As NFL teams enter training camps and the new season is just a bit over a month away, the league made some news last week in a different arena. Aristocrat Gaming announced the upcoming launch of the company’s first NFL-themed game. Aristocrat casino games are available in an NFL avatar!
The release is part of a multi-year licensing agreement that will see Aristocrat release several games in the coming years. The deal allows for the league’s first slot games and gives Aristocrat the use of NFL team logos and symbols.
“Today, we are thrilled to debut the first look of the new NFL-licensed slot machines, which will provide an innovative entertainment experience for millions of NFL fans who enjoy the fun of casino gaming,” Aristocrat Gaming CEO Hector Fernandez said. “We are changing the game with this first-of-its-kind slot machine, offering fans the ability to customize the experience by selecting their favorite team in any casino they choose to play.”
Details on the New NFL Themed Aristrocrat Slot Machine
NFL fans can not only head to a stadium or click on the TV this fall to check out their favorite teams, but also head to their local casino. Aristocrat’s first gridiron game is called “NFL Super Bowl Jackpots” and takes players inside a virtual NFL stadium.
On July 27, the company offered a sneak peak at the new games and announced that the new NFL-themed slots will soon hit casino floors just in time for the 2023-24 season. NFL Super Bowl Jackpots will come housed in Aristocrat’s new King Max cabinet, which features:
- a 63.5-inch vertical curved screen
- LED Edge lighting
- a 27-inch LCD topper screen located at the top of the cabinet
- an iChair 3.0 and iBench for players to sit
- premium surround sound compatibility with either chair format
- a virtual button Deck design
Football fans giving Super Bowl Jackpots a few spins can start the experience by selecting their favorite team. The game features symbols one might expect to see on NFL gameday. That includes footballs, jerseys, and team logos as well as concession stand and tailgating items like buckets of popcorn, slices of pizza, and more.
The game also includes six licensed fan-favorite stadium anthems during key moments in the game. Players can win as much as a $1 million progressive jackpot.
“The unveiling of the first NFL-themed slot machines represents an opportunity to bring the league closer to our fans in a new area,” NFL Senior Vice President of consumer products Joe Ruggiero said. “We have valued collaborating with Aristocrat to bring their vision and responsible gaming resources to fans during the 2023 NFL season and beyond.”
NFL Continues Partnering With Legalized Gaming Entities
The NFL has made some interesting turns recently in regards to gambling. For years, the league was opposed to legalized sports betting even in Nevada. But the overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) seemed to bring a major shift in the league’s thinking.
PASPA was a 1992 federal law that mostly banned all forms of sports betting outside Nevada. The Supreme Court overturned the law in 2018, however, and numerous states have since gotten on the legalization bandwagon.
The NFL has also since partnered with sports betting operators, casinos, and fantasy sports companies. That has included making Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, and FanDuel “official sports betting partners” of the NFL. The Raiders also relocated to Las Vegas and the league held the draft in Sin City in 2022.
The 2021 Aristocrat licensing deal added to that increased acceptance of legalized gambling and sports betting. The NFL can now connect with fans even more via slots and Aristocrat has even more gridiron games in the pipeline. More games are expected to debut later this year and in 2024 include Overtime Cash, Super Bowl Link, NFL Kickoff, Winning Drive, and Rings of Victory. All are inspired by a unique element of NFL gameplay and feature customizable team options.
A Look at NFL Futures Betting
With the NFL season right around the corner, bettors may be looking for some futures value when considering which teams to drop a few collars on to win the Super Bowl. The season kicks off on Sept. 7 with the champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the up-and-coming Detroit Lions.
According to BetMGM, the Chiefs are favored to repeat as champions – checking in at odds of +600. Their foe from the last Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles, are second at +700. Other favorites are the Bills (+800), 49ers (+900), and Bengals (+900).
Some other 2022-23 playoff contenders include the Dallas Cowboys (+1600), Baltimore Ravens (+2000), MIami Dolphins (+2000), Jacksonville Jaguars (+2500), Los Angeles Chargers (+2800), and Minnesota Vikings (+4000).
One team to watch may be the New York Jets. Adding former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has moved the talented young team to +1600.
