- Gaming equipment manufacturer AGS has announced a licensing agreement with the National Hockey League for NHL-themed slots and table games.
- Fittingly, the first release is a jumbo Vegas Golden Knights themed slot machine at the South Point Casino.
- Las Vegas based AGS has been a sponsorship and marketing partner with the Golden Knights since 2018.
With the entire United States sports ecosystem now looking to jump aboard the gaming gravy train you’re starting to see promotional deals signed left and right. Obviously sportsbook promotional deals are the most common of these but there’s also an increasing level of comfort by pro sports teams and leagues about getting involved with casino games. Case in point–just a couple of days ago we wrote about the new BetRivers sportsbook lounge at the PPG Arena in Pittsburgh. BetRivers is the ‘Official Sportsbook’ and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh named the ‘Official Casino’ of the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins.
Now you can look for your favorite hockey team to gain a closer proximity to the local casino. Las Vegas based gaming equipment manufacturer AGS has announced that they’ve signed an agreement with the National Hockey League for NHL-themed slots and table games. With this deal in place, it was almost inevitable that the first officially licensed NHL team slot machine would be devoted to the Vegas Golden Knights. AGS (NYSE: AGS) and VGK have an existing promotional relationship dating back to 2018. The Golden Knights became the first US professional sports team to sign a casino equipment deal and AGS has sponsored the ‘Play of the Game’ at home games.
The Vegas Golden Knights slot machine has already hit the gaming floor at the South Point Casino. It’s not clear if this is a one-off model or will be seen at other properties around town because the VGK slot machine is *huge*–the machine is 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide taking up the space of three standard slot machines. It has seating for multiple players and is the second jumbo sized slot machine on the floor at the South Point. South Point Slot Director Cliff Paige says that the VGK slot is not only an entertaining game to play but attracts a lot of attention and provides a perfect social media photo op:
“We are elated to be the first casino to unveil the Vegas Golden Knights slot game, and look forward to offering our loyal players, many of whom are Las Vegas locals and huge Golden Knights fans, with a hockey-themed slot experience based on an enormously popular team. We expect the Vegas Golden Knights game to do very well; not only does the game offer a community-style play experience as people gather to watch those giant reels spin, but it also provides a great social media photo opp.”
Paige told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the big game in VGK colors has quickly become the focal point of the casino floor:
“This thing is a monster. … People flock to it. We’re primarily a locals casino, and the Golden Knights have just been such a staple among our local players and the entire community as a whole. It’s something that everybody gets behind in Las Vegas, and we’re just happy to be a part of it.”
AGS Chief Marketing Officer Julia Boguslawski offered this quote in the press release:
“As a corporate partner of the Golden Knights and being headquartered in Las Vegas, it was the perfect opportunity for AGS to deliver an engaging and highly social gaming experience on an attention-grabbing slot cabinet to capitalize on the team’s enormous popularity and success.”
We’ve got a gameplay video courtesy of the South Point below. The VGK slot machine is located just outside the Big Sur Oyster Bar which recently reopened following a complete renovation. The Oyster Bar is open from 11 AM to 1 AM and is IMO one of the best kept secrets in Las Vegas. You’ll hear people say that the 24/7 Oyster Bar at the Palace Station is also a ‘best kept secret’ but take my word for it–*everyone* knows about it. The Oyster Bar is excellent but hardly a ‘secret’. You can check out the Big Sur Oyster Bar menu here:
I recommend the Cioppino.
