With the US election growing ever-nearer, the news is packed full of presidential talk and little else, but don’t worry, this is a politics-free, gaming-only zone. Instead, we’ll be taking a look at all the newest games and the latest US gambling stories of the week!
New Casino Announcements & Partnerships
Hard Rock NJ Launches New Partnership with SG.
Hard Rock has been busy this week, firstly, terminating their current software agreement with Gaming Innovation Group (GiG, the current supplier of online software for Hard Rock) and then signing a new contract with Scientific Games.
The transfer of online services is expected in Q1 of 2021. It means that SG will provide Hard Rock Casino NJ and Hard Rock’s Iowa sportsbook with their OpenGaming and OpenSports technology solutions.
SG’s CEO, Jordan Levin said of the deal, “The Hard Rock brand is instantly recognizable on a global scale and to extend our partnership with them once again is testament to our product development capabilities across iGaming and Sports in the US."
Scientific Gaming Signs Exclusive Partnership With BTG and NetEnt For US Markets.
In another big win this week for SG, the company announced that it will become the supplier of NetEnt and BTG games in the US and Canada via the provider’s OpenGaming Platform. In the case of BTG, this relationship will be exclusive with SG as the sole supplier.
This deal sees NetEnt, BTG, and SG (traditionally competitors) come together to rock the US market. From the moment the deal becomes active, any online casino using SG software will also provide NetEnt and BTG content, which means you can play a fantastic roll-call of games and award-winning titles without switching sites.
What’s more, this partnership will be extremely attractive to online casinos seeking software, as these are 3 of the top US-licensed, game providers and their content will now be provided under one service, SG’s OpenGaming Platform.
New Game Releases
Candy Blasted: High 5 Games. RTP: 95.90%.
High 5 Games are a popular slot provider in the US, and their latest release, Candy Blasted, is set to be an instant success. Filled with sweet treats that will delight players and leave them craving more, this slot is unlike any other.
Set on 10x10 reels, this game focuses on forming winning clusters, not paylines. Once you’ve created a cluster, it will trigger the base game main feature: Racking up riches. All non-winning symbols disappear and are replaced during this feature, potentially adding new symbols to the original cluster or creating a new group and providing the chance to quite literally rack up the riches!
Racking up riches continues until there are no new matching symbols added, upon which the game then payouts the collective total. But that’s not all; if you manage to score 3+ star symbols in any cluster on the reels, it’ll trigger the sugar-sweet free games bonus of this slot that promises even bigger wins.
Dragon Spin Pick ‘N’ Mix: Barcrest. RTP 96%.
Dragon Spin Pick ‘N’ Mix is a medium to high volatility new release from Barcrest. It is a continuation of their 2015 release, Dragon Spin, and offers 20 paylines, 5x3 reels, gorgeous graphics, and 5 fixed jackpots! Plus, players can customize their gameplay by picking which bonus rounds they want active (when the slot starts, you can select 3 out 5 bonus features, including symbol eliminator, fortune eggs, persisting wilds, goliath reels, and expanding wilds).
Spin this slot from $0.01-100 and score max payouts of 2,500x your bet. Plus, the Dragon’s Pot Pix ‘N’ Mix feature provides an additional bonus round where 1 of 5 jackpots can be won, so there’s everything to play for!
This epic new release from Barcrest is a must-play. Find it now at these Barcrest Casinos.
Pyramids of the Nile: Edict (Merkur). RTP 97.05%.
Edict is taking players on a journey back in time this week with their newest release, Pyramids of the Nile. This brand new slot is a fantastic play, harking back to an older video slot style and delivering unbeatable action with up to 100 free spins available!
Following a 5x3 video setup, this slot comes inclusive of 30 paylines, max prizes of 600x your bet level, 10-100 free games, wilds, and bets from $0.30-18, plus an ultra-high RTP of 97.05%.
As Pyramids of the Nile has low bet limits and a lower max prize, it’s well suited to players on a budget and seeking top-class, prize-winning action. Ready to try your luck in Ancient Egypt and hunt down the treasures of the Nile? Then take a look at Party Casino.
Industry Events and News
5Dimes Case Settled with a $46.8m Fine From DOJ.
Coming four years after initial investigations started in 2016, the DOJ and 5Dimes (an offshore, Costa Rica-based betting operator that targeted US customers) have finally come to a settlement, with the DOJ issuing 5Dimes a $46.8m fine and providing a new legal pathway for 5Dimes to enter the US market.
This case is one of the very few where the DOJ has successfully prosecuted an offshore iGaming company for targeting US players without licensing. The ruling can be considered mutually beneficial because it allows 5Dimes to apply for US licensing after the company restructures while allowing the DOJ to close the case and claim the settlement successfully.
Alrighty, that’s it from us guys but don’t forget to take this week’s newest releases for a spin and check in with us next Friday for your latest gambling round-up!