Aiming to combine the atmosphere of Las Vegas with online gaming, two leading industry giants have teamed up to offer players the chance to participate in real Las Vegas casinos through digital platforms.
At the SBC Summit, Playtech Live CEO Edo Haitin and MGM Resorts International’s SVP and Head of Interactive, Christian Stuart, revealed the details of a collaboration that will bring live dealer game broadcasts from MGM’s Las Vegas resorts.
Haitin noted that Playtech has been considering entering the Las Vegas market for “many years,” seeking to bring the casino experience to other regulated markets worldwide.
The Playtech Live CEO emphasized that MGM is a “key player in the Las Vegas market and on the Strip,” explaining the choice of this operator for launching the MGM Live product.
Through their collaboration, Playtech has developed live dealer games broadcast from two of MGM’s flagship casinos on the Vegas Strip—Bellagio and MGM Grand—using the operator’s branding.
Explaining MGM’s motivation for joining the project, Stuart mentioned that the company has been “interested in the live casino segment for some time,” recognizing its potential for “significant revenue” and noting the presence of “strong players in this market.”
Both Playtech and MGM representatives stressed the importance of making players feel like part of the Las Vegas atmosphere. Stuart expects players to enjoy gaming from the comfort of their homes, “playing in Vegas tonight.”
Haitin also highlighted MGM’s ability to “present their product to players” to “recreate the magic of Vegas” through Playtech’s solutions, noting that “operators’ products often lose the true character of the brand.”
Job creation was another important aspect of the partnership. Haitin explained that while Playtech usually employs its own staff for live casino content, the launch of MGM Live allows for “new jobs to open up in Vegas” and for them to “discover new stars.”
The CEO noted that this deal has brought a “wind of change,” as games have already been launched in Mexico with Caliente and in the UK with bet365 as part of the collaboration, showing that what happens in Vegas no longer stays in Vegas.
The MGM Live content will be based on the operator’s “timeless classic assets” in Vegas, with live dealer games broadcasted in front of the famous Bellagio fountains.
Haitin and Stuart both emphasized the importance of making the content “safe and responsible.” Stuart stressed the need to approach each step of the expansion “with all due diligence.”
Although broadcast from the US, MGM Live will only be available to customers in Nevada due to US regulations.
However, should the opportunity arise to extend this content across the country, Stuart stated that MGM “would gladly offer these streams to other states.”
Before the panel wrapped up, Stuart shared some feedback about the collaboration since MGM Live launched from Las Vegas.
Haitin mentioned that casino patrons are noticing certain tables being broadcasted, prompting them to engage more with those tables, enhancing the experience for both land-based and online players. “I’m very excited with what we’ve been able to bring to players,” he said.
One game also featured Bellagio’s single-zero roulette table, which Stuart said is very popular on the casino floor. Since live casino players can witness this action for themselves, Stuart added that “people feel like they’re playing in Vegas with high rollers.”
The discussion concluded with a preview of the latest collaborative initiative — the launch of a Family Feud live casino product, broadcast from Las Vegas and featuring the branding of the popular American game show.
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