Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal has partnered with Dynamic Gaming Systems to release a new gaming system exclusively found at Parx Casino.
Parx announced ShaqBLACKJack, a hybrid table-slot machine featuring 24 separate live slot-like blackjack games that will be linked to a live blackjack game and dealer within a basketball-themed area on the casino’s floor.
The game, which will be unveiled on October 4, was developed over a four-year period by O’Neal and New Jersey-based Dynamic Gaming Systems.
Dynamic Gaming CEO Charlie Barksdale said the game was to make a casino game fun for everyone bringing Shaq’s brand of humor to the gaming floor
“We clicked right away when we started talking about creating this game. We wanted a game that was familiar to everyone, even those with a modest appetite for gaming, but one that would still provide us with opportunities to bring new elements of excitement and rewards to the experience,” added Barksdale.
“When we had the opportunity to play the game and we personally experienced Shaq’s enthusiasm for creating this thrilling new game for our customers, we knew we had to have it. Shaq himself is synonymous with excitement, winning and fun – and that is what we want our guests to think about Parx,” said Tony Ricci, CEO Parx Casino.
O’Neal is also trying to make his mark in Atlantic City as he and developer Wasseem Boraie are seeking a $30m loan from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for a $61 million, 250-unit apartment project called The Beach at South Inlet. The vote to approve the project was postponed until Jan. 29 next year.
Pennsylvania casinos had a nearly $7 million drop in slot machine revenues for July, as 10 of its 12 casinos saw slots reductions in August.
Parx Casino led the state with $32.1m, followed by Sands’ $25.5m take. The $13.2m brought in by Mount Airy Casino of Paradise Township, Monroe County, was among the state’s biggest falls, at 8.8%.
The slow August ended a four-month run of increases over last year by casinos statewide.
