Evolution Gaming Set to Acquire NetEnt Video Slots!
NetEnt is Evolution Gaming’s biggest rival in the live casino platform sphere, but that could all change if a takeover bid on the NASDAQ worth $2.1 billion goes through!
On the 24 June 2020, NetEnt’s board of directors recommended that shareholders accept a takeover bid from Evolution Gaming—currently the world’s leading live casino software platform developer.
The deal would give all NetEnt shareholders 0.1306 Evolution Gaming shares per NetEnt share. Now, without looking at the number, this seems like a poor deal at first glance. However, Evolution Gaming shares in return should give NetEnt shareholders a 43% premium on the current value of their existing shares.
On top of this, Evolution Gaming’s position on the NASDAQ Stockholm is undeniably strong. Each share began the year worth 289 SEK, and since then they have more than doubled in value as we move into Q3 of 2020. It shows just how strong Evolution Gaming is in the iGaming industry, and with NetEnt games under the developer’s wings, it is safe to assume that their market position will only get stronger!
What does the deal mean for iGaming fans of NetEnt?
NetEnt fans are the key stakeholders in this deal, and if they do not approve, then this could mean the end of NetEnt slots. However, a boycott of NetEnt games is highly unlikely, as NetEnt’s future should be a bright one under Evolution Gaming.
It is also unlikely we will see an immediate rebranding of NetEnt. This is something that will probably happen over time as this merger eventually brings NetEnt’s video slots into an all-encompassing virtual table game, live table game, and video slots business-to-business (B2B) casino platform.
A More Diverse Live Casino Gaming Experience
With the merger in place, we can expect some existing casino platforms to offer more games while this could also be the birth of a new line of online casinos using the Evolution Gaming casino white-label platform.
Any new Evolution Gaming online casinos will offer members the chance to play a vast selection of live dealer tables by bringing together multiple variants of blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, game shows, and other table games from NetEnt to Evolution Gaming’s live dealer catalogue under one hood.
For you as a live casino player, it means you will have access to the largest and most diverse selection of live casino table games online. You can play NetEnt’s flagship ‘Perfect Blackjack’ table and Evolution Gaming’s novelty ‘Power Blackjack’ tables all under the same roof so to speak.
However, pound for pound, Evolution Gaming’s collection of live dealer games far outweighs NetEnt. At this time, NetEnt has 10 live tables mixed between blackjack and roulette. Yet, even with its smaller pool of live games, NetEnt has still given Evolution Gaming a run for its money on the live casino scene thanks to its well-known brand name on the online casino scene.
· Power Blackjack (Evolution Gaming)
· Perfect Blackjack (NetEnt)
· Lightning Roulette (Evolution Gaming)
· Classic Roulette Live (NetEnt)
Which Online Casinos Will Benefit from The Takeover?
Top online casinos such as Mr Play Casino will benefit from the takeover as right now Mr Play has NetEnt video slots but currently only hosts Evolution Gaming live casino games. Once the takeover bid goes through, we can expect NetEnt live table games to also feature.
However, some casinos will remain the same. For example, Mr Green Casino already has both NetEnt and Evolution Gaming live casino games. With this casino already offering live dealer games from both brands, members will remain unaffected by the deal.
You can find out about more Evolution Gaming and NetEnt live casinos by reading the reviews in our Top Casinos List page here…
eZugi, NetEnt, and Evolution Gaming Under One Roof
In case you were not already aware, Evolution Gaming already merged with eZugi. Right now, the eZugi platform remains relatively untouched, still sporting its eZugi brand name. However, what we are seeing is more online casinos, those that already had a deal with Evolution gaming, introducing eZugi live dealer games.
The move for eZugi also meant that Evolution Gaming could access one of the world’s fastest-growing gambling markets—India. We are not just talking about casino players from India, but an entire community of Canadian, English, New Zealand, and African Indian population around the globe.
Popular casino games from India:
· Teen Patti
· Bet on Teen Patti
· Andar Bahar
If you are looking for an online casino that gives you eZugi, NetEnt and Evolution live casino games, then check out our King Billy Casino review.
Cryptocurrency Live Casinos
The synergy between Evolution Gaming covers not only live dealer games. Both software platforms are hot on the subject of cryptocurrency casino gaming. Both NetEnt slots and live table games are set up to accept multiple cryptocurrencies, as are eZugi and Evolution Gaming live casino table games.
This means that both fiat currency and cryptocurrency casino players are set for the eventual merger, which will see more online casinos using table games from both brands. For instance, mBitcasino casino only has Evolution Gaming and eZugi live tables but will surely include NetEnt once the merger is all said and done.
That said, there are still cryptocurrency casinos that already host Evolution Gaming, eZugi, and NetEnt live tables. Check out Bitstarz Casino, for example.
Round-Up
There are already plenty of fiats and cryptocurrency online casinos that host slots, virtual table games, and live casino tables from Evolution Gaming and NetEnt. For members at these casinos, not much will change once the merger is complete. Yet, this does not mean we will not see changes in the industry.
The most notable change we will see is an increasing number of online casinos that only host either NetEnt or Evolution Gaming live games offer table games from both brands. As a result, we will see these brands more often across the iGaming industry, assuming Evolution Gaming takes the same approach it took with its eZugi takeover. eZugi still keeps its brand name, which NetEnt will probably will too.
We should also see more online casino brands hit the iGaming market over 2021, as Evolution Gaming’s platform will soon operate a full suite of casino games with the addition of NetEnt slots attracting investment from companies looking for a casino platform for their brand.
One thing is for sure, it is going to be interesting to see how this takeover will affect other live dealer platforms such as Pragmatic Play Live, Microgaming Live, and Playtech Live which will be Evolution Gaming’s chief competitors once NetEnt is under the firm’s wing.