Scientific Games Corporation has continued recent efforts to expand its digital portfolio with the acquisition of digital iLottery content studio Sideplay Entertainment.
The Sideplay deal comes after Scientific Games announced in late June plans to divest its lottery and sports betting businesses in order to deleverage and provide the resources to further invest in digital.
Three weeks after acquiring Australian slot game company Lightning Box – a move designed to “bolster the company’s in-house studios with even more talented game makers” – Scientific Games said the addition of Sideplay would expand its portfolio of iLottery content and accelerate the global market penetration of its iLottery busines.
The combination of Sideplay’s innovative portfolio of digital games and agile content distribution technology with Scientific Games’ iLottery platforms and digital solutions is expected to increase player engagement and drive further growth of the company’s iLottery solutions in markets around the world, it added.
Sideplay is the primary supplier of digital “eInstant” games to the UK National Lottery, while Scientific Games is already exclusive distributor of Sideplay’s content for iLottery programs in North America, including the Pennsylvania Lottery and Loto-Québec.
“We’re excited to welcome Steve Hickson and the entire Sideplay team to Scientific Games Lottery Group to help us advance our strategy as a growth company delivering the best retail and digital content, platforms and game category services that maximize proceeds for our lottery customers,” said Pat McHugh, Lottery Group Chief Executive for Scientific Games.
“Sideplay’s highly-experienced digital game developers have a proven track record of delivering exceptional iLottery content to market quickly. We have already integrated Sideplay’s digital games into our iLottery platforms and combining their unique approach to game development for Scientific Games’ more than 20 iLottery customers worldwide will accelerate our iLottery offerings for our customers and their players.”
