IGT to Close Electronic Table Games Division in 2027 as Apollo Pursues Supplier Consolidation
Key Takeaways
- Division shutdown: IGT will shutter its electronic table games unit in 2027 following earlier layoffs and the $6.3 billion Apollo-led merger with Everi.
- Strategic pivot: The move aligns with a focus on core business priorities after the company cut about 10% of its global workforce in March.
- ETG challenges: The sector requires significant floor space yet generates less revenue than slots and remains more popular outside the US market.
- Consolidation signal: Apollo’s emphasis on becoming the one-stop supplier pushes operators to reassess table game technology vendors.
“ Our goal long term is to become the operator’s supplier,” Apollo partner Daniel Cohen told regulators. That statement from the June 2025 Nevada hearing now carries fresh weight. iGaming Business reports that International Game Technology will shut down its electronic table games division in 2027.
The decision follows the 2024 acquisition, privatization, and merger with Everi Holdings under Apollo Global Management. It also comes months after the supplier cut about 10% of its global workforce.
Apollo’s Post-Merger Rationalization
IGT spokesman Phill O’Shaughnessy confirmed the closure to iGaming Business. He 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.
New CEO Hector Fernandez previously described the March layoffs as necessary to simplify structure, reduce duplication, and enable greater clarity and speed. The former lottery division spun off into the publicly traded Brightstar Lottery. ETGs now appear next in line for elimination.
Cohen had bemoaned IGT falling behind chief competitors Aristocrat and Light & Wonder. Long-term value creation drove the $6.3 billion deal. The ETG exit fits that script of pruning non-core assets.
Earlier Growth Efforts That Fell Short
IGT had been expanding its ETG business in recent years. Offerings included blackjack, baccarat, and roulette electronic table games. The company also extended its Wheel of Fortune franchise into ETG format to boost the category.
Luigi Cacciapuoti, IGT’s vice president of specialty product and ETG, told GGB Magazine in 2024 that the team rewrote every line of code for a completely new offering. The goal was clear differentiation that delivered excitement for players and value for customers.
From the supplier side this kind of rebuild shows real operational commitment. Yet the business remained small compared with slots. Floor space demands created a persistent hurdle for casino operators.
Sector-Wide Headwinds and Competitive Pressures
Electronic table games face structural limitations. Most slots generate higher revenue while occupying far less space. Floor managers constantly weigh that trade-off. ETGs have gained more traction in European and Asian markets than in the US.
Market leader Interblock, also under private equity ownership, drew acquisition interest from Aristocrat. Those talks stalled over a reported $200 million price gap. Such gaps highlight how valuation expectations can block further consolidation.
The coverage from iGaming Business captures the immediate corporate moves. What it underemphasizes is the downstream effect on product innovation pipelines. Operators lose one established supplier just as table technology faces pressure to deliver both efficiency and differentiation.
Where the Risk Lies
Casino operators risk reduced vendor choice in a category already squeezed by real estate constraints. Dependence on fewer suppliers could slow the pace of new ETG features or integrations. If remaining players prioritize high-margin slots, electronic table innovation may stall.
Suppliers face their own pressures under private equity ownership. The drive for simplification can eliminate experimental divisions before they reach scale. This creates uncertainty for operators planning multi-year floor layouts.
The Vendor Reassessment Ahead
This ETG exit under Apollo accelerates supplier consolidation and forces operators to map alternative table technology providers sooner than expected. The data shows ETGs have grown yet still lose the floor-space battle to slots. Operators should audit current vendor contracts and pilot emerging solutions now to avoid gaps when support winds down in 2027.
