IGT’s 2027 ETG Shutdown: The $6.3 Billion Apollo Deal Data Points and Supplier Consolidation Signals

Key Takeaways

• 2027 Closure: IGT will shut down its electronic table games division in 2027 after confirming the move to iGaming Business.
• $6.3 Billion Deal: The decision follows the 2024 Apollo Global Management acquisition and merger with Everi Holdings that took IGT private.
• 10 Percent Workforce Cut: The company reduced its global workforce by about 10 percent in March to simplify structure and reduce duplication.
• ETG Growth Limits: The division was expanding with blackjack, baccarat, roulette and Wheel of Fortune formats yet remained small versus slots and required large floor space.

IGT will close its electronic table games division in 2027. The supplier confirmed the move after an earlier round of layoffs and a $6.3 billion acquisition. The numbers show a clear push toward core priorities under new ownership.

The $6.3 billion transaction in 2024 combined IGT with Everi Holdings under Apollo Global Management. That deal also spun off the former lottery division into the publicly traded Brightstar Lottery. ETG now appears next in line for exit. Apollo partner Daniel Cohen told Nevada regulators in June 2025 that long-term value creation remained the sole focus.

Apollo’s One-Stop Supplier Mandate

Daniel Cohen bemoaned that the business had fallen behind chief competitors Aristocrat and Light & Wonder. He said “Our goal long term is to become the operator’s supplier.” Cohen told regulators: “So if you’re the Venetian or Caesars or anyone else, you can come to IGT for basically every one of your product needs, which will allow us to continue to invest in products and innovate with our customers to really create the next generation of what casino technology products will look like.” This would allow continued investment and innovation in next-generation casino technology.

The ETG exit aligns with that consolidation logic even if it removes one category. Resources shift toward areas that deliver higher returns and tighter integration. iGaming Business first reported the closure details and the supporting statements from company leadership.

IGT spokesman Phill O’Shaughnessy said that the move was made “as part of our focus on core business priorities and long-term growth objectives.” He said the company will continue to provide its ETG customers with the level of support they expect during the transition.

ETG Growth Trajectory That Preceded the Exit

The ETG business was small compared to slots but had been growing in recent years across both systems and games. Offerings included blackjack, baccarat and roulette electronic table games. IGT expanded its Wheel of Fortune franchise into ETG format hoping the brand would accelerate sector uptake.

Luigi Cacciapuoti is IGT’s vice president of specialty product and ETG. Cacciapuoti told GGB Magazine in 2024 that the team wanted to give a clear differentiation versus the past because this is a completely new ETG offering. Cacciapuoti added: “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.”

Those comments captured optimism that still existed two years ago. The division had invested in fresh code and branded content. Growth was visible yet the overall contribution stayed modest relative to slot revenue.

Floor Space Realities and Regional Differences

Electronic table games require large amounts of space on casino floors. Most slots generate more revenue than ETGs while occupying far less room. Floor managers therefore face a constant trade-off that has limited ETG adoption in the US market.

The games prove far more popular in European and Asian markets. That geographic split has persisted for years and shapes supplier decisions. When space equals opportunity cost the math tilts against bulky ETG installations.

Interblock sits as ETG market leader and is also owned by private equity. Aristocrat was long rumored to acquire Interblock yet a deal never materialized due to a reported gap in price of $200 million. The stalled transaction adds another data point to the broader consolidation pattern.

Risks in Transition and Innovation Trade-Offs

Customer support during the wind-down carries risk. O’Shaughnessy promised continued service at expected levels yet the division itself will cease to exist after 2027. Future product development in ETG formats will move elsewhere or stop. Operators reliant on IGT’s Wheel of Fortune ETG or proprietary blackjack and baccarat systems must now map alternatives.

The counterargument sits in the size of the business. Because ETG remained small versus slots the exit frees capital and talent for higher-margin categories. Hector Fernandez, the new CEO, said the March layoffs were meant to “simplify our structure, reduce duplication and enable us to move with greater clarity and speed.” The same logic now applies to the full division shutdown.

From the supplier side this kind of rationalization often accelerates when private equity ownership sets strict return thresholds. The data here matches that pattern without ambiguity.

The Vendor Reassessment Operators Face

Casino operators should inventory current ETG installations and forecast replacement timelines well before 2027. The Apollo-driven focus on becoming the single supplier may strengthen IGT offerings in slots, systems and core casino technology. Yet it simultaneously narrows options inside electronic table games.

The combined coverage leaves one gap underemphasized. Reporting details the strategic intent and historic growth but provides limited visibility on exact customer migration paths or incremental revenue impact from the ETG unit. Operators and investors must therefore press for transition specifics in coming quarters.

Consolidation at the supplier level rarely reverses. The $6.3 billion deal, 10 percent headcount reduction, $200 million acquisition gap and 2027 closure all point in the same direction. Operators who treat this as an early signal rather than a distant event will hold the stronger position.