Inspired Entertainment and NHL Team Up for Virtual Sports Partnership

Gaming technology provider Inspired Entertainment has announced a major licensing agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL), allowing the development of Virtual Sports games incorporating official NHL branding. This partnership will give Inspired the ability to feature the NHL logo, team jerseys, and player names in their Virtual Sports offerings. The deal marks an important step for the company as it continues to enhance its portfolio of sports-related assets, specifically targeting North American audiences while also appealing to international markets such as Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.

“We are thrilled to work with the NHL and expand our offerings through this license,” said Brooks Pierce, Inspired’s President and CEO, in an official press release. He emphasized that the product will have a broad appeal across different markets, especially among hockey fans who wish to stay connected with the game even during the offseason. Pierce added that this agreement aligns with Inspired’s mission to deliver unique, immersive entertainment experiences.

Global Expansion of Virtual Sports

The first NHL-branded Virtual Sports products are slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2024. Leveraging cutting-edge motion capture technology, Inspired Entertainment aims to create an ultra-realistic gaming experience for s, promising to deliver immersive gameplay. The company’s innovative approach has won them multiple awards, and their Virtual Sports offerings are already available on over 100 websites across 35 countries, along with over 40,000 retail outlets worldwide.

Chris Golier, the NHL’s Group Vice President of Business Development and Innovation, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting the potential for engaging with ionate NHL fans on a new platform. “Virtual Sports gaming continues to grow in popularity worldwide,” Golier stated. He highlighted Inspired’s leadership in the field and expressed confidence that the partnership would bring fans closer to the sport, particularly by introducing the NHL’s intellectual property into the virtual gaming space. The aim is to broaden the league’s fan base, especially in international markets where hockey remains popular.

This NHL agreement rounds out Inspired Entertainment’s North American portfolio of high-profile sports partnerships. The company has previously secured similar deals with other major leagues, further cementing its presence in the sports gaming landscape.

NHL’s Virtual Sports Reach Expands

Inspired Entertainment isn’t the only company to use NHL assets for gaming. Earlier this year, Caesars Entertainment launched Caesars NHL Blackjack, an online casino game featuring a hockey rink-themed table design, illustrating the growing trend of integrating hockey with digital gaming.

However, Inspired’s focus remains on virtual sports, an area in which they have established themselves as pioneers. Virtual Sports gaming, which allows players to bet on computer-simulated events that mimic real-life sports, continues to see growing demand. Inspired’s virtual offerings are particularly popular for their high level of detail and realism, which is expected to be enhanced even further with the NHL-themed products.

As of the second quarter of 2024, Inspired Entertainment reported a significant growth in revenue, reaching $75.6 million, representing a 40% increase compared to the same period the previous year. The Virtual Sports segment alone ed for $11.7 million in revenue, showcasing the lucrative potential of this expanding market. The deal with the NHL is expected to bolster these numbers further, particularly as the company looks to introduce NHL-branded games across both retail and digital platforms.

Inspired Entertainment’s virtual products are already available in over 40,000 retail channels globally, and they operate within 35 different countries. The company supplies gaming content to approximately 50,000 gaming machines, making them one of the leading players in the gaming technology sector.

The NHL licensing deal is seen as a crucial step in Inspired’s ongoing efforts to innovate and offer new types of interactive experiences, especially in a time where fan engagement is increasingly driven by digital platforms. By introducing NHL assets into their Virtual Sports portfolio, Inspired is well-positioned to provide fans with an engaging way to experience hockey, especially during off-seasons, while also expanding the sport’s reach to new audiences worldwide.

Source:

“Inspired Entertainment secures NHL license, expands portfolio of premier sports assets“, inseinc.com, October 2024.