Atari Launches Social Casino Gaming

On Tuesday, games-maker Atari announced that it is launching an online social game called “Atari Jackpots,” which will be a casino-style platform using the firm’s portfolio of titles.

The product will be available on its website, Facebook and Android devices.

Players will be able to gamble (not real money) on vintage Atari titles such as Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede and Missile Command.

Atari was founded in 1972 and has been a leading maker of arcade games for decades.

The games in Atari’s virtual casino will include slots, blackjack, video poker, solitaire, and bingo. More could be rolled out as the platform develops.

“This first release of Atari Jackpots is a step into online casinos, leveraging the rapidly growing interest in social casinos to offer a fun experience,” Fred Chesnais, CEO of Atari, said in a statement. “We wanted to engage rapidly with our loyal fans, get their feedback in order to decide upon the additional features to be released to further improve the Atari Jackpots experience.”

The casino-style versions of the games will utilize virtual currency, like other social games such as the immensely popular Zynga Poker. Customers can play for free, but in order to get the full experience, as firms like to say, real-money purchases must be made.

Atari Jackpots is the first of several upcoming initiatives that Atari is pursuing within the online gambling space. The company is also developing a real-money gaming product, Atari Casino.

That could launch by year’s end.

Atari is rebuilding itself after its U.S. operations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2013. Internet gambling may be the way toward financial success.

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