Game Taco has agreed to acquire WorldWinner, the skill gaming arm of US television channel and games developer Game Show Network.
The deal follows private equity business Platinum Equity recently acquiring a controlling interest in GameTaco.
While terms of the deal were not disclosed, funding both from Platinum and from FanDuel board member David Nathanson helped facilitate the deal.
Nathanson will serve as executive chairman of the new combined business, with GameTaco chief executive Joshua Barrow continuing in his post. Matt Turetzky, general manager of WorldWinner, will continue to oversee the brand under the GameTaco umbrella.
Barrow said WorldWinner has long been an acquisition target.
“Our acquisition of WorldWinner is a watershed moment for Game Taco,” Barrow saif. “David and I have had WorldWinner on our respective radar for years, and with our resources now combined, and with Platinum Equity’s financial and operational backing, we position ourselves to aggressively pursue a much bigger share of the growing, multi-billion dollar skill-based game industry.”
The Boston-based WorldWinner’s titles include games based on the Game Show Network’s Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right properties, as well as the real-money version of popular mobile game Angry Birds.
Game Show Network has also built up a significant social casino business, acquiring studios such as Bingo Bash developer Bitrhymes and London-based Plumbee in recent years.