Product Innovation of the Year 2024

• Interblock Gaming – Smart Pit: Interblock revolutionized the gaming industry with the unveiling of the Smart Pit – a cutting-edge solution designed to enhance security, reduce labor costs and increase revenue for casinos. Smart Pits feature advanced technology and live dealers who facilitate and triple the number of decisions per hour, eliminate payout errors and provide a more personalized gaming experience. With a variety of games in multiple variations, the Smart Pit represents the future of gaming. In June, the Smart Pit had its first regional installation, at PENN’s Boomtown Casino Biloxi in Mississippi. 
• Acres Manufacturing – Player Budget: Player Budget revolutionizes casino marketing by pinpointing the dollar value each patron is able to spend. Traditionally, casinos deploy marketing offers using the flawed “theoretical” rating system, leading to billions of dollars of annual wasted marketing spend. Acres’ tool identifies each player’s individual budget and spend habits. Player Budget’s understanding of these habits enables operators to dramatically improve their direct marketing strategies by prioritizing players with deeper pockets and higher profit potential, while also offering new real-time protections for problem gamblers. 
• Light & Wonder – Engage AI: L&W Engage enables operators to leverage data to execute a cohesive curated customer journey at every touchpoint regardless of location, vertical or platform. With L&W Engage’s new groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence tool, operators have access to real time data and actionable triggered insights, advancing the capabilities of the industry. This innovative tool integrates Light & Wonder products, along with the ability to import third party data using several key components to push real-time marketing to customers. Engage AI delivers insights, analytics and automated actionable results around more than 14 touchpoints, including churn, responsible gaming and slot game mix.  
• Pavilion Payments – VIP Nomad with Mobile Jackpot: Pavilion Payments’ VIP Nomad with Mobile Jackpot provides frictionless jackpot processing. Casino patrons enjoy a fast easy way to receive their jackpot winnings and return to their favorite game. Staff can process a jackpot in less than 5 minutes, right at the slot machine since the VIP Nomad platform places the power of a jackpot workstation right in the palm of the slot attendant’s hand. Without leaving the winner’s sight, a slot attendant can scan their ID, verify their information, and select preferred payout and tax withholding options. 
• Marker Trax – Single-line, multi-property digital credit lines: Offering regulatory compliant casino marker technology since 2018, the past 12 months have been a period of true innovation for Marker Trax. Working with a CMS provider and local casino operator, the company successfully completed a Nevada field trial and received state approval to offer single-line, multi-property digital credit lines, tied to a casino’s existing loyalty program. This is a true first in the gaming industry and is set to transform the gaming credit experience. 
• CasinoTrac – SlotSUITE: SlotSUITE, developed by CasinoTrac, elevates operator and player experiences. It seamlessly integrates PlayerLINQ, a 6.2″ player tracking interface, with TransAct Technologies’ EpiCentral solution for custom, on-demand printing via the existing CasinoTrac slot network without added infrastructure. SelfPay™ enables tax form printing at the game, reducing handpay timeouts and increasing time on device. A tribal gaming property in the Southern US with nearly 3,000 machines saw a 58% rise in carded play since its implementation, and increases in rated coin-in (21%) and win per unit (39%) are elevating overall coin-in & win per unit across the entire floor. 
• Inspired Entertainment – Hybrid Dealer: Introduced in 2023, Hybrid Dealer represents a monumental leap forward in the world of live-dealer gaming. It combines Virtual CGI with green screen technology and footage of real hosts, offering players branded casino and gameshow content by blending physical and digital elements in a way that offers operators unlimited customization possibilities. Hybrid Dealer game outcomes require no studio as they are RNG-generated. Inspired has already created bespoke products for Caesars Digital, transporting players to the Caesars flagship Las Vegas destinations, leveraging the flexibility of the Hybrid Dealer technology to deliver these branded games across multiple jurisdictions without the need to set up individual studios. BetMGM also deployed the Hybrid Dealer technology to launch MGM Bonus City which lets players experience MGM’s Las Vegas casinos in a new way. 
• Sightline – Deposit+: In October last year, Sightline unveiled Deposit+. With Deposit+ casinos have daily access to cash that is sitting idle in slot machines and TITO kiosks, empowering them to use that cash as working capital. The product has no hardware or software requirements (it works with the casinos’ existing CMS), and with Deposit+, whatever cash is in the slot machines or TITO kiosks, can be in the bank and ready for re-investment, daily. The casino is no longer tied to drop schedules. Because the cash is credited to the bank account, operators can optimize their drop schedules and reduce labor expenses. 
• Playtech – MGM Live: Playtech, in partnership with MGM Resorts, is now offering on-demand, immersive online experiences straight from the iconic Bellagio and MGM Grand. Announced in June this year, Playtech’s innovative “MGM Live” content is a first in the industry and enables both online and in-person players to participate in the game simultaneously. The live content, which includes single and double-zero roulette and baccarat games, is licensed for end-user play in regulated markets outside the US and sets a new industry standard. As the partnership evolves, the plan is to broaden the portfolio with exclusive access to a variety of Playtech games, branded TV game shows, celebrity-hosted trivia shows, and the one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences for which MGM Resorts and Las Vegas are known. 
• Eclipse Gaming – Duck Dollars: The latest innovative title from Eclipse Gaming’s high-performing Cash Arcade Series, premiered at the end of last year, taking players back to the nostalgic days of carnival games, popcorn, and cotton candy at the county fair. Players collect Cannons to fire at rubber ducks and mystery targets to win multi-level jackpots, multipliers, and credit awards. During the Firequakers Frenzy Bonus, players can win 6-12 initial rounds of cannon firing in a heart-pumping skill-like experience. Duck Dollars also offers a fun feature that allows players to customize their experience by choosing their favorite rubber duck and a matching soundtrack. 

The Product Innovation of the Year award is sponsored by Play’n GO.

As a renowned gaming entertainment supplier, Play’n GO has gone from humble Swedish startup to iGaming powerhouse. A pioneer of the industry, the company was the first to recognize the potential of gaming on the GO and now boasts a diverse and talented global team. Play’n GO consistently delivers engaging and innovative games, with a new title being released each week. Its dedication to a sustainable future of iGaming makes it the partner of choice in over 25 regulated jurisdictions. In addition to its huge portfolio of titles, Play’n GO offers a selection of promo tools and back-end services to help operators provide the ultimate gaming experiences.  

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