News and Analysis
Penn Entertainment Revamps Loyalty System at Hollywood Casino
Penn Entertainment has rebranded and revamped its casino and sportsbook loyalty club from Mychoice to Penn Play. Penn Play introduces several improvements, including new rewards, Penn Cash, and more accessible perks.
The changes affect online players of Hollywood Casino, Barstool, and the Score (Penn Entertainment has over 26 million users signed up to its loyalty system), who can now collect Penn Cash (Penn Play’s new loyalty currency) online and in person, then spend at the brand’s marketplace.
According to Penn Entertainment, the new system is simplified, introducing tiers, and it also unites the brand’s land-establishments and online platforms under one loyalty club for the first time.
New Jersey’s New RG Initiative
New Jersey’s Attorney General and Division of Gaming Enforcement Chief have announced new ad standards for gambling brands and self-exclusion measures in response to the state’s booming sports betting market, which grew 17.2% YoY for March 2023.
The new regulations include that NJ online casino and sportsbook operators must:
- clearly display the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline on all ads,
- offer straightforward ways for players to opt out of gambling ads
- stop using terms such as “guaranteed wins” or “risk-free.”
NJ players can now register for self-exclusion via a video chat portal rather than in-person, making it more accessible to those wishing to join the list. Additionally, the DGE has created a senior new position for a responsible gambling coordinator who will head up responsible gambling efforts and protection in the state.
NJDGE Chief said of the new measures, “In the face of that boom, we have a duty to protect the public from advertising that could be misleading or harmful. And for those in the grip of gambling addiction, we need to offer as many exit ramps from their condition as possible.”
Atlantic City Casinos Worried by New York Plans
Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen has voiced concerns that New York’s plan to open three land-based casinos will remove revenue from Atlantic City venues, perhaps even causing closures. According to Allen, Atlantic City gets 20-30% of its “revenue from upstate New Jersey and downstate New York.”
The NY Gaming Facility Location Board opened requests for casino applications in January 2023. Several US-gambling companies, including Hard Rock, Caesars, Sands, MGM, Mohegan, and Wynn Resorts, have already expressed interest in the three licenses. The permits won’t be awarded until later in the year.
Inspired Gaming Joins FanDuel MI Lobby
Inspired Gaming is live at FanDuel Michigan with available titles, including the studio’s top-performing content, such as Big Fishing Fortune™, Big Santa Fortune™, Gold Cash Free Spins™, and Big Spin Bonus™. FanDuel and Inspired Gaming first partnered in Ontario, and thanks to the success of the studio’s content, the deal has now expanded to Michigan. In the company's press release, Brooks Pierce, Inspired Gaming President, said;
“We are thrilled to partner with FanDuel in Michigan to deliver premium iGaming content,” said Brooks Pierce, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Inspired. “This agreement adds another operator we have partnered with in Michigan, making it seven in total. Michigan remains a very important market for us, as we have reached over 90% market coverage through our partners, and which now represents our biggest US state. It is a pleasure to work with the FanDuel team, and we congratulate them on this exciting launch.”
Game of the Week
Invading Vegas: Play’n GO, RTP 96.2%
Invading Vegas is a cheekily-themed slot that's guaranteed to hit a sweet spot with US players. Based on an alien invasion of, you’ve guessed it, Vegas, this slot brings the bright lights straight to your mobile or desktop screen and delivers prize-winning action across 5x3 reels and 20 lines.
The reels are filled with larger-than-life characters, including an Elvis impersonator, and the game symbols pay well at 2-12.5x your stake for 5 symbol line wins. The main base game feature is Lock and Re-Spins, which are triggered if you land a full stack of symbols on reels 1 or 2. If you also land a stacked wild (the Alien is the wild symbol) on reel 3 during the spins, the stacked wild will walk across the reels, moving one reel right with each spin and awarding an extra re-spin when it reaches the end of the reels.
The bonus round is free spins, and you’ll need to catch 3 UFO symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger 12 spins. During free spins, walking wilds are active, but move left instead of right to increase your winning chances.
Invading Vegas is fun, the graphics are sharp and entertaining, and it delivers a good dose of humor and potential prizes (max payouts of 1,000x your bet). If you’ve not yet tried a Play’n GO slot, this title showcases Play’n GO at its best. Load up the reels from $0.01 up to $100 a spin and see what you can win at these US Play’n GO casinos!
