Scientific Games’ online division SG Digital has announced that NetEnt’s content will be available through the supplier’s OpenGaming platform, which will also serve as the exclusive platform for Big Time Gaming content in the US and Canada.
Announced at Scientific Games’ MediaFest press briefing, SG Digital chief executive Jordan Levin said the supplier was “proud” to announce the partnership with slot giant NetEnt.
Levin explained that through the integration to OpenGaming, NetEnt would be able to make titles such as Divine Fortune, Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest available to its operator clients through a single integration, meaning its games would “reach consumer eyeballs very quickly”.
NetEnt chief commercial officer Andy Whitworth added that the deal would be particularly important for the US market, as well as allowing it to take advantage of player engagement features built into the platform, such as jackpots, free-rounds, missions and tournaments.
OpenGaming clients in New Jersey can already access NetEnt games, while plans to expand into Pennsylvania and Michigan – which is set to open its igaming market late this year or early next – a particular target.
“This strategic partnership is highly beneficial for both Scientific Games and NetEnt,” SG Digital senior vice president of gaming Dylan Slaney said. “Together, we’re in a strong position to make further inroads into the US igaming market and deliver outstanding content to more players across multiple states.
“NetEnt’s games need no introduction and we’re very confident that our operating partners in the US will appreciate the high-quality gameplay they offer players,” he continued. “Our vision for OpenGaming has always been an aggregation platform at scale with features that work across multiple studios in every regulated market. We’re looking forward to working with the team at NetEnt. ”
The Big Time Gaming deal, meanwhile, builds on a long-standing partnership between the studio and Scientific Games. SG Digital serve as a preferred partner for BTG in Europe already, and OpenGaming will now serve as the exclusive platform for the studio in the US and Canada.
“They’re one of the best innovators in the digital space at the moment, synonymous with games such as Bonanza, which some would call one of the best igaming titles ever produced,” SG Digital senior vice president of gaming Dylan Slaney said.
Levin added that the deal would help “solidify the strength” of OpenGaming, as well as providing players with “fresh new content that nobody in America has seen yet”.
BTG is already live in New Jersey though OpenGaming, launching titles for Golden Nugget through the platform’s aggregator, Open Gaming System (OGS), in July 2019.
OpenGaming, which combines the OGS solution, player engagement tools and the OpenPlatform player account management solution, was brought to market in October last year.
The announcements follow the supplier’s earlier news that it had replaced GiG as Hard Rock International’s sports betting and igaming partner, a deal Levin said had been “long in the making”.
“This is an extremely exciting and momentous announcement for us,” Levin said.
Hard Rock senior vice president of online gaming and sports betting Kresimir Spajic added: “When started with the launch in the US, the focus was on innovation, which I believe we have managed to do with product differentiations in terms of features such as live slots.
“However, we are turning to something else, which is speed of growth, reliability and scalability, and we feel with Scientific Games, we are getting exactly that. It allows us to be fast, scalable and reliable while continuing to innovate and differentiate in the US.”