Changes in the iGaming landscape for 2022
The previous year brought major shifts across iGaming. Among the biggest was Evolution’s takeover of NetEnt, which also brought Red Tiger, already owned by NetEnt, into 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.
Large operators continued buying brands of different sizes, with Evolution again prominent in the activity. 888 Holdings widened its business by acquiring William Hill’s European operations. Attention now centres on a proposed transaction that could become the year’s biggest: Aristocrat’s bid for Playtech PLC, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Here is a closer look at the deals that drew attention 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 conclude in 2022. Playtech PLC had made clear it was seeking a buyer, and Aristocrat Leisure, listed on the Australian stock exchange, submitted a €3.1 billion offer. The process became contentious when Hong Kong investment firm Gopher Investments attempted to disrupt the bid. Gopher later withdrew, but fresh industry rumours 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 next year. Aristocrat was then considered the leading contender and an apparent fit, given its long-standing experience in gambling.
Evolution Buys Big Time Gaming (BTG) and Megaways Rights
In July, Evolution announced it had acquired BTG for €220 million. The purchase brought a valuable asset: software providers using the Megaways reel mechanics are required to show BTG’s logo and pay royalties on slots featuring it. The addition followed Evolution’s earlier purchases of NetEnt and Red Tiger.
Caesars Entertainment Acquires William Hill
This transaction followed a long corporate history. Eldorado Resorts combined with Caesars Entertainment Corporation in a cash-and-stock purchase valued at $17 billion (€15 billion). The resulting company adopted the name Caesars Entertainment Inc. It then moved to acquire William Hill in a takeover valued at $ 3.7 billion.
888’s Takeover of William Hill’s European Assets
After the merger described above, Caesars Entertainment Inc began disposing of assets outside the US. This included land-based casinos and William Hill operations sold to local operators, as well as the auction of 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 more large operators. It reported that live dealer play accounted for 30% of bets made in online casinos. Scientific Games entered the field by acquiring Authentic Gaming for an undisclosed sum. The review suggested this might alter 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 flagged MGM’s ongoing effort to acquire Entain PLC, an iGaming company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
With 12+ years of experience in the iGaming industry, Evan specializes in reviewing online casinos, analyzing slot games, and evaluating player safety. Their expertise covers casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus conditions, and withdrawal policies. Through hands-on testing and independent research, Evan delivers transparent, fact-based reviews to help players better understand gambling platforms, their features, and potential risks.
