Scientific Games Launches Free Rounds in NJ
Scientific Games have begun the year with some major changes, including an announcement to provide its free rounds features to its New Jersey partners. The US-based iGaming group have also announced plans to reshuffle its leadership team, while also being chosen by Michigan’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel to provide its sports betting platform.
Scientific Games have begun the year with major announcements, including providing New Jersey players with free spins games on its slots terminals and partnering with a German lottery company. ©Jacqueline Macou/Pixabay
The launch of the free rounds feature will allow New Jersey players to enjoy free spins on slot games created by Scientific Games in-house studios, as well as a selection by a number of third-party brands. It is expected that the feature will benefit customers and the operators by introducing players to new titles they may have missed.
Dylan Slaney, the Senior Vice President of Casino for Scientific Games Digital has stated that “free rounds significantly enhances the gaming experience, putting players first. We’re taking it a step further and allowing players to use their free spins on a number of games across our library from us and from external studios.”
“It’s a great way to empower New Jersey gamers to explore the deep library of content on offer. This aspect of Free Rounds is unrivaled in the industry, and we’re really excited to offer it in a burgeoning iGaming space.”– Dylan Slaney, Senior Vice President of Casino, Scientific Gaming Digital
The initiative will utilize the company’s OpenGaming platform to allow players to easily toggle between different games to try and will further strengthen its ties to New Jersey gaming. According to Ed Andrewes, the CEO of Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel digital gaming arm, the feature is set to cause a major stir with players.
“Free rounds is a huge differentiator in the iGaming space in other markets, and we’re thrilled to now be offering it to our players in NJ. As the first casino in Atlantic City, we always like to be at the cutting edge of any developments”, Slaney said.
Onwards and Upwards for Scientific Gaming
Aside from the free rounds expansion announcement, January has been a big month for the gaming operator. The Las Vegas-based firm recently revealed that it had entered into a five-year contract with German lottery group Baden-Wurttemberg Lotto to provide it with its Symphony gaming systems technology.
The state-owned lottery group is the third largest of Germany’s 16 state lotteries, and generates roughly $1.1 billion in revenues from more than 3,000 licensed retailers. Pat McHugh, the Group Chief Executive of Lottery at Scientific Games, revealed that “Lotto Baden-Württemberg is the first state-owned lottery company in Germany to implement Symphony,” signaling what is a major step for the brand.
In another deal, the company partnered with the tribal-owned FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan to provide sports betting and iGaming to players following the recent legalization of sports and online casino betting in the state.
The casino will incorporate Scientific Gaming’s OpenSports and OpenGaming platforms into its operations. OpenSports is described as a reliable modular sportsbook solution that empowers operators to choose the technologies and services that best benefit their business.
OpenGaming is described as a content aggregation platform and is the same tool that is being utilized in New Jersey for the free rounds offer. Once approved by state and tribal regulators, Scientific Gaming’s portfolio of slot games will launch online for players across the state, with the free rounds feature a possibility further down the line.
According to Kathy George, the CEO at FireKeepers, the casino’s pursuit of achieving a 360-degree entertainment experience will benefit from the partnership with Scientific Games. “We’re thrilled to offer sports betting and iGaming both online and in our upscale property,” George said.
In anticipation of the major year ahead of it, there has been a major reshuffle of the company’s leadership team. Matt Wilson, an accomplished industry leader and former Aristocrat President & Managing Director of the Americas, will join the team as Executive Vice President. Siobhan Lane, another former employee at Aristocrat, has also been hired as Chief Commercial Officer, while Connie James took over the Chief Financial Officer role in early January.
“We have assembled an impressive leadership team that will complement the existing leaders and talent in our business, further strengthening our great organization and enabling our future potential,” said Scientific Games President and CEO Barry Cottle.
“We are committed to making great games and products players and partners love. A strong team of passionate people is the foundation of any great business and will further solidify our position as the world leader in gaming entertainment.”
