New mobile platform from MGM Resorts International

The giant Nevada online gambling group MGM Resorts International announced Wednesday that it has launched a mobile platform through which customers at nine of its Las Vegas resorts will be able to gamble with real money in tournament games.

Players on the new platform, branded easyPLAY Mobile Tournaments, will be able to win cash and other prizes in regular tournaments of casino games such as slots, bingo and video poker, in addition to free-to-play games.

Players will have to log on to the resorts’ wifi facilities to use the platform, which is accessible from tablets cellphones, laptops and the interactive tables within the premises.

The platform was developed by Las Vegas-based mobile gaming company oneLIVE Inc, and is currently available at Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Mirage, Monte Carlo, Luxor, New York-New York and Excalibur.

Although poker is the only form of online gambling that has been legalised in Nevada, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said it has no problem with the MGM initiatives because it only offers contests, and not online casino gambling per se.

In a statement launching the new product, MGM SVP for business development, Tom Mikulich, said the tournaments were very user friendly and provided visitors to the resorts who were aged over 21 years with another form of entertainment.