UNLV and Caesars Create Black Fire Innovation

UNLV and Caesars Entertainment today announced the establishment of “Black Fire Innovation,” a technology hub that creates and tests new gaming and hospitality concepts, including simulated hotel rooms, casino floors and sportsbooks, e-sports arenas, and virtual reality facilities in 43,000 square feet of innovation space. Black Fire Innovation will bring together the university’s academic leaders and Caesars Entertainment, one of the world’s most diversified casino entertainment providers, in one space to develop the industry by developing current trends in hospitality and gaming technology. The complex is expected to open in late 2019.

Black Fire Innovation will be headquartered in the state-of-the-art research building at UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park, located southwest of Las Vegas. Scheduled to open later this year, UNLV, Caesars, and partners will be able to develop and test new concepts using a simulated integrated resort environment. It will leverage elements from simulated hotel rooms, casino floors with slots and table games, presentation/exhibition spaces, sportsbooks, esports arenas, and virtual reality facilities to conduct on-demand testing of new ideas and products and provide a place to showcase innovation to current and potential industry partners.

“This collaboration with Caesars Entertainment will strengthen UNLV’s role as a research and innovation leader and further elevate Las Vegas to the global intellectual capital for gaming and hospitality,” said UNLV President Marta Menha. “Collaborations such as Black Fire Innovation provide students with unparalleled access to professionals at the forefront of the industry. This is a unique Las Vegas experience that UNLV is proud to offer.” 온라인경마

Research within the Black Fire Innovation Space will focus on new technologies that can include blockchain, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality and interdisciplinary collaboration across areas such as architecture, psychology, and art. In addition, participating startups, researchers, and partners will have the opportunity to investigate how these new technologies change the way resorts approach games, sports betting, and social space, appealing to new audiences.

“We intend to accelerate innovation in a way that is truly unprecedented in gaming and hospitality, bringing together leading researchers and industry professionals in a unique collaborative environment,” said Les Otolenghi, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Caesars Entertainment. “Through this technology hub, Black Fire Innovation is designed to spur the creativity and entrepreneurship that will shape the future of our industry for many years to come.”

Although the space will be occupied by students and experts from UNLV’s research and economic development department and Caesars Entertainment, Black Fire Innovation is also an academic incubator available to private industry partners who want to develop their research and testing concepts. The space is expected to foster new personnel who can excel in rapidly evolving industries, while also creating a collaborative research environment that will spark strategic partnerships and boost student learning and entrepreneurship.

Black Fire Innovation will be located within the four-story, 111,000-square-foot innovation building of the UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park in the master plan under development. The park, a partnership between UNLV, the UNLV Research Foundation and the Gardner Company, will serve as a catalyst for integrating business, research, and technology and advancing economic development efforts throughout Southern Nevada.