Evolution Makes Product Leap with Livespins Acquisition

The annual ICE conference in London, where the industry’s biggest game developers meet, is also an exciting time for casual gamblers. Because that’s when bold new announcements are made by studios and iGaming conglomerates alike. Evolution Group are not an exception – in addition to showcasing their upcoming games, they made a press release to acquire Livespins, a pioneering B2B social streaming game provider. This strategic move allows Evolution to offer an innovative gaming experience where players can bet alongside their favourite streamers, brand ambassadors, and influencers.

Trending in Tech: Livespins and BeyondPlay

If you follow our blog, you may have come across our article on Livespins and BeyondPlay. In this post, we presented a trend in the industry which these two companies are pioneering. These start-ups, backed by smart money, have quickly spread across Scandinavian online casinos. Their premise is simple: let players place bets alongside different streamers, albeit with slight differences in their approach.

A New Way to Play: The Livespins Experience

Livespins' unique platform integrates into casino lobbies through an API, facilitating a communal betting experience. Casinos like BitStarz, Casino Friday!, Kanuuna, Mansion88, Spin Fever, and Campeonbet are among the first movers in their list of clients. Players can collectively back a streamer, sharing the thrill of victory and the potential for collective wins, while enhancing the online gaming experience with a sense of camaraderie and shared success.

Here’s how you would use Livespins:

• Pick your favourite streamer – Choose from the list of live streamers (if you want to become one, you can apply to join the crew on the official site)
• Bet behind – Play together with your favourite streamer and place a bet as a group. You are free to choose the bet amount and number of spins.
• Engage  – You can chat and add reactions all whilst following a live stream and betting behind.

Go check out their Win of the Week clips on their YouTube channel to get a sneak peek.

Sealing the Deal: Evolution's Strategic Acquisition

As far as the deal is concerned, it’s set with an initial cash payment of EUR 5 million, with an additional earn-out contingent on Livespins' performance in 2026. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2024, pending the satisfaction of specific closing conditions. Livespins will join other brands in the group, including Evolution, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Ezugi, Big Time Gaming, Nolimit City and DigiWheel, while adding a new type of player experience to the group’s product offering.

Executive Insights: A Vision for the Future

Todd Haushalter, Evolution’s Chief Product Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition: “Playing along with a streamer is a whole new way to play online casino games. This was on our roadmap, so when the opportunity with Livespins arose, things moved quickly. Bringing together the fantastic tech, processes and know-how of the team at Livespins with Evolution’s huge game portfolio, we will provide Livespins immediately with unparalleled distribution power via our One Stop Shop (OSS) integration. Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms have proven the popularity of live streaming while playing online casino games. We think players would love to play along with them and now that will be possible, right from the Evolution lobby.”

Livespins CEO Chris Scicluna shared his excitement about joining forces with Evolution: “This is an unprecedented milestone for Livespins and we couldn’t be happier to be joining the Evolution Group. Although we have content from 40-plus studios already integrated, we are still in a start-up phase, so to attract the attention of Evolution is incredible. It’s also a reflection of all the hard work that our team has poured into this concept, and the unwavering belief that the Livespins product would revolutionise the industry.”

Final Thoughts

Given the size and authority of Evolution Group, the acquisition of Livespins marks a significant milestone. By integrating Livespins' innovative platform, Evolution is poised to capture the attention of a broader audience, appealing to both traditional casino enthusiasts and a new generation of online streamers and viewers. The result is not only more engagement and immersiveness from a player standpoint but also a source of marketing material for the studios and operators involved. The success of this venture could very well dictate the direction of online gaming trends for years to come, making it a pivotal moment not just for Evolution and Livespins, but for the entire gaming ecosystem.