Will IGT And GTECH Merger Help Canadian Players?

International Game Technology and GTECH have completed their merger, but the question Canadian players are asking is how this will improve the offerings at the state owned online casinos.

The merger talks started in earnest in the middle of 2014. The deal involved a takeover of GTECH by IGT. The merger was finally approved in the United States this month. GTECH will lose its identity and will be rebranded as IGT. The deal was worth reportedly worth $6.4 billion making it one of the largest mergers in the history of the online gambling industry.

Canadian players feel that this merger may not bring them any benefits. Many Canadians have started wagering at the provincial government operated online casino sites like PlayOLG and PlayNow. These sites offer online slots from IGT and some lottery options by GTECH. Many of these players have opined that these products are not on par with those being offered by offshore gambling sites. Two reasons have been cited by industry experts. A part of the fault has to do with the rules the Canadian federal government has about licensing procedures. But the part that can be addressed is the fact that IGT has not kept up with the trends in the online slots industry over the past several years.

IGT is undoubtedly in the top tier of global slots providers to land based casinos and slots operators. At one time it was among the best in the online arena as well with its popular WagerWorks brand, which is now IGT Interactive. But over the past three years it has been giving step motherly treatment to their online casino licensees. It is difficult to remember when IGT has launched an online slot of the calibre of its Monopoly or Star Trek brands. The slots developer that once led the innovation in the market has been resting on its laurels for long.

What the Canadian players want to know is how this merger will galvanise IGT into delivering quality products. Because unless the government operated online casino sites start delivering better products they will not get increased market share. In fact they may start losing what they have achieved. The curious players who left the Microgaming and Playtech powered offshore sites to support their provincial governments’ forays into online gaming will sooner or later go back. Microgaming has delivered three bumper branded slots last year with Terminator 2, Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones and has promised Bridesmaids this summer.

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