Scientific Games set to acquire instant games studio Sideplay to boost iLottery content

Scientific Games Corporation announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement to acquire Sideplay Entertainment, a digital "eInstant" content studio, subject to final regulatory approval.

The combination of Sideplay's innovative portfolio of digital games and agile content distribution technology with Scientific Games' iLottery platforms and digital solutions is expected to increase player engagement.

Through this acquisition, Scientific Games Lottery Group expects to expand its share in digital lottery markets while bringing Sideplay's content to iLottery programs around the globe. The addition of digital game server content distribution technology to Scientific Games' existing digital tech stack will also allow for increased speed-to-market.

Sideplay is the primary supplier of digital eInstant games to the UK National Lottery. In North America, Scientific Games is the exclusive distributor of Sideplay's content for iLottery programs, including the Pennsylvania Lottery and Loto-Québec.

Pat McHugh, Lottery Group Chief Executive for Scientific Games, said: "We're excited to welcome Steve Hickson and the entire Sideplay team to Scientific Games Lottery Group to help us advance our strategy as a growth company delivering the best retail and digital content, platforms and game category services that maximize proceeds for our lottery customers. Sideplay's highly experienced digital game developers have a proven track record of delivering exceptional iLottery content to market quickly. We have already integrated Sideplay's digital games into our iLottery platforms, and combining their unique approach to game development for Scientific Games' more than 20 iLottery customers worldwide will accelerate our iLottery offerings for our customers and their players."

Steve Hickson, Founder and Director of Sideplay, and the entire Sideplay team will join Scientific Games Lottery.

Hickson commented: "All of us at Sideplay are thrilled to be joining forces with Scientific Games Lottery Group, one of the world's leading lottery suppliers. Our goal has always been to be the best at what we do, and this transaction shows that we have in fact achieved that level of success. We are excited to leverage Scientific Games' global lottery footprint and create the future of iLottery together."

Since 2003, Sideplay has launched 270+ instant win games for lottery and gambling operators around the world. Those games have reportedly been played over 100 million times.

Scientific Games launched the first digital instant game in the U.S. in 2014.