Jan/Feb 2025


Sweepstakes were the talk of G2E 2024 and are generating plenty of headlines as we enter 2025.
It is a fascinating vertical – and indeed whether it should even be seen as a legal vertical at all is in question. The American Gaming Association (AGA) has been keen to stress that sweepstakes gaming needs regulation, while a court in North Carolina recently deemed sweepstakes machines to be illegal.
Our cover feature attempts to address and explore this very conundrum: what is sweepstakes gaming? Is it the future of our industry or a mini-episode in gaming history that will generate billions in revenue with a short shelf-life?
Within this magazine, we speak to affiliates, suppliers and legal experts, as well as the AGA and newly formed Social and Promotional Gaming Association to find out more. In essence, sweepstakes is a form of social gaming that finds a brilliant loophole within gaming law.
A player can enter a draw, subscribe to win prizes or simply buy virtual currency, then bet with that currency. No transaction is made with real money to place a wager; there is simply an extra step in between and this has put the industry well ahead of regulations.
The question now, however, is whether lawmakers and regulators will respond by outlawing the practice in the long term. It is notable that certain firms speaking to Gaming America have deliberately chosen not to engage with sweepstakes due to this uncertainty. Others who have, though, have quickly seen sweepstakes become their main source of revenue.
Elsewhere in our first issue of 2025, regular contributor Oliver Lovat brings us what many are billing as his best article yet – as he details the history of Downtown Las Vegas. Detail being the formative word!
There are also interviews with the Playstar, Golden Matrix Group and Internet Vikings, while we additionally examine market characteristics in New York and New Jersey in comparison to Nevada.
Across the border, we look at the fascinating market of Mexico, widely acclaimed as the second-biggest market in Latin America behind Brazil.
In terms of regular features, our Viewpoints segment looks ahead to 2025 with industry predictions, while we have our usual array of product reviews of what's new on the casino floor.
Impeccably as ever, regular casino reviewer Laura Mack is on hand to compare the Horseshoe Las Vegas and the Venetian Las Vegas. They are two very different properties, but how well do they cater to their respective audiences? There's all that to look forward to and more in our first edition of 2025. So we trust you will enjoy the magazine – and we look forward to keeping you well informed with the very best industry analysis throughout the year

In The Magazine

Countdown to launch: Just in time
In this edition of From The Top, Caesars New Orleans SVP and GM Samir Mowad speaks with Kirk Geller to detail what the future holds after the property finally completed its $435m transformation....
The industry's best getting their deserved recognition
The 11th annual Global Gaming Awards Americas once again honored and rewarded the gaming industry's strongest performers throughout the prior 12 months during G2E in Las Vegas....
G2E 2024: Discussing the future of US iGaming
A deep dive into the lively debate: Gaming America's Laura Mack examines the objections to US iGaming expansion and the mythbusters offered as a rebuttal at G2E. Surely, it is inevitable in the long r...
G2E 2024: A year in review
Gaming America sits down with Pro League Network's (PLN) Mike Salvaris at The Venetian during G2E, to sum up the year and give us the inside scoop of what sports betting has in store for 2025....
The main event: A Las Vegas casino battle
The Venetian Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas serve very different clienteles. But who does it better? Gaming America's Laura Mack visits the two Las Vegas properties to see which will take the title...
Assessing the landscape of sweepstakes legality
John Feldman, Partner at global law firm Reed Smith, speaks with Gaming America on the blurred views of how sweepstakes casinos can eventually see proper regulation....
Sweeping the nation: A new look sports betting landscape
Gaming America examines the surging popularity of sweepstakes casinos in the US, and what a potentially lucrative future may hold amid concerns surrounding legality and regulation....
US sports partnerships: A golden opportunity
PlayStar CMO Jon Bowden sits down with Gaming America's Kirk Geller to discuss the company's partnership with the New Jersey Devils and key takeaways from G2E 2024....
Golden Matrix: A big fish in a big pond
Gaming America's Laura Mack sits down with Golden Matrix CEO Brian Goodman at G2E 2024 in Las Vegas to celebrate another productive year....
Unifying Las Vegas: "We need to do something!"
Oliver Lovat, regular Gaming America contributor and Denstone Group CEO, analyses how Downtown Las Vegas came together in crisis and created transformative legacies....
Nevada vs New Jersey vs New York: The battle for sports betting supremacy
Gaming America explores the history and evolution of the most dominant states in modern US sports betting....
Internet Vikings CEO: Looking ahead to 2025
Internet Vikings Founder & CEO, Rickard Vikström, speaks with Gaming America about the outlook of US gaming in 2025....
El águila real: The status quo in Mexico
Sandwiched between two of the world's biggest markets, Mexico is historically one of the largest in the LatAm landscape. Gaming America explores the status quo in Mexico ahead of a year of change in 2...
Viewpoints: Predictions for gaming in 2025
Industry experts from Radar, OPTX, Sportradar, Bluberi and Galaxy Gaming make their predictions for the gaming industry in 2025. How can the sector continue to expand in the New Year?...
Product Review: Interblock - AMUSE
Introducing Free Fall Roulette....
Product Review: AGS - Emperor Zhang
The game is the second game in the Lion Cash game family....
Product Review: Eclipse Gaming - Xingyun San
The game was unveiled at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2024....
Product Review: Aruze - Triple Treasure Pot & Tomb Treasure
We also review Rocket Frenzy by Ainsworth....
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Jan/Feb 2025

Sweepstakes were the talk of G2E 2024 and are generating plenty of headlines as we enter 2025. It is a fascinating vertical – and indeed whether it should even be seen as a legal vertical at all is in question. The Am...