Our Story

PLAYSTUDIOS is founded by technology and gaming entrepreneurs Andrew Pascal, Paul Mathews, Katie Bolich, Nicholas Koenig, Chad Hansing, and Monty Kerr. Under the direction of its leadership team, the company embarks on the development of casual, free-to-play games for social platforms. The company opens with offices in Las Vegas, Nevada; Burlingame, California; and Austin, Texas. The company secured strategic investments from Activision Blizzard and MGM Resorts International, establishing relationships with two dominant players in industries related to the company's line of business.

PLAYSTUDIOS releases its first title, myVEGAS, on Facebook. myVEGAS allows players to recreate a virtual version of the Las Vegas Strip in which they’re able to earn playing chips for slots and table games and enjoy real-world rewards while experiencing immersive and entertaining social game mechanics and storylines. Through a partnership with MGM Resorts International, PLAYSTUDIOS secures the exclusive social gaming and mobile rights for Las Vegas’ premier properties: ARIA, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo (now Park MGM), New York-New York, Luxor, Excalibur, and Circus Circus. Through this partnership, players are able to earn loyalty points with each visit to myVEGAS. Points are redeemable for free rooms, meals, show tickets, and other perks. Within weeks, myVEGAS attracts more than 350,000 players, with many eligible to claim real-world rewards in Las Vegas.

Excalibur is released, becoming the first MGM Resorts International property to be featured in-game, and bringing the total number of slot machines within the myVEGAS lineup to seven.

PLAYSTUDIOS releases Around the World in 80 Plays, one of several new slot games that combine casual and casino game mechanics to create a single, compelling experience. Inspired by the works of Jules Verne, the game allows players to discover hidden objects and collectibles as they play, further demonstrating the company’s ability to develop an enhanced virtual world for its players. As the number of offerings available through myVEGAS grows, PLAYSTUDIOS surpasses one million players on its Facebook platform.

PLAYSTUDIOS enters into a partnership with Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, further diversifying and broadening the real-world rewards available to players.

Luxor Gods of Odds is released, becoming the second branded content placement and adding a ninth slot machine to the game lobby in myVEGAS, which has now amassed more than two million players on Facebook.

PLAYSTUDIOS sets the stage for rapid expansion with the global release of myVEGAS Slots for iOS and Android marking its entry to mobile platforms and a major pivot in the company to capitalize on the market shift. myVEGAS Slots is the first mobile game offering real-world rewards, allowing players to earn points by playing a wide variety of slot games, including Mirage, Excalibur, New York New York, Frontier Fortune, Pirates Cove, and Luxor. In each game, players have the opportunity to accrue chips, loyalty points, status, and rewards; and they are able to earn special in-game bonuses by advancing through their own virtual Vegas. myVEGAS Slots also adds four new rewards partners to its roster, including Cirque du Soleil, House of Blues, Sugar Factory and the Las Vegas Monorail Company. myVEGAS Slots reaches No. 1 in the iTunes Free Casino app category in the same month as its release, while also reaching No. 8 in the Free Games category and No. 9 in the Top Grossing Casino apps category.

The myVEGAS mobile app becomes the No. 1 downloaded casino app for phones and tablets across all major platforms – iOS, Android, and Kindle. That same month, PLAYSTUDIOS announces an innovative marketing partnership with the 2014 Billboard Music Awards aimed at connecting consumers across the casual social gaming and popular music sectors. Additionally, PLAYSTUDIOS announces an expansion of its rewards program, allowing players to earn rewards outside of Las Vegas at MGM Resorts International’s Beau Rivage in Mississippi.

As PLAYSTUDIOS expands, the company agrees to a licensing deal with legendary game-maker KONAMI Gaming to establish myVEGAS as a social and mobile channel for several KONAMI titles. Through this partnership, PLAYSTUDIOS is able to introduce a product that appeals to dedicated slot players, with titles and experiences found in real-world casinos. The partnership also allows KONAMI to bring its branded content to myVEGAS players on Facebook. That same month, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, a global leader in luxury and leisure travel, becomes a PLAYSTUDIOS rewards partner. The company’s offerings allow players to book travel on Royal Caribbean cruises.

myVEGAS Blackjack is released on iOS and Android devices. The game offers players the traditional tempo, look, and feel of casino-style blackjack with a few creative twists, while allowing them to share loyalty points across all other myVEGAS games. Additionally, myVEGAS adds Las Vegas-based Station Casinos as a new rewards partner for its growing platform. The two-year partnership allows PLAYSTUDIOS to expand its reach a growing yet under-served local population throughout Southern Nevada, and giving players access to rewards at Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa, Palace Station, Green Valley Ranch, and Sunset Station.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces the completion of a $20 million Series C financing round led by Icon Ventures (then Jafco Ventures). As one of the few independent social casino game startups to show significant growth, PLAYSTUDIOS is placed in prime position to capitalize on a market that is estimated to reach $2.7 billion by the end of the year.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces new partnerships with The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The partnerships allow players to redeem loyalty points for real-world rewards at both venues.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces significant achievements in 2014, including $60 million in revenue and more than $10 million in reward redemptions for players.

my KONAMI Slots, a brand-new app, is unveiled to the public, expanding the company’s partnership with gaming giant KONAMI. This app marks the beginning of a content diversification strategy, allowing the company to appeal to a broader mix of casual gamers and casino-goers with both original and licensed slot machine content.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces a groundbreaking partnership with former National Basketball Association star, actor, DJ, and broadcaster Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal, whose previous ventures into gaming include the 1990s hit Shaq Fu, becomes the face of Caddy SHAQ and SHAQJack on the myVEGAS Slots and myVEGAS Blackjack apps, respectively. The partnership adds a number of unique rewards to the PLAYSTUDIOS portfolio, as players are able to redeem loyalty points for voicemails from O’Neal, signed memorabilia, and even the opportunity to play 1-on-1 with the star at his home. Additionally, PLAYSTUDIOS adds air travel to its portfolio of real-world rewards, through a partnership with Allegiant Air. Players of myVEGAS slots and blackjack, are able to redeem in-game loyalty points for travel and vacation packages.

PLAYSTUDIOS expands its global reach, opening a new office in Hong Kong – PLAYSTUDIOS ASIA – helmed by John Lin, currently the company’s chief operating officer. That same month, PLAYSTUDIOS announces a new rewards partnership with Graton Resort & Casino in Sonoma County, California.

PLAYSTUDIOS partners with renowned United Kingdom gaming operator The Hippodrome Casino to offer a new tier of rewards to players, marking its first international partnership.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces its first collection of Atlantic City rewards through a partnership with Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. That same month, Maverick Helicopters, an award-winning division of Maverick Aviation Group, launches an exclusive partnership with PLAYSTUDIOS that allows myVEGAS Slots and myVEGAS Blackjack players the chance to redeem loyalty points for a wide range of Maverick Helicopters excursions in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon; and Maui, Hawaii.

A new partnership with Resorts World Birmingham offers European-based rewards through PLAYSTUDIOS’ in-app loyalty platform. Players of myVEGAS Slots and myVEGAS Blackjack are able to choose from a collection of curated perks, including spa packages, free hotel rooms, and an Ultimate Resorts World Experience.

PLAYSTUDIOS is named “Best of 2016” by two leading gaming industry groups, iGaming and eGaming Review. iGaming awards the company “Best Social Gaming Operator of 2016” honors, while eGaming Review recognized PLAYSTUDIOS as Best Social Slots Operator for 2016, and awarded it Highly Commended in the Social Operator category. Additionally, PLAYSTUDIOS expands its partnership with global gaming operator, Genting International, offering player perks from a collection of more than 40 gaming destinations operating under the Genting UK brand.

PLAYSTUDIOS acquires Scene53, an Israel-based game studio specializing in real-time, multi-player mobile games, and forms PLAYSTUDIOS Israel. The two companies jointly develop the newest PLAYSTUDIOS mobile app, POP! Slots, which allows players to play in groups, share jackpots, and interact with friends as they explore virtual versions of iconic Las Vegas resorts. POP! Slots quickly becomes the top trending Android game in the United States.

TOPGOLF Las Vegas, a four-level entertainment venue east of the Las Vegas Strip, enters into a rewards partnership with PLAYSTUDIOS.

Continuing its international expansion, PLAYSTUDIOS announces the “Uniquely Australia” partnership, with rewards from Gray Line Australia, Escape Hunt Australia, and Melbourne River Cruises. The rewards are made available to players in all PLAYSTUDIOS apps: myVEGAS Slots, myVEGAS Blackjack, my KONAMI Slots, and POP! Slots. That same month, PLAYSTUDIOS adds Couples Resorts, Jamaica, the Caribbean’s premier all-inclusive luxury resort, to its portfolio of rewards partners.

PLAYSTUDIOS is awarded “Best Social Gaming Operator” at the iGaming North America Awards.

myVEGAS Slots receives its first major update, unveiling a new look for players with new functionality that makes the games, rewards, and special offers easier to find. A new myVIP program offers additional perks for loyal players, including bonus boosters and special purchase offers. A new inbox feature unifies player communication and allows for more frequent collecting and sharing of free chips; and the Challenges and Journeys have been updated, providing new opportunities to earn even more chips and Loyalty Points.

POP! Slots is named “Best New Game” at the EGR Awards 2017.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces a partnership with Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited, one of the largest gaming companies in Canada. Across British Columbia, Edmonton and Ontario, Gateway operates 25 gaming properties with more than 280 tables, over 9,600 slots, 68 restaurants and bars and 272 hotel rooms. The partnership allows PLAYSTUDIOS players to redeem loyalty points for rewards at Grand Villa Casino – Burnaby and Grand Casino – Edmonton. The partnership is later expanded to include rewards from Gateway’s Starlight Casino in Edmonton and Casino Rama in Ontario.

PLAYSTUDIOS moves myKONAMI Slots operations to their studio in Austin, Texas.

PLAYSTUDIOS is honored with the “Most Innovative Social Slot Game” award at the 2019 EKG Slot Awards in Las Vegas.

PLAYSTUDIOS is awarded “Best Marketing Campaign” at the EGR North America Awards 2019 in Atlantic City.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces the release of its revamped playAWARDS platform, a groundbreaking new suite of B2B tools that gives partners advanced performance metrics and unprecedented insight into today’s mobile and social gamers. The upgraded platform will become an essential tool for partners looking to reach mass audiences of potential customers worldwide, and its release coincide with a major investment and expansion of PLAYSTUDIOS’ offices in Las Vegas.

COVID-19 spread across the country and the economy began shutting down. Las Vegas was particularly hard hit, as the Strip went dark and our community wrestled with a bleak, uncertain future. PLAYSTUDIOS found a silver lining in the creative, resilient spirit of family, friends, and neighbors, and launched a media campaign called “In Is the New Out” - partnering with local TV and radio stations to support community service organizations responding to the pandemic.

The game that started it all gets its third major update. This release – called myVEGAS Mobile X, or MVMX – is completely rebuilt from the ground up on a robust new platform developed by our Hong Kong studio. The new version introduces a completely updated look and feel, along with a new feature called mySTRIP that deepens the game’s thematic integration of MGM Resorts properties.

With the increasingly popular BINGO games blurring the boundaries between the social casino and casual game genres, PLAYSTUDIOS partners with Texas-based Boss Fight Entertainment to co-develop myVEGAS Bingo, based on the myVEGAS franchise.

PLAYSTUDIOS expands its longtime partnership with MGM Resorts International, adding MGM Springfield – a hotel and casino located in Springfield, Massachusetts – to the playAWARDS loyalty program. This allows PLAYSTUDIOS players to access new rewards from the property’s food and beverage outlets and other amenities. MGM Springfield is the 17th MGM property to offer in-app rewards through playAWARDS.

PLAYSTUDIOS announces plans to become a public company, through a definitive merger agreement with Acies Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: ACAC), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company. Chief Executive Officer and Founder Andrew Pascal will remain at the helm of the combined company, which keeps the name PLAYSTUDIOS. When the transaction closes, the company will be listed on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol MYPS. The transaction values PLAYSTUDIOS at $1.1 billion.

myVEGAS Bingo officially joins the myVEGAS family of games, launching to millions of players worldwide and recreating the rush of jackpot-style bingo on mobile devices. myVEGAS Bingo immerses players in a virtual version of fabulous Las Vegas, where they can live life like a VIP casino guest as they daub their way up and down the Strip, all while engaging with fellow players and earning loyalty points that can be redeemed for real-world rewards.

PLAYSTUDIOS celebrates the launch of myVEGAS Bingo by partnering with five Las Vegas artists to create Lucky Numbers – a multi-site, sculptural installation featuring five 200-pound bingo balls placed at highly-trafficked locations up and down the Las Vegas Strip. The artists and their work represent the relentless spirit of the city, and their diverse backgrounds reflect the global community of PLAYSTUDIOS players.

PLAYSTUDIOS partners with Las Vegas Ballpark® – home of the Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics – to bring in-game rewards to fans of America’s favorite pastime.

playAWARDS adds innovative music and wine brand City Winery to portfolio of rewards partners. The partnership with the innovative live music, dining, and wine brand allows players of free-to-play PLAYSTUDIOS games to exchange loyalty points they accumulate in-game for shows, wine, and tasting experiences.

playAWARDS teams with global hospitality brand IHG Hotels & Resorts to offer exclusive rewards, including room packages at eight select IHG hotels in the continental United States. Hotels included in the launch were handpicked by IHG and playAWARDS to meet the desires and interests of players, and include the AAA 4-Diamond and Forbes 4-Star InterContinental Boston; the “Landmark of Southern Luxury” InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta; the iconic 73-story InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, overlooking the city; InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, the “Crown Jewel of Michigan Avenue”; the waterfront InterContinental San Diego; Washington D.C.’s historic 200-year-old The Willard InterContinental; and Manhattan’s EVEN Hotel New York Times Square South, and Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan near Penn Station.

playAWARDS game-based loyalty platform adds a new collection of real-world rewards from San Diego’s Sycuan Casino Resort to its portfolio of acclaimed hospitality partners, including hotel stays, dinner and drink discounts, gaming, and lifestyle experiences that can be enjoyed throughout the resort.

playAWARDS expands the partnership with MGM Resorts International, securing the exclusive social and mobile gaming rights to Ohio’s MGM Northfield Park. The partnership gives players access to rewards at the Cleveland-area gaming and entertainment destination. Northfield Park is the 18th MGM property to join playAWARDS, extending an incredibly successful partnership that began nearly 10 years ago.

As part of its ongoing commitment to expand rewards opportunities for millions of players worldwide, playAWARDS teams up with Peppermill Resorts to offer exclusive rewards at its AAA Four Diamond Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada and Montego Bay Casino and Resort in West Wendover, Nevada. Through the partnership, players have the opportunity to exchange loyalty points for real-world experiences, special offers, and complimentary items at both properties.

PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. announces the completion of the business combination with Acies Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: ACAC, ACACU, ACACW) (“Acies”). The Business Combination was approved at a special meeting of Acies’ shareholders on June 17, 2021 and the combined company changed its name to PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc.

On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PLAYSTUDIOS’ Class A common stock and warrants begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “MYPS” and “MYPSW,” respectively. The move to NASDAQ supercharges PLAYSTUDIOS’ growth efforts, which include leveraging its strengthened capital position and institutional support to launch new products, pursue new acquisition opportunities, and scale up the playAWARDS loyalty program.

playAWARDS adds family-friendly Bowlero to its portfolio of rewards partners. Bowlero is the largest operator of bowling entertainment centers in America, with well appointed venues that include a mix of lounge areas, sports bars, billiard rooms, arcades, laser tag arenas, and more. Their flagship site in New York’s Times Square is famous for its dance floor and mini-golf course.

PLAYSTUDIOS expands into the puzzle game category by acquiring the license to the iconic Tetris® franchise for mobile devices, Apple Arcade, and the Facebook Messenger instant games platform. Tetris® is consistently ranked among the best games of all time, making it one of the most recognizable brands in the growing PLAYSTUDIOS portfolio.

playAWARDS announces a partnership with live music streaming platform Mandolin, offering players exclusive at-home access to an exciting lineup of established and emerging artists. playAWARDS first partnered with the company in October 2021 to stream Grammy-winner John Legend’s “Bigger Love Global Experience.”

PLAYSTUDIOS brings its real-world gamified rewards to Web3 with the launch of its new blockchain division. Built upon the acquisition of WonderBlocks, a strategic alliance with Forte, and its Future Fund, PLAYSTUDIOS’ new playBLOCKS division will extend the company’s leadership in "rewarded play."

PLAYSTUDIOS acquires Portland-based game developer BRAINIUM. The acquisition effectively doubles the size of PLAYSTUDIO's content library and audience network. With the addition of new titles like Solitaire, Mahjong, Sudoku, and a collection of other word and puzzle games, PLAYSTUDIOS continues to broaden its casual game offerings. And with the upcoming integration of the playAWARDS loyalty platform into the BRAINIUM apps, millions of new players will be introduced to the company’s "rewarded play" value proposition.