The LINQ Hotel & Casino at Caesars is transforming itself into an experiential casino space, with holographic games, interactive art exhibits, esports, fan caves, self-service beer, and virtual reality.
Acting as a testing ground for Caesars, The LINQ plans to continuously integrate new technology. Caesars Entertainment already features Ivy, a 24-hour virtual concierge programme powered through artificial intelligence.
“We saw that the industry was changing, and the customers were changing — how they consume, content, the type of experiences they wanted,” said Matthew Kenagy, senior director of strategic development at Caesars Entertainment (via Las Vegas Review Journal).
“We wanted to respond to that quickly and lead the industry in how we think about gaming in general and how we build our spaces.”
Kenagy added: “We’d like to see what works and bring that out to other properties.”
Testing tech at The LINQ
The Pulse Arena, which recently opened, includes electronic table games with virtual dealers and retro games like Pac-Man.
There will also be a new area offering the first gesture-controlled holographic games, also the first time hologram gaming has been introduced in a casino.
In addition, new technology at The LINQ will include six new virtual reality bays and an interactive environmental art installation called DATALAND: LINQ. The reactive art will be shown on LED screens, LED sculptures and immersive interaction zones.
The Book at The LINQ Hotel & Casino
The Book opened in October and is “the Las Vegas Strip’s most innovative race and sports book to date”.
The sports book features couches, large TVs and gaming consoles, and ‘fan caves’ – rentable ‘living rooms’, each with a 98-inch TV, two 49-inch TVs, an Xbox One console, a VR rig, and F&B delivery.
VR Adventures at The LINQ Promenade
This area offers four unique virtual reality experiences that use Oculus Rift technology to immerse guests in a three-dimensional world.
Guests can enter one of four different VR game experiences:
- Screaming Skydive – zipline and parachute over a virtual Las Vegas
- Soaring Superhero – fly through the city in search of hidden hot air balloons
- House of Horrors – escape a haunted house without disturbing the ghouls within
- Fly N’ Shoot – shoot down enemy fighters in a flight simulator
The Wall Gaming Lounge at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino
Elsewhere, Caesars opened an esports video gaming lounge at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The Wall offers esports gaming equipment and the latest games, as well as self-service beverage walls, featuring more than 50 beers and energy drinks on tap.
Alienware Aurora rigs power the PC gaming, alongside a selection of consoles and classic arcade games, from Dragon Ball FighterZ to Fortnite.
Images: Caesars
