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Read Full BioSwedish gaming company Evolution has partnered with online casino platform Bally’s in Rhode Island.
Evolution is now live with its online slots on Bally’s platform in Rhode Island, featuring titles from NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming. This provides Bally Casino players with access to games already available in other regulated markets.
The deal also sees the company running live dealer Blackjack tables in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Evolution now has a live presence in all seven U.S. states where online casino games are currently legal: Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, and Connecticut.
In a press release, Jacob Claesson, CEO of Evolution North America, commented: “This agreement represents a significant step forward for both Evolution and Bally’s Corporation.
“We’re thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Bally’s by delivering world-class gaming experiences and extend our reach into Rhode Island, a first for Evolution. This partnership showcases our shared commitment to driving innovation and providing exceptional entertainment for players.”
Evolution Joins Bally’s Exclusive Deal In Rhode Island
Rhode Island granted Bally’s exclusive rights to operate iGaming in June 2023. Bally Casino initially partnered with Stakelogic to run its live casino games, which was seen as a cost-effective option. The deal with Bally’s marked Stakelogic’s first venture into the US casino space.
Bally Casino is limited to games that already exist in the state’s casinos, which include slots and live dealer table games.
If the state wanted to introduce new games, a referendum would be required under its gambling laws.
Evolution has extensive experience in online casinos across global markets. A partnership with EveryMatrix, signed earlier this year, expanded the company’s presence in the US market.
What Games Will the Deal Bring to Rhode Island?
While the new partnership won’t include Evolution’s live dealer games, the company’s slot subsidiaries, NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming, produce some of the most popular slots across US online casinos.
NetEnt produces two of the most frequented progressive jackpot slots, Divine Fortune and Mercy of the Gods. Another player favorite by the company is the Starburst slot. Other player favorites include:
- Bloodsuckers
- Dead or Alive
- Fruit Shop
- Gonzo’s Quest
- Jungle Spirit
- Mega Fortune
Big Time Gaming is the creator of the super popular Megaways mechanic. The company does not produce all Megaways slots; instead, it licenses the name and mechanics to other studios, including other Evolution subsidiaries.
While arguably not as famous as NetEnt, Red Tiger also creates many popular slots. Some examples include the 777 Strike, Astronaut, Cash Volt, Egypt Megaways, and Alexander the Great.
Red Tiger also supplies daily timed jackpots in some states, such as New Jersey, which could eventually be introduced to Rhode Island as well.
While unconfirmed, other titles that could eventually come to Rhode Island include the edgy and urban-style slots by NoLimitCity. Additionally, Evolution has recently signed a deal with Hasbro for Monopoly-themed slots, which are set to release sometime next year.
Evolution’s Content is Now Available in All iGaming States
The partnership with Bally’s in Rhode Island marks a significant milestone for Evolution in the US. The company’s content is now available in all seven US iGaming states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
That means that Evolution’s content is available at over 50 online casino platforms across these states.
With that, Evolution joins a small list of content providers that have achieved this milestone. IGT, which recently went through a significant restructuring, was the first.
In March 2024, White Hat Gaming entered the state of Delaware, marking its seventh state. Notably, the company, which is significantly smaller than Evolution and IGT, has expanded rapidly in a relatively short time, having debuted in the US in 2022.
Another content provider that has expanded to all seven states is Light and Wonder.
Can Evolution Help the Underperforming Bally’s Casino in RI?
The addition of Evolution’s subsidiaries to Bally Casino’s game portfolio could give it a significant boost. The platform, the sole iGaming operator in the state, has struggled to meet initial revenue forecasts despite recent growth.
Bally Casino generated $4.8 million in revenue in May, an impressive 113% year-over-year increase. Slots accounted for $3.7 million, a 129% yearly increase.
While May was the second-highest revenue month (after March’s $5.1 million), Bally Casino has yet to catch up to initial forecasts.
Before its March 2024 launch, Christiansen Capital Advisors (commissioned by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue) projected that the platform would generate $58.9 million in net revenue for 2024. However, Bally Casino generated under $22 million, less than half of the initial estimates.
For the trailing year (July 24 – May 25), the platform generated $40.1 million. By comparison, Delaware’s single operator system has generated $77.5 million in the same period.
Meanwhile, West Virginia, with a population less than twice that of Rhode Island’s, but with 10 platforms, saw $34.6 million in revenue for May alone.
The decision to limit online gambling to one single operator was the subject of debate among lawmakers in Rhode Island recently.
IGT holds exclusivity in sports betting and has formed a partnership with Bally’s to supply and operate slots for the state’s casinos.
A bill proposing to expand the gaming options received support in the Senate, which passed it with a 30-3 vote. However, it died in the House at the end of the legislative session in June.
House Speaker Joe Shekarchi indicated that he was not interested in discussing the matter this year. Lawmakers are likely to revisit the topic in 2026 when the sports betting exclusive deal is up for review.
