Giant gaming machine and systems innovator International Game Technology (IGT) has announced the signing of an agreement that is to see its PlaySports platform utilized to power a land-based sportsbook in the American state of Wisconsin.

The London-headquartered firm used an official September 2 press release to detail that the coming retail sports wagering service for the Midwestern state’s Oneida Casino, which is operated by the federally-recognized Oneida Nation, will leverage its PlaySports solution and could potentially one day moreover help the tribe to premiere an analogous mobile-friendly online service.

Inaugural initiative:

The Oneida Nation inked a new gaming compact with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers earlier this summer that saw it become the first group in ‘The Badger State’ given permission to open and run a retail sportsbook. The tribe’s Oneida Casino now plans to begin offering aficionados the chance to place in-house bets on a wide range of professional sports in addition to ‘event wagering’ on action from such entertainment as nationally-televised award programs and professional sports league drafts.

Eager enterprise:

Louise Cornelius is the General Manager for the 36,000 sq ft Oneida Casino, which is located on the outskirts of Green Bay, and she used the press release to declare that her facility is looking forward ‘to becoming the first casino in Wisconsin to operate a sportsbook’ and partnering with IGT in order ‘to introduce sportsbetting to our loyal patrons.’

Read a statement from Cornelius…

“Implementing IGT’s proven PlaySports platform and trading advisory services will strongly enhance Oneida Casino as a premier gaming destination.”

Distinct direction:

In related news and IGT used a subsequent Wednesday press release to herald the launch of its new Digital and Betting division that will be looking to take advantage of the many such opportunities being presented by the burgeoning iGaming and sportsbetting markets of the United States. The company disclosed that this fresh enterprise is being led by 44-year-old Enrico Drago, who previously served as Senior Vice-President of its PlayDigital unit with oversight over all of the firm’s online gaming, sports wagering and iLottery activities.

Proliferating presence:

The Chief Executive Officer for New York-listed IGT, Marco Sala (pictured), used this second press release to proclaim that his firm already holds a ‘strong leadership position’ in the iGaming and sportsbetting markets of the United States and believes that the Digital and Betting endeavor will allow it to continue driving ‘dynamic growth’ across both verticals well into the future.

Sala’s statement read…

“These businesses have become strategically important to IGT as they afford us the opportunity to leverage the global reach and strong customer relationships of our global gaming segment. The new structure gives us more flexibility in our product and solutions portfolio and enables better appreciation of the intrinsic value of these activities.”