MGM Mirage are really starting to put their foot down on the Facebook slot bandwagon accelerator (social slots).
This is Excalibur, the entry MyVegas game.
There’s a new slot game on Facebook, and it’s called the MyVegas Mirage Secret Gardens, using MGM Resort International’s Mirage resort brand. This Facebook game is the latest in a long line of social gaming apps that promote some of the big casino properties in Las Vegas.
It’s a free to play slot (by the way, if you want to test out some games for free that you can bet on for real later, try our
[ Free Play Slots ] section).
Unless you go ahead and purchase chips, you’ll have to work your way up to level 5, starting on the entry level game: Excalibur, before you can have a go on the new game (grrrrrrrrrrr). Actually, you’ll need to work your way up the levels to do anything on this suite of games, even increasing your bet level. I guess this is to incentivise you to spend money on play chips, but it does get a bit annoying. The app does a great job of showing you how the game’s played, however, with pop ups a bit like the old Microsoft paper clip from years back.
The new game was developed from a partnership between PlayStudios and MGM Resorts International: it’s a free-to-play slot machine game with images and a look and feel that is lifted directly from the Mirage Hotel and Casino, including its lush tropical oasis and the world famous Siegfried & Roy animal show (are they STILL going?)
Playstudios have already launched quite a few Facebook apps,- they reckon they have around 3 million active players, (250,000 play every day and 900,000 play every month). Those are quite some numbers.
Although not yet in the same league as Zynga, the apps are generating good revenue.
The social gaming space is starting to look pretty crowded on Facebook. Many of the games platforms are getting ready for the legalisation of online gambling in the U.S.
PlayStudios for now, are more interested in building loyalty for MGM rather than making money off people gambling per se.
In the game, you can build out your own version of the Las Vegas Strip inside the game. You can build your “status”, and they are also holding a contest where 100 players will be chosen at random daily to receive 10,000 free chips. Comps include treats such as special restaurant offers from Wolfgang Puck, free Las Vegas rooms, meals, & show tickets from their chain of Las Vegas hotels: ie the Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor, Excalibur, and Circus Circus.
With a partner like MGM, you wouldn’t bet against this app. And when gambling is legalised, do we reckon they’ll flick the real gaming switch? Yep.