In the run-up to its appearance at next month’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E), global lottery and gaming machine innovator International Game Technology (IGT) has announced the signing of a patent cross-licensing agreement with American counterpart AGS.

London-based IGT declared that it has the “largest slot game feature patent portfolio in North America” and revealed that the deal will entitle AGS to offer its games and these patented features in exchange for the payment of a licensing fee.

“We continue to build on the strength and value of IGT’s intellectual property as more and more gaming companies license our patented game features,” read a statement from Michael Prescott, North America Gaming and Interactive Senior Vice-President and General Counsel for IGT. “This cross-licensing agreement with AGS extends the reach of our intellectual property even further across the gaming industry, helping propel our collective innovation and growth.”

IGT inked a similar patent cross-licensing deal with rival Scientific Games Corporation earlier this month while more recently signing an agreement with Caesars Entertainment Corporation that permits it to continue utilizing the giant casino operator’s brands in the lottery spaces of the United States, Canada and Europe.

“Our success over the last few years has been as a direct result of our team’s focus on providing engaging, diverse and unique gaming experiences to players around the world,” read a statement from Julia Boguslawski, Chief Marketing Officer for AGS. “This agreement with IGT, giving us access to a depth of patents, helps us remain focused on that goal while continuing to deliver some of the highest performing games in the industry.”