Bally’s Interactive to debut F2P component for revamped Live at the Bike poker stream
Online gaming operator rolling out immersive, second-screen viewing experience for return of popular event
Bally’s Interactive is pulling out all the stops for the return of the Live at the Bike (LATB) poker stream on April 30, highlighted by a free-to-play (F2P) game that will allow viewers to take part in the action as it plays out at the table.
The facelift for LATB has been underway since Bally’s Interactive acquired the hit poker show in 2021, rebranding it to Bally’s Presents Live at The Bike.
Details of the F2P component are not known, but the gamification will likely involve viewers having the opportunity to make predictions on aspects like player-related outcomes and pot sizes throughout the competition.
“We are excited to take a poker pioneer and elevate its content through gamification and second-screen experiences,” said Bally’s Interactive North America COO Adi Dhandhania.
“Live at The Bike originally made its name by making the sport more entertaining and accessible to all types of poker enthusiasts. Bally’s aims to continue that mission and bring a whole new audience to the stream.”
In addition to the new immersive element of the show, Bally’s is also rolling out a number of upgrades on the production side, including a new set, lighting and 4K cameras.
Those enhancements will be complemented by improved audio, handheld camera operators to better capture the action, and a new commentator booth.
“Re-imagining LATB and bringing it up to television broadcast standards was at the forefront of our plans from the moment we partnered with Bally’s,” executive producer Houston Curtis said.
“In addition to streaming on our site LIVEattheBike.com, YouTube, Twitch and Facebook live, we have immediate plans to expand our distribution footprint to television and beyond.”
Since launching in 2005, LATB has ranked among the most popular poker streams in the space, amassing more than 100 million views on YouTube.