LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unikrn, one of the world’s leading esports brands, is proud to announce a partnership with MGM Resorts International to bring live competitive gaming and esports tournaments to LEVEL UP inside MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. In 2018, Unikrn will host tournaments on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Each tournament will offer competitors exciting prizes including cash and UnikoinGold tokens, among others, as well as exclusive experiences at select MGM Resorts properties.

Unikrn has cemented itself as a global leader in esports by bringing tournaments, professional coverage, regulated betting and interactive gaming to esports audiences throughout the years. The company is best-known for its deep roots in the esports community it services, as well as the high-level experiences it provides.

Since its opening in December 2016, LEVEL UP, located between Hakkasan Nightclub and the MGM Grand Race & Sports Book, has changed the way Las Vegas views lounge entertainment. The addition of bi-weekly esports competitions will enhance the diverse offerings within the venue, providing additional interactive opportunities for guests within this skill-based adult playground.

“There's never been a partnership quite like this fusion, and we're pumped to be in the center of it,” said Rahul Sood, CEO Unikrn. “Traditional entertainment destinations have a lot of room to grow in appealing to esports and gaming fans, and MGM Resorts International is leading the way, with Unikrn, by bringing regular esports tournaments to LEVEL UP -- this is thrilling.”

Lovell Walker, executive director of interactive gaming development for MGM Resorts International, said, “LEVEL UP was designed to attract both the next generation of players and current players seeking innovation, making this partnership with Unikrn a great fit within the space. With our commitment to the future of esports and increased focus on enhancing our guests’ entertainment experience, we know Unikrn will be a tremendous partner.”

ABOUT UNIKRN

Established in 2014, Unikrn is leading the world of bookmaking for esports and video games and has become woven into the fabric of the esports community. Their contributions and assets include team ownership, tournament series, multiple original content platforms, sponsored community creators and a group working with casinos to bring in modern gaming audiences. The company’s close relationships with gambling powerhouses such as Tabcorp, Australia’s largest betting company, have positioned them as the definitive bridge between the new world of competitive gaming and the old world of sports bookmakers and casinos.

In 2015, Unikrn raised $10M in venture finance from Ashton Kutcher, Elisabeth Murdoch, Guy O’Seary, Mark Cuban, Shari Redstone, Binary, Hyperspeed, Indicator Ventures, and Tabcorp. Their UnikoinGold Crypto Token which was backed by Alphabit, Blockchain Capital, CoinCircle, ConsenSys, DCG, Pantera and many others recently broke records by surpassing $30,000,000 and became the largest token sale in video games and esports ever.

About MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 27 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The company is expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and MGM COTAI in Macau, and debuting the first international Bellagio branded hotel in Shanghai. The 77,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information, visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.