MAGIC MEETS THE FELT
Penn & Teller Launch First-Ever Celebrity Table Game
By Lisa Robertson-Dziedzic
March 3 marked the magical debut of Penn & Teller Casino Monte at Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, an exciting new table game and the first-ever celebrity-branded casino game of its kind. Developed by boutique game design studio Adventura Gaming in collaboration with legendary illusionists Penn & Teller, this groundbreaking game combines world-class entertainment with innovative gameplay, offering a fresh and engaging experience on the casino floor.
In Penn & Teller Casino Monte, the objective is simple: pick the highest card. Players place their wager on one of three positions—Penn, the ampersand (&), or Teller—betting on which spot will receive the highest card. The dealer rolls a die to determine which position is dealt first: a roll of 1 or 2 deals to Penn, 3 or 4 to the ampersand, and 5 or 6 to Teller. The remaining two cards are dealt from left to right. Once all three cards are revealed, the highest card wins. Aces are high, deuces are low, and optional side bets—such as the Full Monte—add extra excitement and chances to win. With its fast pace and easy-to-learn rules, the game delivers a fun and thrilling new twist on traditional table games.
To celebrate the official launch, Penn & Teller joined Adventura Gaming executives and Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas leadership for an exclusive media event at the property. The event featured appearances by Penn, Teller, Adventura Gaming co-founders Cinnamon Booth and David Anthony, and Patrick Miller, president and CEO of Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, along with live game demonstrations and magical trick performances by the iconic duo. The debut of Penn & Teller Casino Monte marks the beginning of a new era in branded gaming—where legendary personalities meet immersive casino play. Casino Player had the opportunity to speak with Adventura Gaming’s co-founders, David Anthony and Cinnamon Booth, about the inspiration and innovation behind this exciting new game.
CP: What inspired the collaboration between Adventura Gaming and Penn & Teller to create Penn & Teller Casino Monte, and what makes this table game unique?
AG: We were reminiscing about that super iconic Run-D.M.C. “It’s Tricky” video, where Penn & Teller played these sneaky card tricksters. We thought, “their card tricks are legendary! They’d be perfect to partner with.” Plus, we wanted to bring something totally new and interesting to help attract more players, and with a celebrity-branded game—we thought that had the potential to bring fresh excitement to the casino floor!
How has Penn & Teller’s Rio residency influenced Penn & Teller Casino Monte, and what does launching it there mean?
Even though the “It’s Tricky” video was part of the spark, Penn & Teller performing at Rio made that property feel like the perfect fit and an ideal launching-off point. It’s like bringing the game home.
What specific role did they play in the game’s development?
Penn & Teller saw an early version of the game mechanics and helped a lot with the design, look and feel. Of course they’re a huge part of the branding and they have been great collaborating with us to promote it, which has been a really fun part of getting the word out.
How does the game incorporate Penn & Teller’s signature style of magic and entertainment into the gameplay experience?
It’s all about the energy! We’re tapping into their history with card tricks and their signature blend of mischief and entertainment. The game has that fun, fast-paced playful feel that they’re known for.
Can you walk us through how Penn & Teller Casino Monte is played and what sets it apart from traditional table games?
It’s actually pretty simple to learn, and maybe not so easy to master. The basic bet is on which of three face-down community cards will be highest. Then, a die roll randomly determines which of the three cards the dealer turns over. At that point, with that new added information, a player can raise their bet up to 3X, or just check and leave their original bet. If there’s a tie for the highest card, everyone who bet those cards wins. And if three of a kind is dealt, not only is everyone a winner, but the original bet pays 3 to 1. And there’s also a side bet where you can win big on poker hands. It’s got a few twists to keep things exciting!
What was the biggest challenge in developing Penn & Teller Casino Monte, and how did you ensure the game remains engaging for both seasoned players and newcomers?
Receiving all of the approvals and making sure everything was just right took time. We wanted to make it easy to learn but still fun for seasoned players. That’s why we added those extra elements, and knowing that Penn feels it’s easy to learn helps too!
The Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas has been undergoing a massive renovation with exciting new additions to the property. What does it mean to have Penn & Teller Casino Monte debut on the casino floor during this transformation?
The reimagination happening at Rio is quite spectacular, and our game is part of that revitalized atmosphere! There is this fun social aspect to table games unlike anything else in the casino that we just love, and we want to bring some of the “new game” energy to the new Rio.
They’re introducing vibrant, engaging new offerings, and we’re thrilled that they’ve allowed our game to be a part of that.
What has been the response from players so far, and are there any plans to expand Penn & Teller Casino Monte to other casinos in the future?
Even though we’re just launching, we’ve been getting an enthusiastic response from the early players, which has been extremely satisfying. We’re already getting interest from other casinos and that’s a nice validation that the game has legs. We’re also in the early stages of figuring out a digital version, which we hope will add a whole different dimension to the concept.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Adventura Gaming? Are there any other celebrity collaborations or innovative game concepts in the works?
As a company, Adventura is focused on bringing the excitement of celebrity and brand collaborations to casino games, and we have a pipeline of games in various stages of development. Now that Penn & Teller Casino Monte is out in the wild, we’re anxious to hear from players about their experience with it to help craft our future releases.
