IGT has widened the reach of its PlaySports sportsbook platform by agreeing to supply Santa Star Casino Hotel through a deal with the Pueblo of Santa Ana tribe.
Penning a “multi-year agreement” with the tribe, the deal marks IGT’s entry into the sports betting market of New Mexico, as it continues to roll out its sportsbook platform across the US.
“IGT offers a scalable and reliable turnkey sports betting solution that Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel deployed to elevate the performance and appeal of our sportsbook,” said John Cirrincione, Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel CEO.
“IGT’s partnership and proven PlaySports platform enable us to provide our casino patrons with premium sports betting options.”
Under the terms of the agreement, IGT will supply the casino with its IGT PlaySports platform, as well as self-service betting kiosks, and trading advisory services. This has been implemented in replacement of a competitor’s technology and services.
Sports betting has become an increased focus for the global gaming and lottery company in recent years, as it witnesses its lottery unit go through a period of stagnating results.
IGT’s 2022 gaming revenue came in at over five times growth on a yearly basis, hitting $1.4bn for the last calendar year. This is in contrast to the lottery unit which posted a yearly decline in revenue of 8%, signaling the shifting focus of the global brand.
Vince Sadusky, CEO of IGT, recently told investors: “Important strategic work executed over the last few years has transformed IGT into a company with higher growth prospects, a better profit profile, and a solid path to delivering on our long-term goals. It has also enabled record capital returns to shareholders in 2022. We enter 2023 from a position of strength with good momentum across business segments.”
This deal with Santa Star Casino does not represent the first expansion of PlaySports that IGT has made in 2023.
The firm has agreed to expand PlaySports by penning agreements with Treasure Bay Casino in Mississippi as well as powering Betfred’s venture in Las Vegas at the British sportsbooks’ retail unit at the Virgin Hotel and Casino.
IGT now deploys its PlaySports technology at over 80 gaming venues in the US and Canada.
“Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel knew that adding sports betting would enhance the gaming experiences available to its patrons when it opened its sportsbook several years ago and we are thrilled that the tribe has decided to upgrade its offering by partnering with IGT,” noted Joe Asher, IGT President of Sports Betting.
“IGT is committed to leveraging our vast experience powering sports betting at tribal casinos and our world-class betting products and services to help Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel achieve maximum sportsbook growth.”
Recently, Asher received federal recognition, as President Joe Biden named IGT’s sports betting lead as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
