Playtech and Bet365 Extend Partnership to Pennsylvania
Perhaps in anticipation of iGaming expansion in the U.S. next year, there has been a lot of activity among online casino software development companies, wanting to bring their wares into the U.S. market. This expansion process includes existing companies increasing their footholds and new companies joining the fray. Playtech would fall into the former category, having already established a minor presence in the state of New Jersey. Bet365 welcomes Playtech into the fold in Pennsylvania.
About the Ongoing iGaming Expansion in the U.S.
As of October 2024, I can only number seven (7) states that have successfully passed iGaming (online casino gambling) legislation. That list includes the following states:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virgina
Of these states, it would be fair to say that New Jersey and Pennsylvania are the states that set industry standards. After all, both states passed their online casino gambling legislation long before online gambling became prevalent in the states. In both cases, some form of online casino gambling has existed for nearly a decade.
Looking to the immediate future, as many as four states could pass iGaming legislation in 2025. On this short list, I want to include Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Missouri as a longshot possibility.
Bet365 Strengthens Its Position in the U.S. Market
Bet365 holds the distinction of being one of the early pioneers of the online gambling market. The company was founded in 2000 with a focus on battling England’s top sports betting operators like William Hill and Paddy Power. Mission accomplished!
Bet365 got its first chance to enter the U.S. online gambling market in 2019. That’s when the operator signed a partnership deal with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City to provide sports betting access to sports betting enthusiasts in New Jersey. Remember, that was the year after the U.S. SCOTUS finally reversed the nation’s ban on sports betting.
Bet365 is headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent, England where they employ 3,500+ staffers and software creators. The company operates in the UK under licenses provided by the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority, among others.
NJ & PA are just the beginning
Since Bet365 signed its initial contract to provide sports betting access in NJ, two things have happened. First, the operator has also signed sports betting deals in 10 other states, including Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio. Second, they finally introduced an integrated online casino module in the U.S. market with Playtech games now included.
At this point, I want to point out that Playtech has had a relationship with Bet365 in Europe for years, strengthening that relationship in Spain just last month. That initial relationship bore fruit in the U.S. when Bet365 agreed to use a portion of Playtech’s extensive online casino library in NJ. That took place in 2020.
Going all in on Pennsylvania
The date was July 22, 2024. That was the date that Bet365 made PA the 11th state in which the company has contracted to provide access to online gambling activities. The contract was signed through a strategic partnership with Presque Isle Downs & Casino. Bet365 picked up a license that became available when U.S.-based TwinSpires decided to exit the U.S. sports betting market.
After only two months of serving online sports bettors in PA, bet365 has taken a leap of faith, bringing the company’s online casino platform product to the Quaker state. Indeed, a good portion of Playtech’s content will be available to PA iGaming enthusiasts. In my opinion, that can only be considered a good thing given Playtech’s status as one of the top online casino software development companies in the world. Let’s take a closer look at one of the developers that introduced the world to online casino gambling.
About Playtech
In the annals of online gambling history, three names stand above the rest: Microgaming, NetEnt (formerly Net Entertainment), and Playtech. All three companies played a significant role in making the iGaming market the monster it is today.
Playtech was founded in 1999. The company is currently headquartered in Douglas, Isle of Man from where they employ thousands of employees worldwide. Playtech is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol PTEC. As of the fiscal year ending 2023, the company had revenue of €1,706.7 million. The current GBX stock price sits at 746.
As a software developer, Playtech has a long history of innovating some of the most fun and exciting video slots the iGaming market has ever seen. It’s noteworthy that before the expiration of an exclusive contract deal with the Marvel Comics universe, Playtech’s software developers had a fondness for developing superhero-branded video slots. That included titles like Iron Man (1, 2, &3), Ghost Rider, Hulk, The Avengers, Wolverine, Captain America, and Thor.
Popular slot games that could possibly become available
What video slot players in NJ and PA might get to enjoy is playing highly popular video slots like
- Rocky
- Football Rules
- Funky Monkey and Funky Monkey Jackpot
- Rock Paper Scissors
- Ace Ventura
- Jekyll and Hyde
- Batman and Mr. Freeze
- Cops n Bandits
- much much more
While a video slot library that includes hundreds of games might seem impressive enough, I’m happy to report the company is far from a one-trick pony. They have also created dozens of online table games (baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps, etc) as well as dozens of video poker and arcade game options.
Getting in on the Action
Attention PA iGamers! Getting access to online casino games from a top software developer like Playtech through a well-established iGaming operator like bet365 is a big deal. The first chance you get, sign up with bet365 to enjoy a nice library of online casino games and take advantage of the operator’s lucrative welcome bonus offer to boot.