Revenue Expansion Without Expanding the Casino Floor: A Conversation with Richard Sagman on Vi and the Future of Tribal Gaming

Casino operators know constraint well — gaming floors are finite, expansion is expensive. and new game approvals take months or years.

At the same time, guests are spending more time across the property than ever before: in hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, pools, or event spaces. That often generates little to no gaming revenue.

To explore how tribal operators can unlock new revenue without expanding their physical footprint, we recently sat down with Richard Sagman, SVP Product Management, Everi, to discuss Everi’s on-property, reservation-wide mobile gaming solution, Vi, and what it means for the future of Class II gaming.

The revenue problem tribes are trying to solve

Sagman was direct about the challenge facing tribal operators today, particularly as they try to meet the demands of an evolving digital landscape.

“We think tribes should be leaning back into Class II, as there are many positives, from tax benefits to the fact that they don’t have limits on the amount of available machines —   it’s a way to help increase revenues, ultimately,” he said. “Long term, we see the benefit of Everi’s Vi helping transition tribal operators to the digital space, train their staff, get used to digital marketing, and acquire data on their players. It offers a new revenue stream and engagement tool to differentiate, helping drive players to the property instead of to a competitor’s property.”

Historically, mobile gaming solutions promised expansion but often created new problems, such as fragmented loyalty, disconnected payments, and standalone systems that competed with the core casino business instead of strengthening it.

“What's different about Vi is that it's not an iGaming solution that sits separately from a casino as a different business; it’s a fully integrated casino system to expand the gaming floor and customers brand,” Sagman said. “Our integrated loyalty solutions interact directly with the operator’s casino management system, offering a source of truth for all data, specifically when an operator wants to offer individualized promotions and drive gameplay. It helps encourage repeat visitation.”

For tribal operators, Class II gaming changes the equation. With Vi, Class II gaming extends beyond the casino floor into approved areas across tribal land. Guests can play in hotel rooms, food and beverage outlets, pool and spa areas, conference spaces, and during events. With one, integrated, resort-wide wallet, patrons can also manage payments in one place.

“It helps unlock revenue from spaces tribal operators already own, making it easier for tribes to manage their operations, and, for their patrons, it enables a simple way to register for a casino’s loyalty program even before they arrive at the property, as well as deposit, and play Class II games reservation wide,” Sagman said. “Additionally, the integrated digital wallet offers a great entry point to the digital funding space where tribal operators often lack the infrastructure to produce a fully cashless floor.”

Proof this model works

Everi Vi is no longer just a concept. The Muscogee Nation recently launched Vi, drawing attention as the first Class II on-property, reservation-wide, real-money mobile gaming solution. The industry-first technology combines Everi Digital Class II Games, CashClub Wallet, Everi Compliance and Loyalty Products to extend gameplay beyond casino floor within the historic boundaries of the Muscogee Nation Reservation

Industry suppliers have attempted to produce a similar product to Vi in the past, but that resulted in funding friction and a lack of true content depth.

“What we have in our Everi Vi app is games that are already proven on the casino floor and in the iGaming space, we're just bringing them to Class II mobile,” Sagman said. “With patrons quick to adopt digital payment methods outside of the gaming space, players now expect a seamless experience. From an operator standpoint, the integrated loyalty system, digital wallet, and compliance tools can help manage the resort and offer gaming all in one.”

Players can fund play seamlessly, earn loyalty points in real time, and be a part of a cohesive ecosystem across mobile and reservation-wide gaming.

“For operators, that means one source of truth,” Sagman said. “An operator's brick-and-mortar player tracking and loyalty systems are the source for land-based and mobile gameplay.”

Revenue without replacement

A key point Sagman emphasized is that Vi is not designed to cannibalize slot play – early results from the live implementation show no cannibalization. Rather, it helps increase time spent on device interacting with the operator’s brand and keeps guests engaged during moments that were previously non-gaming related.

“We're trying to move money around the reservation and encourage players to spend time at the resort, engaged with the operator’s digital products,” he said. “Vi can be anywhere that a tribal council approves on reservation land; even if they have a small resort, a player can go from the casino floor across to their hotel room, a golf course, exhibition halls, swimming pools, spas, etc. It emphasizes engagement for players across the reservation where they can interact with the operator’s brand on a deeper level.”

A long-term digital strategy for tribes

Beyond near-term goals, Sagman views Vi as a strategic, long-term investment. Revenue growth no longer requires physical gaming floor expansion or a massive expense to scale up technological infrastructure.

“Tribes think in generations, not quarters,” he said. “Vi helps tribes build digital capability, understand player behavior, and prepare for future regulatory changes while maintaining control of data and loyalty. It’s a revenue engine today and a foundation for tomorrow.”

Vi allows tribal operators to unlock new gaming revenue by extending Class II play across their property, on their terms, within their land, and inside their existing ecosystem.

If you're interested in learning more about Vi, the Company's cashless suite, jackpot processing, and/or mobile solutions, reach out to an Everi sales professional today!