IGT

Origins and Brand Evolution

IGT’s story began in 1975 in Las Vegas, where it quickly became a trailblazer in slot machine development. The company revolutionized casino floors with wide-area progressive jackpots, video poker terminals, and loyalty tracking systems. Its Wheel of Fortune slot series remains one of the most iconic franchises in gambling history.

In 2015, IGT merged with Italian lottery giant GTECH S.p.A., creating a new holding company, IGT PLC, listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Product and Service Portfolio

Until its restructuring in 2024, IGT operated across four major verticals:

• Gaming Machines & Systems: Video slots, video poker, electronic table games, and casino management systems. Titles like Cleopatra, Cash Eruption, and Wheel of Fortune became global staples.

• PlayDigital (iGaming): A fast-growing segment offering online slots, RNG table games, mobile-first content, and full iCasino solutions. It featured tools like the Prize Engine for engagement and omnichannel features linking online and land-based play.

• Sports Betting: End-to-end sportsbook technology and platform services for regulated markets, especially in North America and Europe.

• Lottery: IGT operated national lotteries and supplied infrastructure such as terminals, draw systems, and instant ticket printing in countries like the U.S., UK, Italy, and Singapore.

Apollo Acquisition and Brightstar Rebrand

In 2024, IGT made headlines by announcing a strategic separation of its business units:

• The Global Gaming and PlayDigital divisions were merged with Everi Holdings and acquired by Apollo Global Management for approximately $6.3 billion. The merged gaming entity is now a private company, focused on land-based and digital casino markets.

• The Lottery division remained public and was rebranded in 2025 as Brightstar, positioning itself as a pure-play lottery operator with long-term contracts and government partnerships.

Ownership and Governance

Prior to the split:

• IGT was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IGT).

• Its majority shareholder was De Agostini S.p.A., an Italian holding company with longstanding ties to the gaming industry.

• Executive leadership included Marco Sala (Executive Chair) and Vince Sadusky (CEO from 2022 onward).

After the Apollo deal:

• The gaming unit is privately owned by Apollo, with De Agostini retaining a minority stake.

• The lottery business, now operating as Brightstar, continues to trade publicly and remains independent from the gaming operations.

Global Office Network

North and South America:
Las Vegas (USA), Reno (USA), Providence (USA), Weston (USA), Mexico City (Mexico), Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Europe, Middle East, and Africa:
Rome (Italy), London (UK), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Madrid (Spain), Reykjavik (Iceland), Sitnīši (Latvia), Johannesburg (South Africa)

Asia-Pacific and Oceania:
Beijing (China), Pasay City (Philippines), Macau, Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Auckland (New Zealand)

IGT holds licenses in over 500 jurisdictions, serving both commercial and government operators through localized platforms and regional teams.

Industry Impact and Innovation

IGT has been instrumental in defining the modern gaming experience. It pioneered wide-area progressives, introduced some of the most successful licensed slot titles, and developed casino management tools that remain industry standards. Through its PlayDigital division, it gained traction in regulated iGaming markets across North America and Europe.

Its Wheel of Fortune brand alone has generated billions in coin-in and remains one of the most recognized slot franchises globally. In the lottery space, the company operated critical infrastructure for multi-jurisdictional games like Powerball and EuroMillions.

Under Apollo’s ownership, the newly combined IGT-Everi entity is expected to pursue aggressive growth through new content, expanded digital distribution, and cross-platform integrations. Operating as a private company gives it flexibility to move faster in markets with rising competitive pressure and shifting regulation.

Meanwhile, Brightstar assumes full control of IGT’s former lottery business — continuing partnerships with government clients and expanding in emerging regulated jurisdictions.