iGaming Industry Shifts to Watch in 2022
The past year brought significant changes across iGaming. One of the largest was Evolution’s takeover of NetEnt, which also brought Red Tiger, already owned by NetEnt, into its portfolio. Another landmark deal was the £11 million (€13 million) merger between Flutter Entertainment and The Stars Group, described at the time as a deal of the century.
Major operators continued acquiring brands of all sizes, and Evolution was again a prominent player. 888 Holdings expanded by acquiring William Hill’s European operations. Attention turned to a proposed deal that could become the year’s largest: Aristocrat’s bid for Playtech PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Here’s a closer look at the deals that made headlines in 2021, shifting market shares and company valuations in online gambling.
Aristocrat’s Playtech Bid: Takeover Expected in January 2022
One deal began during the year covered and was expected to wrap up in 2022. Playtech PLC had signalled it was looking for a buyer, and Aristocrat Leisure, listed on the Australian stock exchange, made a €3.1 billion offer. The process grew contentious when Hong Kong investment firm Gopher Investments tried to disrupt the bid. Gopher later withdrew, but new industry rumours suggested Chinese investor Hao Liu might bid after buying shares above their original value.
The deal’s outcome rested on a shareholder vote scheduled for January the following year. Aristocrat was then seen as the leading contender and a natural fit given its long history in gambling.
Evolution Acquires Big Time Gaming (BTG) and Megaways Rights
In July, Evolution announced its €220 million acquisition of BTG. The deal included a valuable asset: software providers using the Megaways reel mechanics must display BTG’s logo and pay royalties on slots that feature it. The purchase followed Evolution’s earlier acquisitions of NetEnt and Red Tiger.
Caesars Entertainment Acquires William Hill
The deal followed a long corporate history. Eldorado Resorts combined with Caesars Entertainment Corporation in a cash-and-stock purchase valued at $17 billion (€15 billion). The merged company took the name Caesars Entertainment Inc. It then moved to acquire William Hill in a takeover valued at $ 3.7 billion.
888 Takes Over William Hill’s European Assets
Following the merger described above, Caesars Entertainment Inc began selling assets outside the US. These included land-based casinos and William Hill operations sold to local operators, as well as the auction of William Hill’s European online casino brands, online bookies and retail bookmaker shops. 888 Holdings PLC made the strongest offer, outbidding Apollo Global Management, which had previously lost out to Caesars Entertainment, with a bid of £2.2 billion (€2.6 billion).
Scientific Games Acquires Authentic Gaming’s Live Dealer Brand and Studios
Evolution, Pragmatic Play and Playtech were already major live dealer gaming providers, but the historical review argued there was room for more large operators. It said live dealer play accounted for 30% of bets at online casinos. Scientific Games entered the market by acquiring Authentic Gaming for an undisclosed amount. The review suggested the purchase could reshape competition, noting that Scientific Games generally aimed to lead the markets it entered.
Other 2021 Deals to Watch: Flutter Entertainment Keeps Busy
Other deals that year included Bally’s merger with Gamesys for $2 billion (€1.76 billion), Flutter Entertainment’s acquisition of FanDuel for $4.18 Billion (€3.68 billion), and its purchase of Sisal Group for £1.6 billion (€1.9 billion). In the US, DraftKings acquired Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) for $1.56 billion (€1.3 billion). The review also highlighted MGM’s ongoing attempt to acquire Entain PLC, an iGaming company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, with a focus on reviewing online casinos, assessing slot games and examining player safety. Their work covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms and withdrawal policies. Drawing on practical testing and independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based reviews to help players understand gambling platforms, their features and possible risks.
