Industry News
NetEnt acquired casino software provider Red Tiger Gaming
NetEnt has announced plans to acquire online slot provider Red Tiger Gaming Limited (“Red Tiger”) in a deal with an initial purchase price estimated at £200 million, with the possibility of an additional £23 million to be added in 2022 depending on Red Tiger’s future financial performance.
NetEnt was founded in 1996. Today it’s without a doubt the leader in the gaming industry, serving the world’s best online casinos with impressive games.
They have headquarters in Malta, Stockholm, Kiev, Gibraltar, New Jersey, Krakow and Gothenburg, with over 1,000 employees. The company is listed on the NASDAQ Stockholm exchange and are steadily growing every day. Players value Netent games for different reasons. Mostly because they have released more than 200 Games, most of which have amazing graphics and sounds – with licensed branded titles such as The Invisible Man™ and most recently Planet of The Apes™. Some of their latest released slots include The WishMaster™, Grand Spinn Superpot™, Mercy of the Gods™ and many more which you can find the reviews on CasinoRange NetEnt section.
Red Tiger Gaming
On the other hand, Red Tiger Gaming is a smaller company founded in 2014. They managed to grow to a well-known slot’s provider over the last few years. Their operations are based in Malta, Isle of Man and Bulgaria, with about 170 employees. They have been expanding for the last few years, expecting to net over £18 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the year 2019.
The Acquisition
Red Tiger Gaming has been valued at around £223 million in total. The initial purchase consideration is set at £197 million with an additional £23 million to follow up in 2022 on an earn-out basis. It will be very interesting to see how the expected synergies will pan out over the next two years and how this acquisition will benefit NetEnt and its loyal customer base. So far, it’s unknown if the Red Tiger Gaming slots will be rebranded with the NetEnt logo or will they continue to operate as a separate company.
What the officials say
NetEnt’s Chief Executive, Therese Hilman, has commented on the deal and the expected synergies, stating: “I am very pleased to welcome Red Tiger into the NetEnt Group, the acquisition combines two of the leading and most innovative companies in the online gaming industry.” At the same time, Red Tiger’s chief executive also expressed: “This is an exciting new stage of the Red Tiger story, and we are delighted to become part of the NetEnt group. Accessing NetEnt’s unparalleled distribution network and geographic footprint will unlock new opportunities for Red Tiger and will further accelerate our growth.”
All that remains is to see how the acquisition will go and what novelties we can expect from the two companies in the near future.
Industry News
CogniPlay Launches New Social Casino Platform
CogniPlay has launched its new software product, which aims to provide a robust online sweepstakes or social gaming platform to its clients. The system is designed to be modular, allowing customers to tailor their brand and offering to what they believe will give them optimal performance.
The CogniPlay system has several key integrations which help to deliver the product, including games integrations with the likes of Pragmatic Play, BetSoft, Mascot Gaming and many more, giving them 100s of games for their clients. There are other integration options for their customers to pick from too, including affiliate programme software, CRM platforms and associated products, KYC, ID verification, Geo-IP systems, Gamification and customer support.
They also have a very long and extensive development pipeline which will see the product offering develop at pace, giving clients an extensive list of options and USPs, and of course giving players a great user experience as a result.
As well as the platform itself the CogniPlay team, due to their considerable experience, also offer a whole host of managed services, with almost a menu that clients can choose from to fill any gaps in their own skillsets or experience.
CogniPlay’s Chief Executive Officer Allan Turner said: “We are very proud to take the CogniPlay product to market and are excited that people who want to start a new social or sweeps brand can get in touch with us to see what we can do for them, or in fact established brands that are unhappy with their existing provider.
“Our underlying principles are that we want to provide the most flexible platform in the space, to enable our clients to create the product they want to have, not for us to dictate the product to them. The two other main areas of focus are that we want to be the most future-proof product on the market with plans for any regulatory or legal changes that may arise in the future, and that we have all the right safeguards in place to ensure that we look after both our clients and players with our responsible gaming setup. This of course means having the right tech and processes in the key areas of KYC, Geo-IP tech, anti-money laundering, fraud, risk assessment and ID verification.”
Industry News
IGT Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
International Game Technology PLC has reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
“Innovative game, hardware, and systems solutions drove better-than-expected Global Lottery and Gaming & Digital performance in the first quarter. As a result, we are upgrading our full-year 2024 revenue and profit goals, which reflect broad-based momentum across key performance indicators in the balance of the year. We continue to make progress on separating Global Lottery from Gaming & Digital and preparing for the proposed transaction with Everi,” Vince Sadusky, CEO of IGT, said.
Key Highlights:
- Announced Gaming & Digital business to be spun off and combined with Everi Holdings Inc.; transaction expected to close in late 2024/early 2025
- Recognised with top honours at ICE London 2024 awards programmes including “Lottery Product of the Year” and “Best Diversity and Inclusion Employer”
- Received a supply contract extension from the UK National Lottery
- Executed licensing agreement with the Maryland Lottery for IGT’s patented Cash Pop draw-based game
- Mystery of the Lamp named “Top Performing New Premium Game” at 2024 EKG Slot Awards Show
- Awarded contract to provide PeakDual 27 video lottery terminals across Quebec
- Launched iGaming content in Rhode Island
- Achieved AAA MSCI ESG rating, the highest rating possible, and earned a gold medal sustainability rating from EcoVadis.
“We delivered a record organic profit performance in the first quarter, if we exclude Separation & divestiture costs. The Company is operating from a position of strength with historically low net debt leverage, ample liquidity, and manageable near-term debt maturities,” Max Chiara, CFO of IGT, said.
Industry News
eCOGRA Announces Leadership Transition
eCOGRA, the leading Testing, Inspection, and Certification company serving the iGaming industry, announced two changes to its leadership structure.
Following a period of outstanding international growth, which has seen eCOGRA expand to 39 jurisdictional approvals, including most recently Peru and Brazil, as well as establish new offices in Europe and the US, the business announced Will Shuckburgh has been appointed to the newly created role of Group CEO from 1 July 2024. As part of the transition to a fully global business, the Company also announced Shaun McCallaghan, who has been with the Company for 16 years, the last 6 of which have been as CEO, will take on the new board role of Senior Director, Operations and Regulatory Affairs.
Will Shuckburgh brings a proven track record leading customer focused businesses through periods of high growth and international expansion. Will, who joined eCOGRA in January 2024, is set to assume the role of Group CEO, following a 6-month hand over period. He has previously held positions as Managing Director at Nectar, Executive Vice President & Chief Membership Officer at Rakuten, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Invincible Brands, amongst others. In these roles, he successfully designed and executed strategies, to achieve profitable growth across multiple markets where client experience was essential.
Shaun McCallaghan has been a driving force behind eCOGRA’s success in recent years. Shaun’s approach is underscored by hard work, unwavering client loyalty and service, and the building of robust regulatory business relationships. Shaun has played a key role in securing dual accreditations, expanding jurisdictional coverage, diversifying the service offering, and enlarging eCOGRA’s client and staff base, while also successfully extending Testing, Inspection, and Certification services into North and South America. These, amongst many other achievements, have helped eCOGRA continue to grow and support clients in the ever-changing regulatory environment in which they operate.
Shaun now looks forward to taking up his newly formed role of Senior Director, Operations and Regulatory Affairs. This role will focus on ensuring clients will continue to receive the same high quality and reliable services that they have been accustomed to from eCOGRA. Shaun will continue to be a member of the board.
Mark Brooker, the Group Chairman, said: “Will’s appointment brings fresh energy, insight and strategic vision, aligning perfectly with eCOGRA’s commitment to excellence across each of its markets. The changes also reflect eCOGRA’s commitment to stability and innovation, with Shaun continuing to play a key role in the Company’s future success through his new role of Senior Director, Operations and Regulatory Affairs.”
David Cowan, representing the majority shareholder Hanover Investors, commented: “This transition signifies a natural evolution in eCOGRA’s leadership landscape in response to the strong growth of the business. Shaun’s transition enables a more hands-on approach to delivery, ensuring eCOGRA’s expansion maintains the highest standards of service to positively elevate the client journey. Meanwhile, Will Shuckburgh, is a seasoned high-growth CEO with an impressive track record, who brings visionary leadership and transformative abilities to the business. Known for identifying and capitalising on emerging opportunities, Will’s focus on fostering a culture of collaboration, and continuous improvement will elevate eCOGRA’s global presence. Together Will and Shaun will maintain our steadfast commitment to excellence and have the full support of the Board and the Shareholders.”
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