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
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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...