Changes in the iGaming Landscape for 2022
The previous year brought major changes across iGaming. Among the biggest was Evolution’s acquisition of NetEnt, which also added Red Tiger, already owned by NetEnt, to its portfolio. Another landmark transaction 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 buying brands of varying sizes, with Evolution again prominent. 888 Holdings expanded its business by acquiring William Hill’s European operations. Attention then turned to a proposed deal that could become the year’s biggest: Aristocrat’s bid for Playtech PLC, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Here’s a closer look at the deals that made headlines in 2021 and reshaped market shares and company valuations in online gambling.
Aristocrat’s Playtech Bid: A Takeover Expected in January 2022
One transaction began during the year under review and was expected to close in 2022. Playtech PLC had made clear it was seeking a buyer, and Aristocrat Leisure, listed on the Australian stock exchange, submitted an offer of €3.1 billion. The process became contentious when Hong Kong investment firm Gopher Investments attempted to disrupt the bid. Gopher later withdrew, but fresh industry rumors pointed to Chinese investor Hao Liu as a possible bidder after she bought shares above their original value.
The outcome depended on a shareholder vote scheduled for January of the following year. Aristocrat was then considered the leading contender and an apparent fit given its long experience in gambling.
Evolution Acquires Big Time Gaming (BTG) and Megaways Rights
In July, Evolution announced that it had acquired BTG for €220 million. The purchase included a valuable asset: software providers using the Megaways reel mechanics are required to display BTG’s logo and pay royalties on slots that feature it. The deal followed Evolution’s earlier acquisitions of NetEnt and Red Tiger.
Caesars Entertainment Acquires William Hill
This deal followed a lengthy corporate history. Eldorado Resorts combined with Caesars Entertainment Corporation in a cash-and-stock purchase valued at $17 billion (€15 billion). The resulting company took the name Caesars Entertainment Inc. It then moved to acquire William Hill in a takeover valued at $ 3.7 billion.
888’s Acquisition of 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 William Hill’s European online casino brands, online bookies, and retail bookmaker shops. 888 Holdings PLC submitted 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 names in live dealer gaming, but the source review argued that the sector still had room for other large operators. It reported that live dealer play accounted for 30% of bets made in online casinos. Scientific Games entered the market by acquiring Authentic Gaming for an undisclosed sum. The review suggested the deal could change the competitive landscape, noting that Scientific Games was typically intent on leading the areas it entered.
Other 2021 Deals to Watch: Flutter Entertainment Stays Busy
Other transactions during the 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 Flutter Entertainment’s 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 continuing effort 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, specializing in online casino reviews, slot game analysis, and player safety assessments. Their expertise includes casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms, and withdrawal policies. Combining hands-on reviews with independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based coverage to help players understand gambling platforms, their features, and possible risks.
