IGT to shutter electronic table games division in 2027

Gaming giant International Game Technology (IGT) will dissolve its electronic table games division in 2027. The company confirmed this to iGB on Tuesday. This shift in priorities comes after a major wave of layoffs earlier this year.

According to reports, IGT already reduced its global workforce by about 10 percent in March. Now, the ETG business segment, including blackjack, baccarat, and roulette terminals, is under scrutiny. IGT will continue to provide existing customers with the usual support during the transition period.

Numbers and facts

This strategic realignment comes shortly after significant restructuring at IGT. The company was partly acquired by Apollo Global Management for $6.3 billion in 2024 and merged with Everi Holdings. In the process, IGT's former lottery division was spun off as Brightstar Lottery and is now independently listed on the stock market.

The decision to discontinue the ETG business is part of a focus on “core business priorities and long-term growth objectives,” as IGT spokesman Phill O’Shaughnessy explained. Despite previous growth in this sector, including the expansion of the well-known Wheel of Fortune franchise to ETG formats, the segment does not appear to be delivering the desired results. Luigi Cacciapuoti, IGT’s Vice President of Specialty Products and ETG, highlighted the innovations in 2024:

“We rewrote everything. Every line of code, everything is new and we really want to offer something that at the same time would be exciting for the players and valuable for our customers. So we made sure that we are answering the needs of both.” - Luigi Cacciapuoti, Vice President of Specialty Products and ETG at IGT

Private equity investor Apollo Global Management has set ambitious goals. Daniel Cohen, a partner at Apollo, was critical before Nevada regulators in June 2025. In particular, he lamented the company's falling behind competitors such as Aristocrat and Light & Wonder. Long-term value creation is Apollo's sole focus. The goal is to become the preferred full-service provider for casino operators. Casinos should be able to cover “basically every one of their product needs” with IGT.

Background

The ETG segment, while smaller at IGT compared to slot machines, has shown growth in systems and games in recent years. However, the entire ETG sector faces challenges. The required space on casino floors is a major issue. Slot machines often generate higher revenues and require less space, making them more attractive to casino operators. ETGs are more popular in European and Asian markets than in the US. Market leader Interblock, also privately owned, was long rumored to be an acquisition target by Aristocrat. However, the deal reportedly stalled due to a $200 million price gap.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, this initially means no direct impact on their online gambling experience. The availability of electronic table games in online casinos will continue regardless of IGT's decision. German arcades or online casinos that hold a license from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) are strictly regulated. Comprehensive player protection measures apply here. These include a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros to prevent gambling addiction and a bet limit of 1 euro per spin on slot machines. In addition, every player is monitored via the LUGAS system, a cross-state gambling supervision system. This ensures that players only play with one provider at a time and that deposit limits are adhered to. Even if IGT closes its ETG division, there are still many other providers offering similar games. The GGL requirements remain in place as a protective instance. This guarantees a safe and controlled gaming environment for German users.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For GGL-licensed online casinos in Germany that offer IGT's electronic table games, the closure of the division from 2027 will mean an adjustment. They will then have to switch to alternatives from competitors. However, the online providers licensed in Germany are very strongly focused on slot machines. Traditional table games with live dealers, such as blackjack or roulette, are currently not permitted in German GGL online casinos. Only "virtual slot games" are in the foreground. This means that only a few GGL casinos that might have used IGT ETG products through their stationary partners are directly affected. The GGL's focus is on active player protection through strict limits and the LUGAS system. This affects the type of games less than the responsible use of gambling offers by players. The selection of games in GGL casinos is still large, with many titles from international developers that meet the German requirements.