iGaming Supplier Hacksaw Gaming Adds New Jersey to Its US Footprint

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 26, 2023

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Malta-based Hacksaw Gaming has received temporary approval from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), marking the state as its second US market.

The unique strategy of entering the US market involved a debut in West Virginia in August through a partnership with BetRivers Casino, followed by a collaboration with DraftKings Casino, which paved the way for their presence in New Jersey.

The DGE granted provisional authorization on November 15, valid for six months, contingent upon product submissions to the DGE’s Technical Service Bureau. Similar to its West Virginia approach, Hacksaw will distribute its games through Light & Wonder’s network.

Upon launch, DraftKings is expected to introduce Hacksaw’s flagship slot, Wanted Dead or a Wild, alongside other titles like Joker Bombs, King Carrot, Stack ’em, The Bowery Boys and Toshi Video Club.

Hacksaw’s content has gained momentum in Europe, earning the studio the “Slot Supplier Rising Star” award at the EGR B2B Awards in London. Known for its slots featuring multipliers, Hacksaw employs various activation methods, contributing to high volatility, with bonus rounds often featuring multipliers reaching 100x or more.

Despite high volatility, the return-to-player (RTP) remains favorable, averaging over 96% in many titles. One distinctive mechanic employed by Hacksaw is the DuelReel, featured in popular slots like Wanted Dead or Wild.

The VS symbol triggers two multiplier symbols that “battle” each other, and the player receives the winning multiplier, which also transforms into an extended wild.

Additionally, Hacksaw Gaming targets mobile players with its Pocketz series, designed with minimalist graphics suitable for small mobile displays.

Despite their simple appearance, these slots offer multiple bonus features, including multipliers and stacked or expanding wilds, with the Pocketz series diverging in volatility compared to other Hacksaw games.

The latest quarterly report from DraftKings asserts its position as the iGaming market leader, surpassing BetMGM, although BetMGM contests this claim, emphasizing the reliance on specific metrics for evaluation.

The intense competition between the two is evident. New Jersey, being the most mature gaming market in the US, has historically seen Golden Nugget as the leader.

Recent dynamics have shifted, turning it into a three-way competition among Golden Nugget (including FanDuel Casino), Resorts (including DraftKings Casino) and Borgata (including BetMGM Casino). Throughout this year, each of the three contenders has taken the lead at different points, with the difference between them often being only a few million dollars.

Given the close competition, the quality of content could emerge as a crucial factor. While all major operators offer an extensive array of games, the potential to gain an edge lies in providing unique titles with features distinguishing them from competitors.

Hacksaw Gaming’s DuelReels, for instance, offers a distinctive feature that could set them apart. DraftKings, as the first operator in New Jersey to offer Hacksaw Gaming’s slots, could leverage this to strengthen its position.

Notably, Hacksaw Gaming also partners with BetRivers Casino in West Virginia and Ontario, Canada. BetMGM Casino also features Hacksaw slots in Ontario, indicating the potential for broader availability across multiple platforms.