As the first days of fall arrive, it's been a manic week in the US iGaming industry. With the start of the new quarter comes a flurry of activity as experienced operators solidify their market share and new players buck out of the game before the final whistle. Without further ado, here's your weekly casino catch-up from Casino Cabbie.
New Casino Announcements and Partnerships
Pennsylvania
NetEnt Forges New Partnership with Wind Creek Casino, Pennsylvania
Wind Creek Casino, Pennsylvania (which launched just last month) is already making big moves to secure its market share in PA; this week announcing a new partnership with multi-award-winning software studio, NetEnt.
The contract between the local casino brand and the world-famous studio brings hundreds of player-loved games (including award-winning and iconic titles like Divine Fortune, Dead or Alive 2, Gonzo’s Quest, and Starburst) to Pennsylvania players at Wind Creek Casino.
What’s more, this move improves the position of both NetEnt and Wind Creek in the local market. Brian Kraft, NetEnt’s commercial vice president for the Americas, said, “The deal underlines our status as a go-to supplier in Pennsylvania both with established operators and emerging brands. […] Given the strong performance of our content with local players, this partnership will no doubt see Wind Creek make a big impact in the online landscape.” So, all in all, lot’s to look forward to for PA Players this week.
Rivers Philadelphia Re-Brands SugarHouse Casino PA
Additionally, hitting the gambling headlines in Pennsylvania this week is Rivers Casino Philly, having completed it’s the takeover of SugarHouse Casino PA, rebranding the site BetRivers. This move has been on the cards since late 2019 when they first announced the takeover, with the elapsed time spent transitioning key assets for the official switch over.
Are you a SugarHouse PA player?
Don’t panic; you’ll still be able to access your casino account and credits to play at the platform, but Rivers Casino now operates it. Hence, the bonuses and loyalty clubs have transitioned to those offered by the Rivers Philadelphia brand.
New Jersey
Goodbye Betfair: New Jersey Sportbook set to Close its Doors to Players
Betfair, New Jersey, has announced that it’s closing its New Jersey Sportsbook from October 1st, permanently. According to Kip Levin, COO of FanDuel, who oversees Betfair’s US operators, the platform “never hit the critical mass needed for it to be viable.” This, twinned with the arrival of the State’s first betting exchange, means that Betfair will no longer operate the New Jersey sportsbook as of next week.
Playtech Announce BetMGM Software Partnership
Last week we reported Playtech’s first move into US gaming markets, forming a partnership with bet365. Well, Playtech has since been hard at work, and this week, announced a further deal to supply BetMGM with their casino suite in NJ.
Under this agreement, Playtech games will be available at leading online casinos, BetMGM, Borgata Online, and Party Casino. Plus, it doesn’t stop there: Playtech has big ambitions for the US according to COO, Shimon Akad; “This strategic deal demonstrates the strength of Playtech’s US proposition and the appeal of our gaming offering in the region as we continue to launch our pipeline of new US licensees.”
West Virginia
NetEnt and BetMGM Set to Take On West Virginia Market
BetMGM is proving its worth as a mover and shakers of the US gambling landscape this week.
Aside from bringing Playtech games to NJ and signing Oscar-winning actor and singer Jamie Foxx for their new advertising campaign, the company has also struck a deal with NetEnt to deliver the studio’s games and products to West Virginia.
BetMGM Casino West Virginia, which launched only last month, will add NetEnt games to the lobby and significantly increase the casino’s size and player appeal! Great news for West Virginia players!
New Game Releases
Valley of Gods 2: Yggdrasil. RTP 96%
Sequel to the highly popular Valley of Gods Slot (play now at Party Casino), Valley of Gods 2 draws players in to revisit the “mythical desert, and unlock its deepest mysteries”, of which there are plenty.
With ways to win that grow with every consecutive win (through the removal of blocker stones), players will spin to unlock lives, second-chance re-spins, multipliers, and wild reels across the paylines of the Egyptian-themed Valley of the Gods 2 Slot.
It is a graphically stunning and intricate game, starting with 240 ways to win and raising to 20160- take a look and watch the trailer video below to get a feel for the gameplay. Bets start from $0.10,, going up to $100 and max prizes are $500,000 in this high volatility new release available at Yggdrasil Casinos.
Slingo Lucky Streak Slot: Slingo. RTP 95%
Slingo has taken US players by storm! Often described as the perfect mix between slots and bingo, Slingo, is the top producer and singular specialist of this type of casino game. Inclusive of Irish theme and traditional arcade soundtrack, Lucky Streak Slot is set on 5x5 reels. To win, players must match at least 2 of the numbers in the main reels, with any of those in 5x1 reel running along the bottom- think of it like matching numbers in bingo, but you are the one spinning the cage, or in this case, reels.
Players start with two lives and each losing spin deducts one, each winning spin adds one. Additionally, each winning spin grants re-spins until there are no more wins, so there’s plenty of opportunity for a Lucky Streak, and you can enjoy supercharged bonus rounds!
Bets start at $0.25 and go up to $25 with a max payout of 200x your stake. Plus, if you run out of lives, you have the option to purchase more. Slingo Lucky Streak is a medium to high volatility slot, and you can find this game at these Casino Cabbie top-rated Slingo Casinos.
Industry News and Events
Michigan Regulators Get Ready to Review Proposed Gambling Rules
As online gaming operators patiently await the green-light to prepare their bids for licenses in MI, the Michigan Gaming Control Board prepares the final review of the newly proposed, state-wide gambling rules.
Since voting to regulate iGaming and sports betting in December 2019, the rules have passed preliminary readings and stakeholder feedback, which will now be considered before the final review by the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearing and Rules. It's great to see that MI legislators are taking such prompt action on the new gambling reforms!
Alrighty, folks, that’s all the news for this week! Don’t forget to check back with us every Friday for your 5 minute lowdown on the biggest gaming stories of the week!