One week after an exhausting day viewing exhibits at the my first ever visit to Global Gaming Expo, I’m ready to share my thoughts and highlights of this exciting event. There are many videos already posted by YouTubers that you will want to see - none of which I filmed - and I will give you links to films by talented videographers such as Shamus of Slots and Random$$Slots which will show you what you can expect to see in the casinos in the coming year. But first, a little recap of this year’s TournEvent of Champions.
The slot tournament was sponsored by Everi, a company that used to be known as Multimedia. The competition was the culmination of a year-long contest that started last April that included 250,000 entrants in 99 preliminary competitions throughout the country. You may have seen the big bus at your favorite local casino this summer. 182 finalists were invited to Vegas to compete for a share of 1.4 million on September 30 this year.
After six rounds of thrilling competition at the Wynn Las Vegas’s XS Nightclub, Everi crowned its victor, Rita Kellerman, and presented her with the $1 million first place prize and champton’s ring. Kellerman represented the Ho-Chunk Gaming-Wisconsin Dells casino and survived two days of loud and intense competition to emerge the winner. “I can’t believe I won,” she said. This is the biggest thing that ever happened to me, except for getting married of course.”
Because my Vegas visit was so short, I didn’t get to see the tournament action leading to the TournEvent of Champions, but I did get to view part of the Charity Competition played at the Everi Booth on the exhibitor floor of the convention center September 29. Everi kicked off the championship with its second annual TournEvent of Charities featuring a mix of celebrities such as Carrot Top and local and industry media members squaring off on behalf of their favorite charities. In the end, Steve Burke, publisher of Indian Gaming Magazine, the source for much of the information in my previous series earlier claimed victory and the $10,000 winner’s check for NIGA Spirit of Sovereignty. The remaining charities were winners in their own right, sharing in the $40,000 total contribution made by Everi.
Everi’s charity of choice, Save a Warrior, also benefited, receiving a $40,000 check from the company. Save a Warrior benefits returning veterans and active-duty military personnel struggling with PTSD as a result of their service.
Plans are already underway for the 2016 event, and Everi expects the party to be even bigger. The $1 million prize will be back in play, and the 5 year annversary event is slated to coincide once again with the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
Everi featured 140 games at G2E this year, including 70 new titles at its booth according to press releases. If you visit digdia.com you can watch two of them Gargoyle and Journey to the Center of the Earth which have already been posted by Random$$Slots. More are on the way.
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