[toc]Harrah’s Southern California already has the title of first California tribal casino with skill-based casino games. If things go according to plan though, the property should be upping its game soon.
Gamblit Gaming expanding Caesars deal
Harrah’s became the first California casino to offer a skill-based game earlier this year. Back in April, the property installed two different game from Gamblit Gaming.
Gamblit is a company which specializes in skill-based gaming. It is one of the big players in the niche market. Most notably, it recently inked a deal to bring a version of Pac-Man to casinos.
The latest creation from Gamblit is a multi-game machine called the Tristation. The new hardware is now available at Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hope is the Tristation rolls out at the other remaining Nevada casinos owned by Caesars as well as in Southern California.
What is Gamblit’s Tristation?
The games currently available at Harrah’s are Cannonbeard’s Treasure and Gamblit Poker. Both are multi-player table games. The players compete against one another, while the casino rakes the action on each round.
In the poker game, players try to make the best poker hand. In the pirate-themed Cannobeard’s Treasure, the goal is to snatch up numbers that add up to 30 before their opponents do.
What is the most noticable difference between these games and the Tristation is that the Tristation offers games for single players. In fact, it offers six different games, both from Gamblit and from partner vendors.
The six games offered on the machine are:
- Into the Dead
- Catapult King
- Gamblit’s Lucky Words
- Match 3volution
- Smoothie Blast
- Slice of Pleasure
Both Into the Dead and Catapult King are in the mold of video games more than puzzle games. A different company, PikPok, developed the two games. The former is a zombie shooter game, while the latter involves shooting a catapult towards a group of invading knights.
The remainder of the games fall into the puzzle category. All are single-player games.
Casino and Gamblit happy with partnership so far
It is not a secret that skill-based slot games did not get off to a smashing start. Casinos besides Caesars and game providers besides Gamblit are all trying to figure out the best way to market the games in addition to where to position them on the gaming floor.
Nonetheless, Caesars remains committed to the concept, which is something that pleases Gamblit CEO and founder Eric Meyerhofer. He explained that much in a press release:
“We are incredibly excited to launch our second line of hardware and six new games onto casino floors. Caesars has been a fantastic partner who understands the need for innovation and reaching new consumers already on the floor. With our great range of games at launch, we think the TriStation hardware truly offers something for everyone.”
Caesars seems equally hopeful that the shift from multi-player to single-plaer Gamblit offerings can break through to the mainstream. Melissa Price, Caesars Entertainment’s senior vice president of enterprise gaming echoed Meyerhofer’s sentiments.
“Part of Caesars Entertainment’s ongoing commitment to gaming innovation involves taking risks and investing in new product offerings that we believe give our customers original and exciting experiences. Gamblit’s TriStation game machine is an exciting venture because it’s the first time that individuals can play some of their favorite video games on a casino floor.”
Tristation’s runs in Nevada casinos and at Harrah’s Southern California is considered a field trial. If things go well, the hope is it add the machines to Caesars properties across the country.
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