Big news for this week for North American online casino players and operators! iGaming software giant International Game Technology (IGT) and Yggdrasil have signed off on a distributor deal that will see a selection of the studio’s top games featured in IGT’s PlayCasino portfolio. The agreement represents Yggdrasil’s first move in the North American market. It is a significant agreement for Yggdrasil as IGT is one of the most prominent players in the American market, rivaled only by Scientific Games.
Yggdrasil games are set to go live at IGT casinos by December 2021.
How Big is the North American Market?
- The USA iGaming market was valued at USD 2,178.29 million in 2020.
- There are currently six iGaming states New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, and Connecticut.
- Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing market.
- Moving North, there are around 100 options for online casino Canada, and the total gambling market is worth $15 billion, with approximately $3 billion attributed to the iGaming sector.
- In the second half of 2021, the US market has seen many new entrants, including casino software providers and operators.
What the Deal Means for the Market: Entry to the Whole of the USA
The agreement offers exposure for Yggdrasil as IGT is featured at every Canadian and USA online casino USA while increasing IGTs North American value proposition by adding hit games to its portfolio.
“Partnering with high-performing game developers such as Yggdrasil Gaming is a pillar of IGT PlayDigital’s growth strategy, and an additional differentiator of the IGT PlayCasino value proposition [the studio’s] artistic talents, passion for innovation and commitment to quality and performance shine through in all their games, and we believe Yggdrasil games will complement our player-favorite IGT PlayCasino games.” – Enrico Drago, IGT CEO Digital & Betting.
Unlike most operators, who go it alone and seek individual state-by-state licensing, Yggdrasil has hit a home run, entering all US markets (and a significant number of Canadian sites) simultaneously through IGT’s casino and licensing network.
“Yggdrasil continues to deliver on its growth strategy, and the U.S. and Canada are key territories for driving continued, sustainable long-term growth, and shareholder value. We are delighted to partner up with IGT, the world’s leading gaming supplier, who will have exclusive territorial distribution rights for a selected number of our best-in-class game titles.” – Fredrik Elmqvist, Yggdrasil CEO
What Games Will Be Available?
Neither software provider has let much slip regarding which games will be added to IGT’s PlayCasino portfolio, but you can bet on the fact that it’ll be the hottest titles and player favorites. These are likely to include top-performing titles like Vikings Go Wild, Valley of the Gods, and Cazino Zeppelin, along with many more.
If you’re a US/CAN player who loves modern, highly stylized slots, you’re going to love Yggdrasil games. What’s more, you only need to wait until December to play.
Who is IGT?
International Game Technology is one of the global leaders of gaming, both land-based and online. Established in 1975 on the Vegas Strip, the company has provided top-class gaming to players worldwide for several decades. It is multi-awarding winning, with accolades including Casino Supplier of the Year and Slot Provider of the Year for 2020-21.
The PlayCasino portfolio offers over 1000 casino games, which Yggdrasil now adds to and includes slots and tables. This provider has established local and licensing agreements in over 100 countries worldwide and employs over 11,000. In the USA, IGT has a significant presence and is licensed in every iGaming state. It is the go-to choice for most operators. You can find out more about IGT games and IGT Casinos via our online casino guides.
Who is Yggdrasil Gaming?
Yggdrasil is a younger studio, and this shows in the game that they make. Formed as a split-off from NetEnt, it’s a Swedish-born studio that first established itself in 2013. With just shy of a decade’s experience, this developer has created around 150 slot titles, and each is a hit! These guys know how to make sublime slots, and all the studio’s games come with cutting-edge graphics, immersive themes, and exciting gameplay.
This software is a popular choice for operators across Europe, but until now, they hadn’t made moves on the Americas, most likely due to the studio’s smaller size. Forming a deal with a much larger distributor is a deft move to instantly leverage market and product exposure, especially when considering the size and complexity of the American markets.
Discover more about Yggdrasil casinos via our dedicated CasinoTop10 guide.
Key Article Take-Aways
- Yggdrasil and IGT have signed a multi-year distributor deal.
- The selected games are expected to go live in North American markets from December 2021.
- The move is Yggdrasil’s first entry into the North American market and strengthens International Game Technology’s value proposition in the US and Canada.
References
PR News Wire, 2021
Yahoo, 2021
Seeking Alpha, 2021
Mordor Intelligence, 2021
