Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

International Game Technology PLC announced that it is the first gaming industry supplier to receive the Internet Compliance Assessment Programme (iCAP) Ready accreditation for its iLottery operations from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Based on the original iCAP designed for gaming operators, iCAP Ready is a U.S. accreditation programme designed for gaming suppliers who are committed to upholding responsible gaming standards across their products and services. Supported by the NCPG, iCAP Ready utilises best practices from the Internet Responsible Gambling Standards to ensure suppliers implement and maintain responsible gambling policies, provide effective staff training and offer comprehensive player support tools.

Light & Wonder Inc. has announced Simon Johnson as the new CEO of the Company’s iGaming business. Simon has been with Light & Wonder since 2017 and has been instrumental in driving the international commercial efforts of the Gaming business in his most recent role as Senior Vice President and International Managing Director. As part of his new role, Simon will report directly into Light & Wonder President and CEO Matt Wilson and join the Company’s Executive Leadership Team.

Las Vegas sports betting venture Circa Sports awarded $20,266,000 in prizes to the winners of its professional football contests, Circa Survivor and Circa Million VI. Highlights of the winnings included the largest Circa Survivor pool in contest history of $14.26 million. This was split equally among C3 Picks, DREAM STAKES, MEATBALL BROTHERS, PUMBAPACK9, TY1823, VODKA JOHNNY, WHATEVERYALLWANT and Whiskey Business. The $1 million Circa Million VI prize went to Team BP.

Partnerships

ESPN and PENN Entertainment announced that 10 additional retail sportsbooks at key PENN properties will be rebranded to “ESPN BET Sportsbook” in early 2025 (subject to all regulatory approvals), increasing the total number of ESPN BET branded sportsbooks at PENN properties to 19. The new ESPN BET locations will serve customers across Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana and West Virginia under PENN’s popular Hollywood and Ameristar Casino brands.

The Ottawa Black Bears announced an extensive partnership agreement with PowerPlay Online Sportsbook and Casino that will see the company’s logo featured on the club’s home and away jerseys. In addition to the jersey partnership, PowerPlay will also have branding elements inside the goal crease, behind the bench, on the LED display ring and along the rinkboards for Black Bears home games at Canadian Tire Centre. As part of the deal, PowerPlay also becomes the exclusive sportsbook and online casino partner for the Ottawa Black Bears.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, announced a multi-year partnership naming Cloudbet as the official and exclusive Sports Betting and Online Casino Partner of the PFL. This new collaboration will bring crypto-powered betting to PFL events, starting with the highly anticipated Road to Dubai Champions Series on January 25. Cloudbet has been a trusted name in the cryptocurrency world for over a decade. With this partnership, they will bring a whole new way to engage with MMA fans by combining their expertise in crypto sports betting with PFL’s innovative approach to fighting.

Arpit Khandelwal, Founder & Managing Partner of Plutus Wealth Management LLP and Mithun Sacheti, tech entrepreneur and Founder of Caratlane, have announced a strategic partnership with Nazara Technologies Limited and its promoters, Vikash & Nitish Mittersain. The transaction involves a significant investment of INR 495 crores by Axana Estates LLP, with the stake increase triggering a mandatory open offer and reinforcing the collective vision of accelerating Nazara in its path to becoming a global leader in gaming and digital entertainment.

Key Details of the Transaction

1. Preferential Issue: Axana Estates LLP, whose designated partners include Arpit Khandelwal and Mithun Sacheti, will infuse INR 495 crores into the Company to acquire ~5.40% stake through a preferential issue of equity shares at a price of INR 990 per share. This transaction has been approved by the Company’s board and is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The issued shares will comply with SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018, including lock-in requirements.
2. Open Offer: Plutus Wealth Management LLP and Axana Estates LLP, along with PACs, will launch a public open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake in Nazara, as per SEBI (SAST) Regulations, 2011. This is subject to regulatory approvals and completion of the open offer process.
3. Post-Transaction Shareholding: Assuming full acceptance of the open offer, the total shareholding of Acquirers and PACs, along with the existing promoters (Vikash & Nitish Mittersain) and promoter group, is expected to be ~61.5% of the Company.

Strategic Benefits and Leadership Continuity

This partnership brings together complementary expertise and resources, creating a powerful alliance enabling Nazara to access new markets, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and enhance operational efficiencies.

Nazara will continue to operate independently under the leadership of its Chairman & Managing Director Vikash Mittersain along with Jt. Managing Director & CEO Nitish Mittersain.

The investment will be directed toward accelerating organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and expansion into new markets.

Nitish Mittersain, Jt. Managing Director and CEO of Nazara Technologies, said: “Nazara is set for global growth, and we are excited to partner with Arpit & Mithun, who share our vision. Their belief in our potential and expertise will help us scale new heights, positioning Nazara as a unique global gaming company from India.”

Arpit Khandelwal, Founder & Managing Partner of Plutus Wealth Management LLP, added: “We are excited to deepen our investment in Nazara, a company with a proven track record of capitalizing on global gaming trends. This consolidation of ownership will provide growth capital and bring strategic expertise to support Nazara, its promoters & team in the journey of becoming a world-leading gaming and entertainment brand.”

Mithun Sacheti, Designated Partner of Axana Estates LLP & Founder of Caratlane said:
“Gaming is the new consumer play, blending entertainment, technology, and community to create unmatched engagement. It has become a powerful platform to connect with audiences and shape consumer behaviour in real time. We are thrilled to partner with Nazara to unlock its immense potential and drive global growth and look forward to unlocking the Company’s full potential in collaboration with its exceptional management team.”

In addition to this strategic partnership, Nazara is bolstering its mobile gaming portfolio with the acquisition of two popular game IPs from ZeptoLab.

The Nazara board today approved the acquisition of the intellectual property rights of two popular mobile gaming titles, ‘CATS: Crash Arena’ and ‘King of Thieves’ from Barcelona-based game developer and publisher ZeptoLab for a total consideration of USD 7.7 million (~INR 67 cr). Through this acquisition, Nazara will own the game IPs and will also publish the games under the “Nazara Publishing” banner further strengthening its position in the global mobile gaming market.

Safer Gambling charities Gordon Moody (€30,000), Fejar (€25,000) and FES (€10,000) have been named as the beneficiaries of the charity fund generated by the sponsors of the ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone.

The €65,000 fund was the result of generous donations from leading brands comprising Cirsa, Grupo Orenes, Betsson Group, Flutter, Acordjoc, Alea, Novomatic, Playtech, and Novomatic Spain and takes the total donated at ICE to €385,000.

Ewa Bakun, Clarion Gaming’s Director of Industry Insight said: “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors I am delighted to be able to announce what are significant five-figure donations to the three charities all of which do outstanding work in the safer gambling space.

“Player Protection is a fundamental objective shared by everyone associated with the Sustainable Gambling Zone. The overarching objective of the Sustainable Gambling Zone is to be at the vanguard of initiatives to help develop healthy play from the outset of the player journey.

“This includes the incorporation of safer gambling considerations from the very start rather than as just a compliance requirement. The goal is to create a more sustainable business in which players continue to enjoy their gambling entertainment experience but where the small proportion who are at risk of developing problems are proactively identified and assisted by operators.”

Clarion Gaming was the first event organiser to embrace safer gambling when it introduced the ICE Consumer Protection Zone seven years ago which went on to establish a template for other events to follow.

Featuring a total of 26 safer gambling bodies, including Spanish organisations ASENCAS and FEJAR, the SGZ will also host three days of educational content dedicated to consumer protection and ESG.

For more information on the world’s biggest gaming technology event and to register: icegaming.com