Casino Cabbie Weekly Digest #66

Checked by:
Alex Tester

	Published on:

December 3, 2021

Reading time:

2 minutes

It’s been one busy week in US iGaming as this year’s GIA winners are announced, SG completes its acquisition of Elk Studios, and Wazdan gets interim WV supplier licensing. Plus, check out our review of 2021’s Game of the Year, Monopoly Big Spin from Scientific Games. Buckle up, let’s go!

News and Analysis

North America’s Gaming Intelligence Awards Round-Up

The Gaming Intelligence Awards 2021 are in. The ceremony is one of the most significant gambling awards, and each year, eight operators from each continent globally (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America) are recognized for their commitment and achievement to the industry. This year´s winners have been announced:

iGaming Operator

Rush Street Interactive

Rush Street Interactive is a smart and efficient operator with a-class customer service and a top quality product that defines it in the market. As a company that started in social gaming, they know how to thrill players with gamification, RushRace slot tournaments and exclusive live tables in NJ and PA.

iGaming Supplier

Scientific Games

SG Digital's OpenGaming platform is the go-to choice for over 300 iGaming operators, in the USA this includes BetMGM, FanDuel and Golden Nugget. SG's portfolio grows by over 30% each year and hosts a whopping 2,500 titles from SG and the industry's leading providers. On average, the platform generates a huge 3.4bn game rounds per month!

Game of the Year

Monopoly Big Spin

Blending Roulette and Money Wheel concepts into one epic slot game was always going to be a winner for SG, but it's now official, Monopoly Big Spin is the best game of the year to play! We won't say more here, as we're making Monopoly Big Spin our game of the week and covering how to play and win this title below.

Sports Betting Operator

FanDuel

The competition between FanDuel and DraftKings in the USA is fierce, with both trying to take the top place as the most popular sports betting provider in the USA. This year, FanDuel edged out ahead, taking 42% of the market and reigning king in the top six sports betting states.

Innovative Product Award

PlayPause

With online gambling becoming more prevalent across the USA, this year's Innovation Award goes to Conscious Gaming for PlayPause. PlayPause is offered to gambling operators for free and enables self-exclusion across multiple states creating a safe environment for those struggling with problem gambling.

The above content is summarized from The Gaming Intelligence Awards. If you’d like to read more in-depth about what the GIA pannel had to say of each operator, follow the link to read the full awards.

Wazdan Gains West Virginia Supplier License

"With so much more on the horizon for us in North America, it is a hugely exciting time for Wazdan, and we look forward to achieving even more in the US."
Wazdan Chief Ex: Michal Imiolek.

A few months after Wazdan gained NJ supplier access, the games studio moved into West Virginia, bringing new products and games, including popular titles like Sizzling 777 Deluxe, Lucky Reels, Space Spins, Power of Gods: The Pantheon, and Magic Stars 3. Wazdan has been making casino games since 2010 and has licensing applications processing in Pennsylvania and Michigan.

SG Completes Acquisition of Elk Studios

In our last piece of news this week, Scientific Games has completed the acquisition of Swedish developer Elk Studios. Elk’s games content will go live in the USA and SG’s other global markets, bringing iconic titles such as Wild Toro II, Ho Ho Tower, Katmandu, Wild Seas, Sam at the Beach, Taco Brothers, and Cygnus to the table.

Game of the Week

Monopoly Big Spin. Scientific Games RTP: 88.66% - 95.70%.

We’re celebrating the Gaming Intelligence Awards Game of the Year this week, Monopoly Big Spin. It’s a one-of-a-kind slot game that borrows from other casino games, like Roulette, and offers low stakes that any player can enjoy, prizes up to 40x in the main game and up to 200x on the money wheel bonus round.

The game opens onto the Monopoly Big spin wheel, filled with segments corresponding to the original Monopoly board (Utilities, Railroad, and Free Parking icons and colors brown, red, blue, and more, that match the Monopoly streets). You’ll see the Minor, Major, and Epic jackpots; roughly 2% of each stake is contributed as these are progressive jackpots.

To play, lay your bets and spin the wheel, Roulette style. If you hit a win, you’ll get the payout. Bet on and hit Community Chest or Chance, and you’ll get to spin the bonus wheel. Win Free Parking or Go, and you’ll get the most significant base game payouts and one or two free spins.

The bonus wheel is filled with Mr. Monopoly symbols paying between 5-200x your bet, and free spins are on the house. The Mega Drops, aka progressive jackpots, can drop at any point, but the higher your bet, the higher your chances.

Start playing 2021’s game of the year at these Scientific Games Casinos. Set your bets from $0.10-700, and away you go!