There has long been huge potential for America in the world of iGaming. With the US increasingly warming up to the prospect of online casinos and betting, the leading iGaming developers from Europe and the Far East are beginning to cast envious glances at the North American marketplace.
America holds a rich heritage for gaming, albeit in the land-based casino space. However, there are several cities stateside that are forging ahead and innovating the iGaming scene, presenting new and immersive ways for Americans to get their casino experiences at home or on the move. Below, we look at a trio of US cities that have seen iGaming hubs develop from the ground up in recent years.
San Francisco
When we’re talking about tech hubs that are ideal for iGaming start-ups, it would be remiss not to begin with San Francisco and the nearby Bay Area. Although San Francisco is notoriously expensive to grow from, many iGaming start-ups have thrived from this location.
Studios like Double Coconut in San Fran have developed HTML5-powered slot titles for high-profile operators like DraftKings and worked to deliver branded, licensed games such as Deal or No Deal. The HTML5 technology makes it possible for them to be played through any web browser, as well as native mobile apps.
In addition, the Integrated Games Corporation is a firm headquartered in San Francisco, overseen by a former executive of British bookmaker Ladbrokes. Integrated Games offers turnkey and client-hosted iGaming applications available for deployment in licensed and regulated iGaming markets across the States.
New York City
For more than 25 years, High 5 Games has been delivering state-of-the-art casino technology. Today, it serves over 50 countries with regulated iGaming markets and boasts a portfolio of more than 300 fully responsive casino games and slots.
High 5 Games’ headquarters are based in New York City, which is the main reason why this city is one of the leading iGaming hubs in the US. There are many reasons why iGamers pick High 5 Games casinos, to the point where casino comparison sites filter brands based on whether they offer games from High5.
They aren’t afraid to collaborate with other iGaming greats like IGT, and they have pioneered some of the most engaging features in state-of-the-art slots such as the now-iconic “Tumbling Reels” feature that generates cascading symbol wins.
Austin
Nestled in the heart of Texas, Austin is considered one of the fastest-growing cities on the planet. Interestingly, many iGaming start-ups have sought to use Austin’s undisputed energy as a launchpad for their casino gaming solutions.
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd is a company listed on the ASX20 and has grown to become licensed to serve over 300 iGaming jurisdictions worldwide. The firm now boasts over 6,500 staff who specialize in both electronic land-based gaming machines and online casino management systems. With offices across the globe including Australia and India, Aristocrat was recently listed as a Great Place to Work-Certified company.
Austin could become an even more influential iGaming hub in the States if Texas lawmakers go down the line and legalize online casinos within the state. However, for the time being, the Lone Star State only permits charity bingo, horse racing, tribal casino gaming, and raffles. Even the tribal casinos located throughout the state are only allowed to provide “Class II gaming”, which covers poker and bingo-style games.