Scientific Games Monday announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the digital content provider Sideplay Entertainment. The agreement will expand Scientific Games’ portfolio of iLottery and eInstant content.
Through the acquisition, the Las Vegas-based company expects to expand its share in digital lottery markets while bringing Sideplay’s library of content to iLottery programs around the globe.
“Sideplay’s highly-experienced digital game developers have a proven track record of delivering exceptional iLottery content to market quickly,” said Scientific Games Lottery Group Chief Executive Pat McHugh in a statement. “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.”
Scientific Games launched the first digital instant game in the U.S. in 2014 and is the exclusive distributor of Sideplay’s content for iLottery programs in North America, including the Pennsylvania Lottery and Loto-Québec.
Sideplay, headquartered in the Channel Islands, supplies digital eInstant games to the U.K. National Lottery. Since 2003, Sideplay has launched more than 270 instant win games for lottery and gambling operators around the world. Those games have been played over 100 million times, producing meaningful revenue for Sideplay’s customers.
As part of the agreement, Sideplay Founder and Director Steve Hickson and Sideplay employees will join Scientific Games Lottery.
“All of us at Sideplay are thrilled to be joining forces with Scientific Games Lottery Group, one of the world’s leading lottery suppliers,” said Hickson in a statement. “Our goal has always been to be the best at what we do, and this transaction shows that we have in fact achieved that level of success. We are excited to leverage Scientific Games’ global lottery footprint and create the future of iLottery together.”
