the near future. She also contended that the relationship between land-based and digital operations can be symbiotic—the customers who primarily play online, she said, often come to physical casinos with more focus on non-gaming amenities, which have become a bigger area of focus for casinos everywhere.
Cosnett noted that he is not entirely optimistic about iGaming growth in the near future in the U.S., and noted that cybersecurity will need to be top of mind for online operators, with attacks up over 100 percent from last year.
Glaser was more bullish on growth prospects, positing that half of land-based gaming states could have iGaming within the next five to seven years.
Impact of Macroeconomic Trends on Global Gaming
A range of high-level economic and financial experts, including UNLV economist Dr. Stephen Miller, Nevada Gaming Control Board Senior Economic Analyst Michael Lawton and Grant Thornton Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Practice Leader Sven Stumbauer convened Monday to discuss the macroeconomic environment and its potential impact on gaming.
Miller eloquently provided data and details on the state of the overall economy, and predicted that the Federal Reserve would bump interest rates one more time before starting to lower them in late 2024.
Lawton broke down the amazing rebound of the Nevada gaming market post-Covid, noting that 2023 was originally the year when revenues were supposed to match pre-2020 levels; instead, the state has seen some 30 straight months of at least $1 billion in statewide gaming win.
Stumbauer discussed the benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence, and cautioned that the technology is a tool and not a “silver bullet.” He also mentioned the ongoing proliferation of money laundering, and how it collectively amounts to what would be the world’s third largest economy.
Gaming Business Outlook: Keeping up Momentum
The business-related discussions and predictions continued on Monday afternoon with offerings from the following trio:
- Howard Wang, managing director, Ares Management
- Teddy Swigert, managing director, Santander Corporate and Investment Banking
- Raf Mercado, vice president, investment banking, Goldman Sachs
Wang commented on how operators benefitted from Covid demand and improved business strategies, with the example of eliminating costly buffets. He also predicted that in the short term, regional markets may stay largely flat, with suppliers lagging because of it.
Swigert noted that as gaming expands, capital expenditure for new projects becomes increasingly competitive, with only the most compelling developments gaining traction. Consolidation was also mentioned—Swigert asserted that the industry is “in the seventh inning of this consolidation cycle.”
Mercado was impressed at how margins have improved for many operators in the midst of a much softer recession than what was previously predicted, and applauded the diversification of Las Vegas. Macau is also experiencing similar trends, but consumer strength there is still uncertain, he explained.
Transforming Table Games Through Technology
Interblock CEO John Connelly talked about the future of electronic table games.
Connelly began with a presentation about the explosive growth of iGaming, and how the revenue of the U.S. market doubled in two years, compared to 18 years for the traditional table game sector. In August, Connelly said, online revenues from just four states totaled about 60 percent of total U.S. table game earnings.
The overall message of the discussion centered around the need for land-based suppliers and operators to find new, innovative ways to incorporate online capabilities into their offerings. At Interblock, Connelly noted how the company has expanded its portfolio from one product in 2015 to over 40 today.
Connelly also detailed the various capabilities of Interblock’s new Smart Pit technology, which took home the gold medal for Best Table Game Product or Innovation in this year’s GGB Gaming and Technology Awards.
Cybersecurity Big Theme at G2E
With the recent infiltration of MGM Resorts by hackers, cybersecurity was definitely on the minds of many attending the show. There were several companies showcasing their systems on how to make casinos and resorts safer.
Continent 8 Chief Revenue Officer, Nick Nally, said several people were interested in the company’s cybersecurity and products.
“I think people were already treating this seriously, but with what happened with MGM, I think there was definitely an emphasis on cybersecurity,” Nally said. “They are thinking, ‘That could be me next.”
The company, which has been in business for 25 years, has a network that spans across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Nally said they are informing more and more people about their services.
“I think they don’t have enough knowledge,” Nally said. “You can never learn enough about cybersecurity and I think they realize that.”
Training Better Employees
One way to make a casino more efficient, not only with cybersecurity but other important areas, is through better training of casino and gaming company employees.
RG24seven was at the show, presenting its revolutionary virtual training. CEO Wendy Anderson, said G2E was invaluable in regard to informing attendees what her company does.
“We were very pleased to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new connections,” Anderson said. “Attendees visited our booth to discover firsthand how RG24seven Virtual Training positively impacts the gaming industry.”
“We showcased our responsible, effective, and free compliance-grade virtual training service for casino and gaming company employees. RG24seven offers an assortment of topics covering Responsible Gaming, Anti-Money Laundering, Human Trafficking Awareness, Corporate Social Responsibility, Gaming Technology and a host of gaming industry training content presented by key industry experts and partners.”
Microbetting Next Frontier of Sportsbetting
One of the hottest trends in sports betting is micro betting. The activity has been around for years, but it seems to be catching on with a younger demographic of bettors.
Microbetting, as the name suggests, involves placing small wagers on specific events within a sporting event, such as the outcome of the next pitch in a baseball game or the next free throw in a basketball match. This form of betting has gained immense popularity in recent years, thanks to its fast-paced nature and the potential for instant gratification.
Chris Bevilacqua and Mark Nerenberg of Simplebet were speakers at one of G2E’s many education sessions and spoke about how Gen Z bettors are drawn to micro betting.
“We see this as a huge opportunity,” Bevilacqua said. “It is expected to grow 50% within five years. Now it is 20-30% of the handle of in-play betting. When we started six years ago only a small percentage was in play.”
“Micro betting has been around for decades,” Nurenberg said. “What we say was U.S. sports was much more conducive to micro betting.”
One of the main reasons for its rise in popularity is the advancement of technology, particularly the widespread use of smartphones and the availability of real-time data. With just a few taps on their devices, bettors can now place microbets on various sports events, no matter where they are. This accessibility has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for sports enthusiasts to engage with their favorite games in a thrilling and interactive way.
Social Betting Another Hit At G2E
Another type of betting that is finding a market is social betting. Sparket is a company that allows users to set custom bets of any type.
Operators can now offer infinite free-to-play and pay-to-play betting opportunities that appeal to a much broader audience and add tremendous value to existing patrons.
As Tory Key, director of sales said: “Your imagination is the only limit.”
Key also pointed out that Station Casinos has its software on their social gaming site. One of the biggest bets right now is “Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce break up before the end of the season?”
Cole Handley, director of marketing, pointed out that the app is popular with places such as country clubs. A particular club can have bets for its members and they can set the lines.
“An overwhelming area of popularity we are seeing is the non-sports stuff,” Handley said. “We crushed it with the Bachelorette.”
A Slew of Slots
While exhibits represent every segment of the industry, much of the attention always goes to the slot manufacturers’ displays.
AGS rolled out games in all its cabinet styles, including both the Orion family and the new Spectra series, which will fill out next year with the jumbo Spectra UR75, featuring a giant 75-inch portrait monitor.
Among the standouts was Piñata Pays, which substitutes piñatas for the three pots in a perfect collection bonus in which the fat piñatas burst to trigger an enhanced hold-and-re-spin round.
Another was Panda Empire, featuring pandas holding pots that enhance a hold-and-re-spin round and Genie Unleashed, in which the player collects treasure chests to trigger a wheel bonus.
Ainsworth debuted a new cabinet at G2E, the Raptor—a beautifully designed cabinet with an oversized, dual-bash button panel fronting an elegant J-curved, 49-inch 4K monitor. The highlighted inaugural game is Jackpot Kingdom, which combines several compelling game mechanics, including a hold-and-re-spin feature, free games with increasing multipliers, and “Shake ‘n Break,” a unique feature that randomly increases the value of all cash-on-reels symbols on the screen.
Aristocrat’s G2E exhibit was initiated and highlighted by the introduction of the company’s series of NFL-branded slot machines. Attendees entered Aristocrat’s booth through a giant football helmet, over a small turf field with yard markers and goalposts. Beyond the end zone was a display of all six NFL games, designed and produced over the two years since the license was obtained.
The big news this G2E for Bluberi was the show reveal of the sequel to the mega-hit Devil’s Lock. Called Devil’s Lock All-In, it was featured on a new cabinet, the premium, low-denomination Beacon Elite, featuring a 49-inch J-curve portrait monitor.
The graphics of the Devil’s Lock series have been improved, and new characters have been added to the game’s story, including the devil’s “Evil Twin” the “Devil’s Mom,” and “Pig Princess,” who adds a new entertainment factor to the lock-and-spin feature from the original.
Gaming Arts showcased its innovative new game Puzzle Time, in which the player is awarded for three or more clustered puzzle pieces on a screen, which then fit together in one of three jigsaw puzzles above the reel array. The player is paid a prize for completing a puzzle.
IGT revealed a new licensed title on a new cabinet designed specifically for the game. Kept under wraps until the show, a new family of games featuring the late superstar Whitney Houston utilizes a giant display consisting of two stacked 55-inch monitors and a custom sound system in the new SkyRise cabinet.
The game utilizes mechanics from the popular Prosperity Link, weaving pot-style collection, a hold-and-re-spin event, and a jackpot wheel—all featuring life-size footage of Houston singing her most popular songs.
Konami featured its “Buzzer Series,” which is a family of three games replicating the game shows Beat the Clock, Card Sharks and Family Feud.
Another highlight at the Konami booth was UnWooly Riches—with base games (and game characters) Sugar and Spice—a cartoon-style game family with play similar to Stuffed Coins, including a pot-collection feature, low volatility, and a double-up bonus.
Light & Wonder did a show reveal of a new licensed brand, the first game based on the Netflix series Squid Game. The program is a fantasy series depicting teams of contestants playing children’s games—for their lives. Losers of the competitions, including a tug-of-war, Red Light/Green Light and Glass Bridge, fall to their deaths in a fantasy drama not unlike Hunger Games.
In connection with its spread across U.S. markets, Zitro launched several games at G2E that are designed specifically for U.S. players. One highlight was Billy the Pig, a fun cartoon game that carries the piggie theme with some unique features. For instance, instead of progressives, there are five fixed jackpot amounts which change into larger jackpots as the player bets up to the next player-selectable denomination.
Here are highlights from each manufacturer:
AGS
AGS rolled out games in all its cabinet styles, including both the Orion family and the new Spectra series, which will fill out next year with the jumbo Spectra UR75, featuring a giant 75-inch portrait monitor.
Among the standouts was Piñata Pays, which substitutes piñatas for the three pots in a perfect collection bonus in which the fat piñatas burst to trigger an enhanced hold-and-re-spin round. The pig piñata triggers a symbol upgrade applied to the cash-on-reels awards. The donkey piñata expands the field to four reel windows, allowing for larger awards. The eagle piñata adds a symbol that absorbs all cash-on-reels symbols into one spot to continue the bonus.
Other highlights from AGS were Panda Empire, featuring pandas holding pots that enhance a hold-and-re-spin round; Genie Unleashed, in which the player collects treasure chests to trigger a wheel bonus; and Straight Cash, one of the new AGS high-denomination, three-reel games. In the latter game, the reels show only numbers, which represent credits in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get bonus.
Ainsworth Game Technology
Ainsworth debuted a new cabinet at G2E, the Raptor—a beautifully designed cabinet with an oversized, dual-bash button panel fronting an elegant J-curved, 49-inch 4K monitor. The highlighted inaugural game is Jackpot Kingdom, which combines several compelling game mechanics, including a hold-and-re-spin feature, free games with increasing multipliers, and “Shake ‘n Break,” a unique feature that randomly increases the value of all cash-on-reels symbols on the screen.
The game brings back the Ainsworth “Hold & Stack” feature. Shield symbols trigger the feature and remain in place as cash-on-reels symbols. Above each reel is a credit award. If the reel fills up with collected shields, the accumulated coin amount is immediately awarded. The awards grow larger the further on the player gets in the feature. The random Shake ‘n Break feature causes the screen to shake when a large credit award lands, after which all other shield values are upgraded to that level.
Another Ainsworth launch at G2E was Grand Fortune. This medium-denomination, five-reel video slot features a primary game bonus. When a scatter symbol lands on the fifth reel, all cash-on-reels symbols on the screen are instantly awarded. This applies to a hold-and-re-spin feature that awards jackpots as well as cash-on-reels symbols. That bonus also is in the format of the Hold & Stack feature (called “Hold & Win” here), with prizes on top of each reel. Here, stacking all the symbols on the fifth reel awards the top Grand jackpot.
Also featured was Rocket Link, with a hold-and-re-spin feature that includes rockets which fire to break up chains and unlock higher-level awards, expanding the reels up to eight rows—and the top progressive prize.
Aristocrat Gaming
Aristocrat’s G2E exhibit was initiated and highlighted by the introduction of the company’s series of NFL-branded slot machines. Attendees entered Aristocrat’s booth through a giant football helmet, over a small turf field with yard markers and goalposts. Beyond the end zone was a display of all six NFL games, designed and produced over the two years since the license was obtained.
All the games have a “Pick Your Team” prompt. Players pick their favorite team from a screen displaying the logos of all 32 NFL teams. Once the selection is made, the entire color scheme, reel symbols and top box switch to that team’s colors and images. Footage from previously broadcast NFL games from the most recent season is incorporated into bonuses and other game events.
The first NFL game, Super Bowl Jackpots, was released in late summer. It was designed in tandem with a new large-format cabinet, the King Max. Its 63.5-inch curved monitor sweeps from the top progressive meters to a large virtual button deck with dual bash buttons. It’s all in front of a two-seat iBench or iChair3, with surround-sound audio.
The art and the game footage are built into a pack of bonus features using the most popular game mechanics of the day, including a pot-style collection feature and Aristocrat’s signature Hold & Spin bonus feature. Super Bowl Jackpots is on a million-dollar link, with a top progressive jackpot resetting at $1 million.
The second game, Overtime Cash, is a high-denomination three-reel stepper game, and like Super Bowl Jackpots, it launches a new cabinet. Called the Marquis, it is a premium three-reel stepper cabinet with a large bonus wheel on top.
The third game in the NFL series, Super Bowl Link, will be released on the MarsX Portrait cabinet. The multiple-progressive game features Aristocrat’s pioneering Hold & Spin mechanic in a bonus round that can yield cash-on-reels and a progressive award.
The other three NFL games are each on different cabinets. Winning Drive is featured on the Neptune Double, with its tall dual portraits providing an immersive way to enjoy the sports theme. Kickoff and Ring of Victory are both stepper games on Aristocrat’s premium mechanical reel cabinets, the former on the RELM XL three-reel and the latter on the RELM XL five-reel.
Also on the new King Max cabinet, Aristocrat launched Tarzan vs. Wild, using the big screen for sweeping visuals of Tarzan swinging through the jungle. It centers on a two-level wheel feature in which a wheel spin can yield credits, jackpots or free games. An outer wheel awards multipliers that increase the inner-wheel prize by 2X to 20X.
Aruze Gaming Global
Aruze debuted its first games since its slot products were acquired by Empire Technological Group, which changed its business name to Aruze Gaming Global
Highlights included new titles on the former Aruze Gaming America’s popular Muso 55 cabinet. The Power Tower series—Power Tower Lion and Power Tower Bull—includes an independent reel on the center spot of the grid, with the central game character serving as a wild symbol for a hold-and-re-spin feature.
Aruze also showcased four cabinets. The Triple 32, designed by engineers who were with the former Aruze Gaming, features three 32-inch monitors, the top screen active for integrated game features. The Empire Speed Cabinet has three 27-inch screens, the top monitor for attract features. The Hyperspeed cabinet, designed by the combined Aruze and Empire team, features a 42-inch portrait monitor.
These three join the Muso 43 portrait cabinet. According to the company, content is interchangeable between cabinets. The company’s goal is to produce 42 new titles annually.
Bluberi
The big news this G2E for Bluberi was the show reveal of the sequel to the mega-hit Devil’s Lock. Called Devil’s Lock All-In, it was featured on a new cabinet, the premium, low-denomination Beacon Elite, featuring a 49-inch J-curve portrait monitor.
The graphics of the Devil’s Lock series have been improved, and new characters have been added to the game’s story, including the devil’s “Evil Twin” the “Devil’s Mom,” and “Pig Princess,” who adds a new entertainment factor to the lock-and-spin feature from the original. All appear on the screen periodically to enhance the bonus features. For instance, the Evil Twin appears to unlock chained cash-on-reels symbols, jackpots and multipliers.
The Mini Pig appears to award one re-spin to collect cash-on-reels symbols, and the Pig Princess triggers a feature called “Mirror Reels.” It’s really a unique way of presenting a free-spin feature in which all jackpots are doubled. In this case, a second reel array appears above as a backwards mirror image of the reels.
Another Bluberi highlight, slated to be released late next year, is Honey Bomb. The unique aspect of this game is the hold-and-re-spin feature. Instead of traditional reels, it takes place on a giant honeycomb, the individual spots on the comb locking the cash-on-reels symbols.
Eclipse Gaming Systems
Eclipse Gaming Systems continued the rollout of its Carnival Cash series of games with the rollout of Duck Dollars at G2E. The Carnival Cash series of games, featuring Class II casino versions of popular carnival games, debuted last year with the Big Shake series, slot games that replicate the coin-pusher machines at carnivals. This year, it’s the classic carnival shooting gallery.
Duck Dollars is set up as a shooting game on a screen replicating a carnival duck shooting gallery. Moving in rows across several levels are ducks and targets. The ducks reveal credit awards and the targets reveal enhancements, from multipliers applied to the next duck hit to extra shots for the bonus round. The base game is a three-reel, single-line grid with payoffs for bar, 7, duck and cannon symbols.
Cannon symbols activate corresponding cannons above the reels to shoot at the ducks and targets. A single cannon on the reels awards one shot; two cannons award two. Three cannons on the reels trigger the “Firequackers Frenzy,” awarding six, nine or 12 shots. The program employs perceived skill as the cannons swivel and the player can time the pressing of the FIRE button.
Another highlight for Eclipse was Highway Hogs Pig Out, the latest game in the fun cartoon-style theme featuring “Hammy Sammy,” with a bonus taking place in “Piggy Sue’s Diner,” in which Sammy “pigs out” on Piggy Sue’s famous pies. Hammy Sammy can appear at any time during the primary game, riding a motorcycle out of the reels to award an instant credit prize. The main “Pig Out” bonus displays a field of 25 pie slices for a picking bonus. The pie slices reveal credit awards or progressives, and one awards multiple picks of the slices for larger awards.
Gaming Arts
Gaming Arts showcased its innovative new game Puzzle Time, in which the player is awarded for three or more clustered puzzle pieces on a screen, which then fit together in one of three jigsaw puzzles above the reel array. The player is paid a prize for completing a puzzle. A puzzle can be completed instantly through one of three collection pots, but in a true persistence feature, the unfinished puzzles remain on the screen for the next player.
Gaming Arts also showcased Deal Or No Deal, with the same gambling feature as the internationally popular game show. The player is shown a field of 26 briefcases, and picks one as his or her assigned case. The briefcase values are shown at the side of the screen, and the player begins to pick briefcases from the field.
As the briefcases are opened, the values inside are removed from the display. The player is then given several offers, and each time, chooses “Deal” to accept or “No Deal” to continue opening briefcases—the decision based on what values are left in the un-selected briefcases, and the likelihood the player can win more than the offer.
IGT
IGT revealed a new licensed title on a new cabinet designed specifically for the game. Kept under wraps until the show, a new family of games featuring the late superstar Whitney Houston utilizes a giant display consisting of two stacked 55-inch monitors and a custom sound system in the new SkyRise cabinet.
The game utilizes mechanics from the popular Prosperity Link, weaving pot-style collection, a hold-and-re-spin event, and a jackpot wheel—all featuring life-size footage of Houston singing her most popular songs.
IGT also used the new cabinet to create Prosperity Link Blessings, bringing a brand refresh to the popular game series.
On the new DiamondRS Premium cabinet, IGT launched Top Dollar Grand, which has all the appeal of the legendary IGT reel-spinner, with flashing cash stacks in a feature that returns up to three bonus offers the player can accept or reject.
Incredible Technologies
IT launched a new cabinet, the Prism Element, at the show. The cabinet, featuring a 55-inch 4K portrait monitor, was launched with three games. Lotus Link and Treasure Link both include IT’s Lock & Spin hold-and-re-spin feature. Stack Up Pays: lsland Riches includes Progressive Free Games which accumulate when colored surfboards land on the reels. Two golden boards and one colored board trigger expanded reels on the ways-to-win game.
IT also displayed its new Big Win Leaderboard product, which can be placed as an addition to games that displays all wins of 100 times the bet or more. The player is notified that he or she has made the leaderboard, without recording names or initials.
Interblock
Interblock dominated the electronic-table-game portion of G2E with a dazzling collection of automated and live-dealer roulette and craps games. There were three different electronic craps games displayed, including Crapless Craps, a modified version of the game that adds 11, 12 and other numbers to the possible points that has been a hit up and down the Las Vegas Strip.
Also on the craps side are Pick to Win Craps, in which the player selects two of three total dice for each round (they are rolled in an air chamber); and Live Craps, in which a live dealer goes from one play station to the next inviting each player to be the shooter. The shooter then rolls real dice, with cameras recording the results, displaying them to all other players instantaneously, in a close simulation of a live craps table.
Konami Gaming, Inc.
Konami featured its “Buzzer Series,” which is a family of three games replicating the game shows Beat the Clock, Card Sharks and Family Feud.
Another highlight at the Konami booth was UnWooly Riches—with base games (and game characters) Sugar and Spice—a cartoon-style game family with play similar to Stuffed Coins, including a pot-collection feature, low volatility, and a double-up bonus. UnWooly Riches includes Major and Grand jackpots that can trigger instantly when the wild symbol (an angel and a devil) lands in the center reel spot.
Finally, Konami launched the Dimension 43×3 cabinet at G2E, along with several games available both on that and other cabinets in the Dimension series. The Dimension 43×3 offers just what it says—three stacked 43-inch landscape video monitors. Highlighted among launch games was the Stuffed Coins series, with base games Stuffed Coins Pig and Stuffed Coins Toad.
The games reprise the popular “Big Coin” mystery feature first seen in the game Ocean Spin. The top screen streams bonus awards and four jackpots across all machines on the bank. Randomly, the game’s main character—pig or toad—will appear on the screen to award one or two of the amounts streaming across the top, in a bank-wide community play experience.
Light & Wonder
Light & Wonder did a show reveal of a new licensed brand, the first game based on the Netflix series Squid Game. The program is a fantasy series depicting teams of contestants playing children’s games—for their lives. Losers of the competitions, including a tug-of-war, Red Light/Green Light and Glass Bridge, fall to their deaths in a fantasy drama not unlike Hunger Games.
L&W has boiled all these fantasy competitions into bonus rounds in four inaugural base games, in which players watch competitions wrapped into different slot mechanics and reap rewards as the losers fall to their deaths on the screen. One main hold-and-re-spin event adds different levels of symbols, with the goal of reaching the top and a wide-area-progressive jackpot.
Another G2E reveal from Light & Wonder was the massive new Horizon cabinet, with a 75-inch portrait monitor in front of an integrated LED wrap-around display, all integrated into a totally immersive hardware package.
The subject of the game is as massive as the cabinet—Kong: Skull Island. The entire display is remarkable—the giant ape looks almost life-sized. The Kong character interacts with the game, adding various enhancements to free games and other bonuses.
Novomatic Americas
Novomatic’s G2E display highlighted Irish themes in the Thunder Cash Gold family of games. Irish Gold and Irish Grace both include Novomatic’s new Lock & Win bonus feature, along with cash-on-reels symbols and progressives.
The bonus rounds feature beautiful graphics depicting a lush Irish landscape, and in the Lock ‘n’ Win feature, free spins extend the bonus.
Other games in the family include Golden Voodoo Magic, a follow-up to the popular Voodoo Magic and Voodoo Fortunes themes; and Golden Book of Ra, a new version of a game that has dominated European markets.
Novomatic also introduced expansions to the Thunder Cash X progressive link, which was launched early this year with the Candelas de los Muertos family of games themed around the Mexican Day of the Dead festival (base games Senior Muerte and Seniority Suerte), and Lady Victoria, with its old-England theme. Another game, Amazon’s Diamonds, was added to the link in Q2.
Thunder Cash X games launched at G2E include Coin Fishing, Eye of the Queen Magic Coins and Charming Lady’s Boom. All feature Lock & Win, Novomatic’s take on the hold-and-re-spin mechanic, and each game features a different secondary bonus.
Zitro
In connection with its spread across U.S. markets, Zitro launched several games at G2E that are designed specifically for U.S. players. One highlight was Billy the Pig, a fun cartoon game that carries the piggie theme with some unique features. For instance, instead of progressives, there are five fixed jackpot amounts which change into larger jackpots as the player bets up to the next player-selectable denomination.
The pig characters are central to the primary game—they are wild, and when they appear in either or both of two blue-boxed reel spots—reels 5 and 11 of the 15 independent reels in a three-by-five, 243-ways game—they unlock adjacent prizes, which can include any of the jackpots. During free games, the pig wild symbols stick, remaining locked for the entire feature.
Each pig stands above the reels with a bag that fills with coins or bills as they land on the reels. The bags represent free games—six on the left, 12 on the right. The blue boxes are active in the free games as well as the primary game.
Another highlight from Zitro was Lún Pán Dú, a 243-ways Asian game that includes a chase feature involving a middle-reel panda and a bonus wheel the player physically spins with a hand on the touchscreen. Five cash-on-reels symbols trigger a hold-and-re-spin feature, which includes jackpot symbols and vault symbols, which combine all cash-on-reels and jackpot symbols into a single reel spot, allowing the feature to continue.
There also is a wheel bonus that can be triggered within the feature or through a line combination.
That’s A Wrap
The innovations unveiled at G2E Las Vegas 2023 will have a profound impact on the future of gaming. They will shape the way games are played, the way players interact with gaming platforms, and the overall gaming experience.
From enhancing player engagement to improving security and regulatory compliance, these innovations will set the stage for the next generation of gaming.
The dates for next year’s G2E were announced as well. Once again the Venetian Expo will host the event that will be from October 7-10, 2024, with education sessions running from Oct. 7-10 and the expo hall open from Oct. 8-10.
