The deal will see Delaware North casinos leverage IGT PlaySports technology to power retail and mobile sports betting in West Virginia and retail sports betting in Arkansas.

Brian Hansberry, Delaware North’s Gaming Division president, stated: “Delaware North is confidently partnering with IGT to deliver sports betting to our customers and the many sports fans in West Virginia and Arkansas through world-class IGT PlaySports technology. 

“IGT is a serious sports betting technology provider with a proven commitment to customer success, excellent global reputation, and a reliable, omni-channel sports betting solution for the U.S. market. 

“We believe the IGT PlaySports solution will help us establish Delaware North as a preferred sports betting provider in West Virginia and Arkansas while enabling us to further reward our Lucky North Club members.”

Under the terms of the agreement, IGT will provide Delaware North’s West Virginia casinos, Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes and Wheeling Island Casino-Hotel-Racetrack in Wheeling Island, with retail and mobile sports betting technology. 

As well as this, IGT PlaySports technology will also power retail sports betting at Southland Casino Racing in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president, added: “We’re proud to add Delaware North to our growing list of U.S.-based customers leveraging PlaySports technology to offer reliable, best-in-class sports betting experiences to their patrons.

“Delaware North can count on IGT’s experienced team and trusted technology to help build a sports betting business that can scale for the opportunities of today and the future.”

Aside from Arkansas and West Virginia, IGT PlaySports also provides its sports betting technology across nine other US states: Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Nevada.

Regarding Delaware North, the casino operator also owns gaming properties in New York, Illinois, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, and Australia, in addition to West Virginia and Arkansas.

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In a discussion led by Steve Schrier, chief executive of Sales Tribe, Drago was joined by Yggdrasil CEO Fredrik Elmqvist to outline their joint vision for the new collaboration between the two companies, explaining how they plan to maximise growth opportunities in the growing US igaming market.

This landmark partnership, Drago and Elmqvist highlighted, will give IGT exclusive access to a select number of Yggdrasil’s online slots which can then be rolled out to its network of operators in the US and Canada.

Both CEOs agreed that slot games are more universal than sometimes portrayed, but it is the mechanics which truly help a supplier to stand out from the crowd. For Elmqvist, something which game developers must prioritise is the overall player experience, ensuring that the math and UX for each title is a main focus.

“We have lots of experience in creating high game quality,” said the Yggdrasil CEO. “The games that we produce, however, are more universal. We haven’t developed any games that target a certain market. 

“I would say that certain mechanics are tailored towards certain markets, for example LatAm players, Japanese players and so forth. But from the slots development perspective, it is much more similar than people actually believe.

“Everything is much more about the quality and overall experience for the player. It’s all about creating a sense of excitement which can be distributed cross multiple territorial markets. We are very keen on bringing that excitement to the partnership with Enrico and the IGT team.

“We know it’s going to work because we have friends also in the US market who have provided some stats and feedback. We know what works. There are certain discrepancies and differences between the US and Europe. 

“It’s more like mechanics – certain things that work in Japan might not work in the US. But besides that, it’s a lot of similarities. It is always about the UX. The UX and the math behind the game – that’s what it is all about.”

Drago agreed about the importance of the game mechanics and said the partnership agreement will see a variety of Yggdrasil games launched on the IGT platform during 2022 and an additional set of games planned for the following year. 

He told listeners: “The type of digital content that IGT has developed and launched so far, is mostly from games that were developed for the retail and land-based sector. We have created a formula to transport those retail games into the digital space. This is where we really shine as a business. But clearly, this is not enough as player bases are changing. Players want and need to play different games.

“So Yggdrasil’s games, their style, richness and mechanics are something which are not known in the United States and the Canadian markets. We both strongly believe that this content can be successful. Yggdrasil’s content complements our offering. There is a very powerful rationale and proposition underneath this partnership. 

Making an entry into the North American market is no easy feat, and so securing a strong partnership with IGT appeared to be a natural step for Yggdrasil, Elmqvist told Schrier. 

He said: “I see the developments happening now across the US and North America as a whole, including some provinces in Canada. The European markets have developed,  and we have been part of  the regulatory transformation  that have taken place over the years. I think that as more states open up, the US and Canada will quickly catch up to where we are in Europe. 

“North America is going to be much trickier from a financial and regulatory standpoint, without a doubt. There are pitfalls, but there are also huge opportunities. That’s why I find it so interesting to go forward with the partnership with IGT. 

“I would say that in the same way as IGT has, we have developed multiple games using our own intellectual property. We develop mechanical frameworks and license them to our studios, we also run a third party to develop a network. If you look at our strategy in the United States, it was a very, very deliberate decision to find the best strategy partnership for North America. 

“We were contemplating going into North America on our own for various reasons, which we at the end decided not to do . Instead, we wanted to enter the market with a well-recognized and established regional partner. Of course, we spent time evaluating our prospective partners. We decided that if we can enter into partnership with IGT, there’s going to be a good scale of opportunities for both companies.”

Watch the podcast here.

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Enrico Drago will resign from his current role of CEO of IGT PlayDigital, and Gil Rotem, who is currently IGT PlayDigital President of iGaming, will expand his role to become IGT PlayDigital President and report directly to Vince Sadusky, CEO of IGT.

Enrico Drago commented on the changes: “Over the last five-plus years, IGT PlayDigital has established leadership positions in the global igaming and North American sports betting sectors that will be foundational to the company’s future successes. 

“I thank the entire IGT PlayDigital team for all that we have accomplished in this time, and I look forward to supporting IGT in a new capacity and further helping the Company define its vision and strategy.” 

Marco Drago was also announced to be standing down from his role as a Non-Executive Director of the IGT Board of Directors. He will carry out his remaining term and depart from the Board at the conclusion of the company’s Annual General Meeting on May 14, 2024.

“As Marco Drago prepares to step down from his position on the IGT Board of Directors, I’d like to thank him for his many years of service and his unwavering commitment to driving results and creating value for all IGT stakeholders,” said Marco Sala, IGT Executive Chair of the Board. 

“Enrico Drago joining the Board and leaving his executive leadership position at IGT is a natural evolution that supports the company’s vision for its next era of growth and transformation. Enrico’s value-creation mindset and understanding of global growth opportunities will enhance the Board and align with IGT’s strategic priorities.”

Marco Drago, IGT Non-Executive Director, concluded: “Watching and guiding IGT through its evolution from a collection of companies that started with Lottomatica and GTECH grow into a unified global gaming leader has been very gratifying. 

“We have been fortunate to have a great group of board members and business unit leaders that have helped drive IGT’s growth during this time. I thank them for their contributions and am certain that IGT is positioned for continued growth as we go forward with the bold initiatives we have undertaken.”

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Taking place on November 30 to December 2 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, IGT will showcase its “industry-first” technology which will link its digital Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Triple Gold game with all land-based Wheel of Fortune $1 wide area progressives.

This will result in sharing the entire wide area progressive jackpot liquidity between land and online casinos across New Jersey, whilst providing players “additional choice and convenience” for when and where they want to play. 

“IGT is once again breaking barriers in the digital gaming space with the soon-to-launch US omnichannel Wheel of Fortune linked progressive,” said Enrico Drago, IGT CEO digital & betting. 

“We are combining proven technology with the most successful slot brand of all time to create a powerful jackpot liquidity pool that engages players and delivers life-changing wins for New Jersey residents playing across channels. SBC Summit attendees will be among the first in the US to see how the technology works.”

IGT notes that its technology will also give players in New Jersey the opportunity to vie for the same Wheel of Fortune jackpots that are typically only found in land-based casinos, across all three gaming channels: land-based, mobile and online.

In addition to the debut of the US omnichannel game at the SBC Summit, IGT will also be showing Fortune Coin Boost!, a sequel to the company’s digital game in 2020, Fortune Coin. Other PlayCasino games on display will include Great Bear and MegaJackpots Elephant King.

Moreover, IGT PlaySports will showcase its new CrystalFlex and PeakBarTop Flex cabinets and multigame software offer. These new products include the Game King X content and enable players to watch their favourite sports, place sports wagers, enjoy slots, and play video poker and keno all on the same gaming machine, using the same on-machine funds. 

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As part of the agreement, IGT will provide its PlaySports platform, self-service PlaySports Kiosks and turnkey services. 

“Ute Mountain Casino has big plans for our sportsbooks scheduled to open at the end of August and we are confident that IGT’s PlaySports technology and experienced trading team will help us bring a new level of entertainment to our valued Mountain Rewards players,” said Rick Scheer, Ute Mountain Casino general manager.

“IGT has been a trusted partner of Ute Mountain Casino for many years and we are excited to expand our relationship and differentiate our casino with the introduction of sports betting and personalised betting offers.”

Echoing Scheer, Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president, noted the company’s honour to help the casino “grow” its PlaySports-powered sports betting enterprise “from the ground up”.

Drago added: “Our experienced trading team will ensure Ute Mountain Casino maximises the full potential of the PlaySports platform’s integrated player account management module and create compelling offers and promotions that will help build player loyalty and drive growth. 

“IGT PlaySports has been processing sports wagers in Colorado since the first day of legalised sports betting in the state and we look forward to extending that momentum with Ute Mountain Casino.”

Last week, IGT documented a further expansion of its US sports betting footprint as it powers sports betting at Snoqualmie Casino.

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As part of this agreement, IGT will deliver its proven PlaySports turnkey solution, including its trading advisory services.

Jonathan Cernek, chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, noted: “We’re very excited to be one of the first casinos in Louisiana to secure a sports betting agreement, allowing us to offer our patrons new types of gaming experiences backed by IGT’s reliable sports betting solution.

“IGT’s bundled solution, consisting of its leading sports betting platform and products will allow us to quickly and easily deploy an exceptional localised sports betting programme.”

Echoing the thoughts of Cernek, Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital’s senior vice president, claimed the partnership represents another ‘significant milestone’ for IGT as the company continues to drive US sports betting momentum. 

He continued: “We look forward to helping the casino establish a best-in-class sports betting program, leveraging IGT’s proven technology and services to expand gaming experiences for its patrons.”

The announcement follows ITG’s second installation of the Advantage CMS in Europe last month at the Regency Casino Thessaloniki, which the company hailed as a “pivotal deployment”. 

The property recently took on-board the IGT casino management system, subsequently gaining a suite of compatible bonus, content and convenience systems modules.

Also in June, IGT linked up with Gaming Realms in a licencing agreement which saw the firm agree to produce Slingo games, based on some of the highest-performing slots brands within IGT’s game library.

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As part of the deal, the IGT’s PlaySports platform will power all of FanDuel’s new and existing retail sportsbooks across the US until September 2024. Additionally, FanDuel Group has agreed to offer IGT PlayDigital’s PlayCasino games in states where the online casinos operate.

“IGT’s PlaySports platform has been integral to FanDuel Sportsbook’s expansion in the US, as we currently leverage it to power America’s number one Sportsbook,” said Matt King, FanDuel Group CEO.

“IGT is the strategic partner that we will lean on to help us expand our retail footprint across the US IGT’s PlaySports platform enables us to create an intuitive, technologically driven customer experience at our world-class retail sportsbooks for our customers, while its PlayCasino content enables FanDuel to deliver premium mobile casino entertainment in new and existing markets.”

The multi-year agreement builds on IGT and FanDuel Group’s successful technology partnership that extends across nine US states and includes the FanDuel sportsbook at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, New Jersey, currently the country’s highest volume sportsbook.

Furthermore, the agreement expands the distribution of IGT PlayDigital’s PlayCasino games that span slots, blackjack, roulette, to name a few.  

“IGT’s multi-faceted, multi-year PlaySports platform technology and iGaming content agreement with FanDuel Group pairs the leading content and B2B sports betting provider with one of America’s most respected sports betting operators to propel an already winning partnership to new levels and create an abundance of opportunity for both parties,” said Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president.

“IGT and FanDuel Group are positioned for continued success in the U.S. and we are committed to fueling FanDuel Sportsbooks’ sustained growth through our proven, market-ready platform, player-preferred game content and self-service betting technologies.”

Since 2018, IGT and FanDuel Group have collectively achieved a range of ‘significant’ performance milestones such as; launching FanDuel Retail Sportsbooks in eight US states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, and Mississippi.

Together, the entities also launched online sportsbooks in five US states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana and Colorado and deployed more than 200 IGT PlaySports self-service kiosks at FanDuel sportsbooks across the US.

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The entity held a surprise opening last week and sits adjacent to the tribe’s in development $350m Saracen Casino Resort, which is set to house 2,300 games machines alongside 50 table games when its opens midway through next year.

IGT extends its sports wagering footprint into the state of Arkansas through PlaySports’ deployment at the Annex, located in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas, which debuted after a 100-day build.

Processing retail sports bets through the PlaySports platform and the venue’s kiosks, IGT is also contracted to provide sports betting technology at the larger casino resort when the venue opens.

IGT recently lauded the continued expansion of its sports betting footprint across the US, with Arkansas marking the tenth state of deployment alongside Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Rhode Island and Nevada.

“The market-readiness of the IGT PlaySports solution and the experience of our team enabled IGT to make sports betting a reality at the Saracen Casino Annex on an accelerated timeline,” stressed Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president. 

“Adding Arkansas to the growing list of states with IGT PlaySports deployment was another important milestone that validates IGT’s leadership as a B2B platform provider. We look forward to expanding our relationship with the Quapaw Nation when the Saracen Casino Resort opens next year.”

Opening the Saracen Casino Annex with 300 slot machines and an adjacent bar recently, Carlton Saffa, spokesman for the resort, stated: “This is our surprise for the community. This is our 100-day casino. We started on it 100 days ago and here we are, open for business.

“We made a decision to give a sneak peak to the city. We had intended for it to be a soft opening to folks we traded with, that we’d done business with. But then we decided, you know what, folks are so excited so let’s let them all in.”

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Inking partnerships with numerous casino establishments, IGT’s PlaySports footprint encapsulates in excess of 30 sports wagering venues amid the continued expansion of the activity across the country.

With 13 states currently live with legalised sports wagering, the IGT platform is powering entities across Indiana, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Mississippi, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Nevada.

“We put in the work to ensure that our IGT PlaySports solution was market-ready the day that PASPA was repealed – we hit the ground running last summer and never looked back,” explained Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president. 

“IGT is a serious player in the U.S. sports betting market because we offer a superior product, and we’re uniquely qualified to meet our customers’ needs, timelines and business objectives. 

“There is no better representation of the flexibility and scalability of the IGT PlaySports platform than the diversity of customers and venues that are currently leveraging it to power their sportsbooks.”

In addition to enabling over-the-counter retail sports betting in nine states, IGT has more than 150 self-service kiosks deployed in sportsbooks around the US, and is powering mobile sports wagering in Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Furthermore, the firm has also executed sports betting agreements with customers in Oregon, Arkansas and Illinois, in anticipation of further roll-outs in the not too distant future.

“IGT is quickly penetrating the legal US sports betting market with our PlaySports platform, and enabling many of our customers to create new opportunities for growth and player engagement,” said Nick Khin, IGT chief commercial officer of gaming. 

“IGT’s sports betting footprint that extends across nine states is a testament to the quality and versatility of the PlaySports solution, and our team’s ability to quickly deliver and support the developing US sports betting market.”

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The sports betting entity in Monticello, New York State, titled Sportsbook 360 and due to open on Thursday 5 September, sees Betgenius’ sportsbook trading console be integrated into IGT’s PlaySports platform.

This encapsulates live sports data feeds, price management support for pre-game and in-play odds across all major US and international sports, as well as a bespoke, end-to-end price and risk management advisory service.

Jack Davison, chief commercial officer of Genius Sports Group, the parent company of Betgenius, commented: “We are proud to play a key role in Resorts World Catskills’ new sportsbook offering.

“Utilising Betgenius’ premium sports betting content in sportsbook management, Resorts World Catskills will offer its customers the most extensive and engaging sports betting experience.” 

IGT enables patrons of the property to place pre-match and in-play wagers over the counter or via the venue’s 14 self-service betting kiosks, with the firm now deployed in eight states with New York added to Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Nevada and Mississippi.

“Adding Resorts World Catskills to the growing list of operators leveraging the IGT PlaySports platform reinforces the quality, versatility and market readiness of our omni-channel solution,” noted Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital senior vice president. 

“The continued expansion of IGT PlaySports’ footprint validates that we are serious about sports betting, and our ’50-state solution’ can service a diverse range of IGT customers spanning commercial and tribal casinos, lotteries and racetracks.”

The Resorts World Catskills launch follows the New York State Gaming Commission’s move in June to regulate on-premise sports betting in the US’ fourth most populous state.

Empire Resorts, which owns and operates Resorts World Catskills as well as the nearby Monticello Raceway, recently struck a deal that will see the property be acquired by affiliates of Kien Huat Realty and Genting Malaysia Berhad.

“Resorts World Catskills is excited to partner with Betgenius and IGT PlaySports who are recognised as world leaders in sports betting technology and services. This partnership with sportsbook 360 further positions us as the newest and closest fully integrated gaming resort destination to Manhattan,” concluded Kevin Kline, chief operating officer and general manager of Resorts World Catskills.

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