Could virtual
gambling be the next big thing for Las Vegas?
One giant casino
company took a step in that direction, although the travel and tourism industry
in Sin City might have something to say about that.
MGM
Resorts International and a London-based company might have opened that door by
forming a partnership to stream
casino games live from Vegas. The action will be streamed live from the
casinos at the MGM Grand and the Bellagio hotels.
MGM
will work with Playtech, a gaming technology company, to produce “MGM Live.” It
will be streamed to regulated markets outside of the United States and include
live gaming and other programming.
But
for now, you can only live vicariously through players who are actually in Las
Vegas on the casino floor and playing the games. A gambler in Des Moines, for
instance, cannot place a bed on a player’s actions and have a financial stake
in the outcome.
“The
launch of this new and exciting live casino offering, in partnership with
Playtech and directly from Bellagio and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, furthers our
strategic vision to be the world’s premier gaming entertainment company,” MGM
CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in a release. “This collaboration amplifies our
commitment to providing unparalleled experiences and expands our global reach
to our customers. We believe the content, celebrity talent and sophisticated
gaming experience that we will offer — all from the trusted and highly
reputable brands of MGM Resorts — will be unmatched in the industry.”
Could
this be parlayed into something more?
It’s
innovative and it’s possible. But Las Vegas is a thriving mecca for
entertainment and it has 150,000 hotel rooms. Hotel owners and operators might
have something to say about having virtual gamblers from Des Moines just
sitting on their couch and placing a bet while a player does the work in Las
Vegas.
Not to
mention restaurant owners and concert promoters and others.
Las
Vegas caters
to a worldwide audience and probably doesn’t want to endanger that.
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