Online gaming content supplier NYX Gaming Group Limited announced that it has acquired Side City Studios Inc., a Montreal-based content development studio, while simultaneously announcing new contracts for its Open Gaming System online gaming platform.
The acquisition provides NYX Gaming Group with a studio that produces casino gaming content that caters traditionally to a North American bricks-and-mortar clientele. Side City produces gaming art and animations, math and sounds of high quality and delivers these via two business models: direct contracts with game manufacturers and through game distribution agreements for both land-based and online gaming.
The studio provides NYX Gaming Group with a base in North America to expand its development capabilities in the talent-rich market of Montréal. The purchase price consisted of the issuance of 333,000 ordinary shares of NYX Gaming Group and a maximum performance-based cash payment of CAD $4 million conditional upon Side City meeting certain performance criteria for the 2016 and 2017 calendar years.
“Side City is another example of NYX’s ability to identify and execute on investments that fit into the global content strategy of the company,” said Matt Davey, chief executive officer of NYX Gaming Group. “Further, Side City gives us unique content for the North American market that complements our existing North American business and gives us an entry point to the United States land-based market with existing customer relationships.”
NYX also announced three new contracts for its Open Gaming System iGaming platform. Ireland’s Paddy Power, Malta-based Mybet and Gibraltar-based giant 888 Holdings have signed deals for the integration of digital gaming content via NYX’s OGS.
Popular slots and scratch titles from NYX’s wholly owned subsidiary NextGen Gaming such as Foxin’ Wins, Jackpot Jester 50,000 and Merlin’s Millions Superbet will be available on Paddy Power sites immediately, complemented by a wide range of aggregated games provided by third-party suppliers.
“I am very happy to have agreed in principle a deal with Paddy Power for the supply of casino content via NYX OGS,” said NYX Gaming Group Commercial Director David Johnson. “Our industry-best distribution network of real-money wagering games and speed to market is certainly one of the main drivers for our operator partners worldwide.”
Henrik Johansson, commercial manager at Paddy Power, said, ”Once executed and delivered, the deal with NYX Gaming Group will allow Paddy Power to leverage a significant number of new casino titles, including the proven NextGen Gaming slots content.”
The deal with Mybet will allow the operator to elevate its player marketing and loyalty services and gain instant access to NYX Gaming Group’s entire content portfolio via the OGS.
Mybet CEO Zeno Oskko commented, “Mybet’s strategy is to provide a cutting-edge product providing the very best gaming experience and the greatest possible choice for our customers across all gaming verticals. By linking up with NYX, we are doubling the number of games available on Mybet while at the same time adding great bonus functionality across all casino channels. We are delighted to be partnering with the NYX team and look forward to launching at the earliest opportunity.”
Finally, under the terms of the agreement with 888 Holdings, one of the largest iGaming companies in the world, NYX will supply a variety of its leading online and mobile casino content, as well as a wide range of games supplied by third parties aggregated on NYX’s OGS & CGS platforms, to 888’s global bingo and casino verticals, including its powerful Dragonfish B2B platform.
“I am delighted the group partnership with 888 continues to grow—through licensing of NextGen Gaming content over many years to this latest agreement for the supply of an extended content portfolio via OGS & CGS,” said Johnson. “NYX boasts the widest distribution network of real-money wagering slots games in the online marketplace; the 888 OGS/CGS integration is a natural progression with one of our closest partners.”
