Gambling in the USA

Light & Wonder Increases Custom Content Capabilities through Acquisition of Open Game Development Platform and Content Provider Playzido

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

Purchase of Supplier to Aid Distribution of Innovative Content Worldwide

Light & Wonder, Inc., formerly known as Scientific Games Corporation, announced that the Company has significantly increased the scope of its iGaming content capabilities with the acquisition of Playzido, a dynamic content creation platform provider and game supplier.

Playzido’s proprietary Remote Gaming Server (RGS) platform is one of the best in the iGaming industry for rapid custom game development.

Their open and agile platform will accelerate the pace at which L&W can partner with game studios and operators across the globe to co-create new and exclusive content for players.

Plazyido’s platform will accelerate the L&W partnership strategy that has already been instrumental in the creation of content for studios like Lightning Box, who was also recently acquired by L&W.

This acquisition will provide a faster route to market for creative studios who do not own their own development platform, who can now utilize Playzido’s advanced technology to rapidly develop exciting and engaging content and take advantage of L&W’s industry-leading and regulatory-ready OpenGaming™ aggregation platform to distribute more games than ever before across L&W’s operator network. For operators, this will not only provide new and exciting content, but also facilitates their growing demand to develop and launch unique content.

This marks another step towards Light & Wonder’s vision of becoming the leading cross-platform global game company.

Launched in 2018 by former Paddy Power and Betfair alumni, Stuart Banks, Playzido has developed a strong footing in European markets, and now, with Light & Wonder, is primed to scale further in these markets and to break into North American markets. Playzido’s flexible technology is purpose-built for creative independent studios by supporting every game type and incorporating elements including multiplayer games and jackpots.

Dylan Slaney, CEO at Light & Wonder, iGaming said: “The Playzido deal is a perfect example of an acquisition that dovetails with our global strategy, demonstrating yet again our commitment to make targeted value-enhancing investments designed to advance our cross-platform content capabilities.

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“Playzido’s platform is one of the best in the industry and we are delighted to be able to harness that technology to help studios and operators globally to develop and distribute game content that will continue to resonate with players. Light & Wonder is the go-to partner for game development and distribution globally, delivering the perfect combination of technology, network, and services.”

Stuart Banks at Playzido said: “This deal is testament to the drive and dedication of our team, who have been committed to building a fantastic games platform that allows independent studios and operators to bring their creativity and innovation to the global gaming market.

“It is the perfect moment to become part of the Light & Wonder family, with the distribution power of OpenGaming, and their regulatory expertise, we can look to accelerate quickly by bringing on board more studios than ever before. The synergies behind the acquisition are clear and we will now turn our attention to extending our reach across markets across the world.”

The latest deal by Light & Wonder follows recent high-profile iGaming acquisitions of slot developer Lightning Box, premium live casino provider Authentic Gaming and leading European slot developer ELK Studios.

Gambling in the USA

Fanatics Betting and Gaming, Boyd Gaming Announce Missouri Partnership

Published

13 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Peter Tolan

Fanatics Sportsbook Plans To Launch Online Statewide, Open Retail Sportsbooks Serving Kansas City and St. Louis Markets –

Today, Fanatics Betting and Gaming announced that it is partnering with Boyd Gaming Corporation in the state of Missouri.

Under the terms of their multi-year agreement, Fanatics Sportsbook will operate mobile sports betting under Boyd’s sports betting license in Missouri. The companies will open Fanatics-branded retail sportsbooks at Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles, located near St. Louis. Fanatics plans to launch its online and retail betting products with the debut of regulated sports wagering in Missouri this December, contingent upon receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

Upon launching this December, sports fans across Missouri will be able to download the Fanatics Sportsbook on iOS and Android and begin their Fanatics experience. Winning Hits Different in Missouri on Fanatics Sportsbook with up to 10% FanCash back on every bet, win or lose; Fair Play™ injury protection; and events and experiences that only Fanatics can pull off.

Fanatics Sportsbook App in Missouri

The Fanatics Sportsbook retail locations at the two Ameristar casinos in Missouri will cater to guests looking to enjoy the ultimate sportsbook experience, offering legal betting markets for all major sports including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, baseball, tennis, soccer, golf, MMA, boxing and more. All development and trading of sports betting markets will be done in-house by Fanatics.

For more news and information on the pending launch of legal sports betting in the state of Missouri, follow the Fanatics Sportsbook social channels on X @FanaticsBook and on Instagram @FanaticsSportsbook.

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Gambling in the USA

NYC Mayoral Front-runner Zohran Mamdani Says He Won’t Oppose Casino Development

Published

4 days ago

August 22, 2025

Niji Narayan

As a state lawmaker, Zohran Mamdani generally opposed plans to open full-scale casinos in New York City. In June, when he walked past a billboard showing betting markets for the city mayor’s race, he even quipped that “gambling is haram,” an Arabic word meaning forbidden.

But on Wednesday, Mr. Mamdani said that he did not intend to use his newfound political clout as the Democratic mayoral nominee and the race’s front-runner to try to stop the arrival of casinos that are widely considered a fait accompli.

Speaking alongside the leader of a union pushing the gambling expansion, Mr. Mamdani told reporters that while he still had doubts about the casinos backed by corporate giants, he respected the views of state voters who had approved the downstate gambling expansion more than a decade ago.

Gambling in the USA

Better Business Bureau Reports Increase in Online Gambling Complaints

Published

4 days ago

August 22, 2025

Niji Narayan

According to research from Better Business Bureau (BBB), the illegal online gambling market is nearly four times bigger than the legal online gambling industry; $402 billion to $103 billion (estimates from Researchandmarkets.com and the American Gaming Association, respectively).

The BBB says it has received almost 200 scam reports and more than 10,000 business complaints related to online gambling and gaming since 2022. Some scam reports involved theft, while complaints showed a pattern of unclear terms and consumer misunderstandings. In some cases, consumers lost tens of thousands of dollars.

Here are some common questions with answers from the BBB regarding online gambling:

What red flags should I look out for if using gambling or gaming services?

Big promises around payouts and tempting ads without details are common. Many people aren’t aware the people they are dealing with are in countries overseas. People should also be leery of sweepstakes-style games, payment through cryptocurrency and typos in names.

How can I avoid issues with gambling or gaming companies?

Read your state and provincial laws. There are many different laws for online gambling, depending on where you live.

Check for proper licensure. Even if your state allows gambling, it may have a limited list of allowed websites. Check with your state’s gaming agency to see who is licensed.

Read the fine print. The reality of how winning and withdrawal works may be different than your first impression on a website. Check out the details of a specific service and fully understand how they work before sending them any money.

Even legitimate websites may freeze winnings. There are many reasons why a casino or sportsbook might freeze winnings, even if the money is rightfully yours. Know what actions to take if your account is frozen.

Visit BBB.org to check out a business or register a complaint and BBB.org/ScamTracker to report a scam.