Technology

IGT Joins Growing Roster of Licensed Vendors as Emirates Builds New Gaming Ecosystem

International Game Technology (IGT) has secured its place in the rapidly evolving UAE gaming landscape, becoming the seventh company to receive a coveted vendor license from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). This development marks another significant step in the Emirates’ ambitious journey to establish itself as a new hub for regulated gaming […]

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2 weeks ago

May 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

IGT Secures Prized UAE Vendor License

In a move that flew somewhat under the radar, IGT Global Services Limited has been added to the GCGRA’s official list of licensed gaming-related vendors. Unlike previous licensing announcements that came with considerable fanfare, IGT’s approval appeared on the regulatory authority’s website without an accompanying press release, joining an increasingly impressive roster of international gaming technology providers now authorized to operate in the UAE market.

The licensing grants IGT the ability to supply its extensive portfolio of gaming solutions to GCGRA-approved operators in the Emirates. As a Tier 1 Gaming Related Vendor, IGT can now establish itself as a key supplier in what many industry insiders consider to be one of the most promising new gaming jurisdictions globally.

This development comes at a particularly interesting time for IGT, as the company is in the midst of significant corporate restructuring that will see its gaming and digital businesses merge with Everi Holdings, while its lottery division becomes a standalone entity.

UAE’s Gaming Market: From Zero to Sixty

The UAE’s gaming industry has experienced remarkably rapid development since its effective inception in 2022 with Wynn Resorts’ announcement of a $2 billion integrated resort project on Al Marjan Island. What makes this market evolution particularly noteworthy is the speed with which the Emirates has moved from essentially no regulated gaming presence to establishing a comprehensive framework for commercial gaming activities.

The country reached a significant milestone in December 2023 with the launch of The Game LLC, the UAE’s first regulated lottery operation. This was followed by a steady stream of licensing announcements for both operators and vendors throughout 2024 and into 2025.

Further cementing its commitment to building a world-class gaming regulatory framework, the GCGRA recently signed a memorandum of understanding with New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement – widely considered one of the most sophisticated gaming regulatory bodies in the United States. This cross-border collaboration sets a new standard for international regulatory cooperation and provides the UAE with access to decades of regulatory expertise.

Inside the GCGRA’s Growing Vendor Ecosystem

IGT joins an increasingly competitive field of licensed gaming technology providers in the UAE. Among the most notable is Aristocrat Technologies Europe, which made headlines as the first international slot and online technology firm to secure a vendor license in the Emirates. Aristocrat’s license permits the company to offer its land-based electronic gaming machines, online games, and various technology solutions to licensed commercial gaming operators in the country.

Hector Fernandez, CEO of Gaming for Aristocrat, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating:

We look forward to providing premium content for players in the UAE while simultaneously encouraging responsible gameplay

Another significant player in the UAE’s licensed vendor landscape is Smartplay International Inc., which specializes in lottery and gaming draw machines. Smartplay’s technology is renowned for its reliability and security, serving numerous lottery operators worldwide. Their presence in the UAE market suggests the GCGRA is planning for robust lottery operations beyond the initial offering from The Game LLC.

The vendor licensing approach reflects the GCGRA’s methodical strategy of building a complete gaming ecosystem, starting with the regulatory framework, then licensing key technology providers before moving toward full-scale operator licensing and market launch.

IGT’s Evolution: From Lottery Giant to Gaming Powerhouse

International Game Technology’s journey to its current position reads like a history of the modern gaming industry itself. The company, now headquartered in London with key offices in Rome, Providence (Rhode Island), and Las Vegas, has undergone multiple transformations since its origins.

Initially known as Lottomatica, the company rebranded as Gtech in 2013 following its 2006 acquisition of Gtech Corporation. In 2015, a pivotal moment occurred when the company purchased US-based International Game Technology and subsequently adopted the IGT name, solidifying its position as one of the global leaders in gaming technology.

IGT’s portfolio now spans the entire gaming spectrum, from traditional lottery systems to cutting-edge electronic gaming machines, sports betting platforms, and digital gaming solutions. The company is particularly well-known for its popular Wheel of Fortune slot machines, which have become iconic fixtures in casinos worldwide.

The $6.3 Billion Deal: IGT, Everi, and Apollo Global Management

The UAE licensing arrives during a period of monumental change for IGT. In February 2024, IGT and Everi Holdings announced plans to combine IGT’s gaming and digital businesses with Everi in a deal that valued the combined entity at approximately $6.2 billion.

This arrangement evolved further in July 2024, when Apollo Global Management entered the picture with a modified transaction. Under the new agreement, Apollo will acquire both businesses in an all-cash deal valuing the combined enterprise at $6.3 billion – slightly higher than the original valuation.

The transaction structure is complex: IGT will separate its gaming business through a taxable spin-off to IGT shareholders and immediately combine it with Everi. Both entities will then be acquired by a new holding company owned by funds managed by Apollo Global Management. This will create a privately owned combined enterprise bringing together IGT’s electronic table games and popular Wheel of Fortune brand with Everi’s bingo and casino offerings.

For Everi stockholders, the deal means receiving $14.25 per share in cash – a 56% premium over Everi’s closing price on July 25, 2024. Meanwhile, IGT will receive $4.05 billion in gross cash proceeds, which it plans to use significantly for debt repayment and shareholder returns.

Once the transaction concludes, IGT will transform into a pure-play lottery business with a new name and stock ticker symbol, while the combined IGT Gaming and Everi operation will move forward under Apollo’s ownership. Italian holding company De Agostini S.p.A., IGT’s majority shareholder, has committed to making a minority equity investment in the combined enterprise.

Next-Generation Gaming Technology Reshaping the Industry

The UAE’s emerging gaming market comes at a time of unprecedented technological innovation in the industry. The integration of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and virtual reality is fundamentally transforming how players interact with gaming content.

AI-powered personalization represents one of the most significant frontiers in slot gaming, including crypto slots. These advanced systems can evaluate player behavior in real-time and modify gaming features to match individual preferences. This level of customization creates a more engaging experience while potentially increasing player retention and revenue.

Modern technological developments have enabled providers like IGT and Aristocrat to build slots that not only personalize gameplay based on player profiles but also maintain higher security standards and transparency. The combination of AI-powered gaming services that support cryptocurrency exchanges while enabling metaverse connectivity represents a new digital slot experience that was barely imaginable just a few years ago.

For UAE operators, access to these cutting-edge technologies through newly licensed vendors will be crucial to attracting and retaining players in a market where consumer expectations are likely to be particularly high given the Emirates’ reputation for luxury and innovation.

UAE’s Strategic Position in the Regional Gaming Landscape

The UAE’s entry into regulated gaming comes as part of a broader regional shift. While neighboring Saudi Arabia has also shown interest in developing entertainment destinations that may eventually include gaming elements, the UAE has moved decisively to establish first-mover advantage in the region.

The licensing of major international vendors like IGT, Aristocrat, and Smartplay signals the Emirates’ serious commitment to building a world-class gaming industry. The GCGRA’s methodical approach to market development, emphasizing strong regulation and responsible gaming from the outset, appears designed to create a sustainable industry that aligns with the UAE’s broader economic diversification goals.

For technology providers like IGT, the UAE represents not just a new market, but potentially a gateway to a region with significant untapped potential. As the first major Middle Eastern jurisdiction to embrace regulated commercial gaming at this scale, the UAE could become a hub for gaming technology and expertise throughout the region.

The strategic importance of securing an early position in this market explains why companies like IGT are pursuing licensing despite being in the midst of major corporate restructuring. The potential long-term benefits of establishing a foothold in the UAE market evidently outweigh any short-term operational complexities.

Wynn Al Marjan and the Integrated Resort Model

Central to the UAE’s gaming vision is the development of integrated resorts that combine gaming with luxury accommodations, dining, retail, and entertainment. The most prominent example is Wynn Al Marjan Island, operated by Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, which holds one of the GCGRA’s land-based gaming facilities licenses.

This $2 billion project represents Wynn Resorts’ first foray into the Middle East and signals the high level of confidence major international operators have in the UAE market’s potential. The integrated resort model has proven highly successful in jurisdictions like Singapore and Macau, generating significant tourism and economic benefits beyond gaming revenue alone.

For technology suppliers like IGT, these destination resorts create opportunities to showcase their latest products in high-visibility environments. The combination of IGT’s gaming technology with Everi’s fintech solutions could prove particularly attractive to operators of these complex integrated resorts, which require seamless payment systems across multiple revenue centers.

As the UAE market continues to develop, the relationships between licensed vendors, operators, and regulators will be crucial in determining which companies ultimately establish dominant positions in this promising new jurisdiction.

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Organizations and companies are partnering to introduce Black students in Detroit to golf

By COREY WILLIAMS DETROIT (AP) — As a fan, Shaun Horne is all about Detroit’s professional sports teams. But when it comes to playing, the high school junior has his eyes on one game. “I only play golf,” Horne said after taking his turn on a simulator inside a gym on Detroit’s westside. Embracing golf […]

Published

51 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By COREY WILLIAMS

DETROIT (AP) — As a fan, Shaun Horne is all about Detroit’s professional sports teams. But when it comes to playing, the high school junior has his eyes on one game.

“I only play golf,” Horne said after taking his turn on a simulator inside a gym on Detroit’s westside.

Embracing golf makes the 16-year-old a rarity among his Detroit peers — particularly Black high schoolers.

Coaches and community groups in the city are taking ambitious steps to spread the game’s popularity among students — noting that only about 50 of more than 14,000 high school students in Detroit’s school district play golf on school teams.

In Detroit, the biggest challenge is exposing Black youth to the game, said Jesse Hawkins, who is Black and coaches Horne’s team at Renaissance High School. Backing from local corporations and nonprofits, providing access to equipment and even college scholarships is helping.

“When you go into high schools and you go into elementary schools often times we’ll hear narratives around basketball players, football games, those things,” Hawkins said. “And golf is really not as propagated as much for our community.”

Who’s playing?

In Detroit, advocates of increasing play among Black young people have partnered with some of the city’s largest businesses and community organizations. At least two nonprofits offer programs that teach kids how to play golf.

The Rocket Classic has steered nearly $10 million from the annual PGA event held in Detroit to local charitable organizations. Of that, $800,000 has been given to programs that teach kids how to play the game. One program provides access to college scholarships to high school seniors, while upward of 700 children and teens take part each year in programs put on by First Tee of Greater Detroit.

“Golf is the why we get them there, but while we have them there we’re teaching them life skills,” said Carl Bentley, chief executive of First Tee of Greater Detroit, which has donated a golf simulator to the school district. “Learning how to say ‘yes sir, yes ma’am’ — shake a hand properly, how to start a conversation. We’re teaching them life skills and then we get to putting and swinging and things like that.”

Among the 28.1 million Americans who played golf on a course in 2024, about 25% were Black, Asian or Hispanic, according to the National Golf Foundation. Interest is wider when considering those who played or followed professional golf coverage on TV, in writing or via podcasts.

1 of 4

Shaun Horne, 16, a junior at Renaissance High School works on putting with golf coach Jess Hawkins in Detroit, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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But Hawkins said his experience as a coach suggests Black high schoolers aren’t among that audience.

“You don’t hear kids talking about the latest golf shoes or the cool golf apparel,” Hawkins said. “You’re not necessarily going to get a badge of honor walking into your high school and you’ve got the newest golf shirt.”

Lack of money is a barrier

Golf and equipment can be pricey, sometimes too pricey for families struggling just to make ends meet.

Detroit, which is just under 80% Black, had a median income of about $39,500 in 2023 compared to $69,100 statewide, according to the census. The city’s poverty level was about 32%. Statewide, that figure was about 13.5%.

A set of good golf clubs can cost a few hundred dollars or more. It’s $28 for juniors to play 18 holes and use a cart weekdays at the two public golf courses in Detroit.

The PGA brought its first event to Detroit in 2019, and city native Dan Gilbert’s Rocket Companies has been its sponsor. The company works with partners to bring the game to Detroit’s youth and cover some of the costs, said Trina Scott, vice president of Civic and Community Affairs at Detroit-based Rock, which is Gilbert’s family office.

“How do we attract Black and brown youth into seeing (golf) as a possibility?” said Scott. “One way of doing that is by making it accessible (and) also eliminating the barriers — being able to have the right clothing to go on a golf course, being able to have the clubs that you need, being able to have the skillset to be confident on the course.”

From the gridiron to the golf course

Mike Schuchard has about a dozen players on his Detroit Cass Tech golf team. That’s about double the number from last season, but only two are considered “varsity level.”

That’s not enough to compete against some suburban schools with strong golf programs.

The first-year golf coach says he’s trying to recruit students who are already interested in others sports.

“These schools are loaded with great athletes, but they just haven’t been introduced to this game, yet,” Schuchard said.

Ahmari Flowers, the senior captain on Cass Tech’s golf team, agrees. He started playing the sport after his freshman year.

“I’m an athletic guy and golf like came easy to me,” said Flowers, 17. “For an athletic person, it’s still a sport, a lot of body movement and all you got to do is control that athleticism and use it to your advantage.”

Originally Published: May 20, 2025 at 10:01 AM PDT

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Latest Strava Updates Use AI to Recommend Routes, Level Leaderboards, and More

Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More The weekend comes, and there’s an urge to shake up your routine. It’s time to take a long run or ride to new places. That often takes tinkering on a map and can eat into riding time if you […]

Published

53 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

The weekend comes, and there’s an urge to shake up your routine. It’s time to take a long run or ride to new places. That often takes tinkering on a map and can eat into riding time if you haven’t planned ahead.

Then comes the urge to just wing it, which can be fun — unless you end up riding down sketchy road shoulders, cursing yourself with every passing car.

Strava’s latest suite of updates includes route suggestions based on paths worn by its users. In effect, you can crowdsource new route suggestions — complete with a café stop at the halfway mark. If you’re still in the mood to trailblaze, more power to you. Maybe you’ll end up creating a new segment and become its leader.

Strava continues to use artificial intelligence to bolster its existing features. The biggest updates come to the app’s Routes. Here, AI leans on the data created by its more than 150 million athlete users in over 185 countries.

How does AI know what route you might like? It finds routes popular among other users based on activity type. It’s not unlike song recommendations on music apps.

As you’ll see, these improved Routes have a trickle-down effect, informing other features that will roll out this summer.

Strava’s new Routes lets AI use community-created data for suggestions; (photo/Strava)

2025 Strava Updates: Crowdsourced Wayfinding

AI-Powered Routes

As mentioned above, Strava has updated its Routes experience with help from AI. Under the Maps tab, Routes generates suggestions based on its community-backed routes. It uses the app’s Global Heatmap to share or find new places to run, ride, or walk from their current location.

We can see where the machine could eventually weigh its recommendations based on users with similar performance data. However, that is wholly speculative on our part.

Tappable Points of Interest

Riding out to the nearest scenic overlook is cool, but Strava’s Points of Interest includes some more practical locations. After all, cycling and cafés are practically synonymous. And every athlete has felt the sudden urge to find the nearest restroom.

In June, subscribers can tap to find this information and have Strava generate a direct or scenic route there. These routes will include details like elevation, distance, and estimated time to arrival. The app’s Maps tab will also include community-provided photos.

Screenshots of the latest Strava features; (photo illustration/Strava)

Point-to-Point Routing

Strava combines its new Routes engine with info from its Global Heatmap to create the most efficient, activity-specific route to get from one spot to the next. Come July, users can simply drop a pin and go with point-to-point routing on mobile.

Fair PRs & Leaderboards

People cheat at board games, so it should never be a surprise that people will cheat to get atop Strava’s local leaderboard. Personal records and Leaderboards are a big part of the app’s experience for some athletes. Thus, the company has taken several measures to maintain their integrity.

In February, Strava began using its machine-learning models to flag suspicious activities that were incorrectly tagged. For instance, a ride that was recorded as a run, or any activity that involved a vehicle. In many cases, users forget to stop recording an effort and start to drive home. Strava detects such bad data (not cheating) and has users trim their activity.

New updates continue its efforts for accurate PRs and leaderboards.

Strava continues to update its activity monitoring to flag suspicious efforts; (screenshot/Strava)

Fair Leaderboards

As part of Strava’s ongoing efforts to uphold fair and legitimate leaderboards, the company is continuing to advance the application of its machine-learning model to police its top 10 spots on ride and run leaderboards.

Strava reports that this effort “has removed 4.45 million activities with the wrong sport type or recorded in vehicles so far, helping to rightfully restore KOMs and QOMs to reflect true performances.”

Building off these efforts, Strava is making more updates to increase confidence in its leaderboards. It’s also expanding oversight across even more live segments. Subscribers can discover and compete on these new live segments with new features like extra screens with comparison metrics.

2024 Strava Updates Now Active

If you haven’t caught up on Strava’s features recently, know that you may be sleeping on quite a few recent updates.

New Route suggestions based on your location and activities; (photo illustration/Strava)

Last year, we reported on several soft-launched features released during Camp Strava. Among those were the much-requested Dark Mode to kill the screen brightness at night, and the AI-based coaching feature dubbed Athlete Intelligence that provides feedback after a recorded ride, run, or effort. Athlete Intelligence has since made it out of beta after positive feedback from users.

Night Heat Maps created a database of popular routes after dark. While day maps often lead to parks or water-side routes, that changes at night when safety and visibility are a higher concern. This feature can be accessed as a layer in the Maps tab.

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Dubai’s RTA showcases 5 tech innovations at GITEX Berlin

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is showcasing five of its cutting-edge tech innovations at GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything 2025, a three-day tech and startup event taking place in Berlin, Germany. The global event, which kicked off on May 21, is getting to witness RTA’s AI-powered traffic flow optimisation, palm vein payment, flying […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The global event, which kicked off on May 21, is getting to witness RTA’s AI-powered traffic flow optimisation, palm vein payment, flying taxi, interactive kiosks, and the initiative to enhance pedestrian and cyclist experience.

“We have made sure to showcase these and let the people in Berlin and Europe see the benchmark and see how RTA is doing it in Dubai,” Salahaldeen Almarzooqi, director of technology governance strategy of the corporate technology support services sector at RTA, told Khaleej Times.

While these projects are already announced in the UAE and are in the process of being implemented, Dubai aims to garner a wider reach through GITEX EUROPE that has exhibitors from over 100 countries.

Palm payment in final stages

The RTA director said the groundbreaking palm vein payment initiative is “in the final stages of proof of concept”, adding as “this technology needs to be reliable no matter what the circumstances, there has to be 5,000 case studies to test the new technology”.

“If people come with any injury or with henna for example, [we] have to make sure that it’s all tested [so that it’s accurate].”

Almarzooqi added, “The plan is to move it to pilot stage and by end of next year, we will start rolling out into the public transportation media”.

Enhancing pedestrian and cyclist experience initiative

The initiative essentially includes a “smart” pole that includes a canopy, seating, USB ports, camera, air pump, as well as other basic maintenance tools for cyclist.

Managing traffic with AI

In February, RTA had announced to leverage AI to gather real-time data on congestion due to traffic lights.

“Recently, we started deploying a new traffic management system based completely on an AI algorithm that monitors the traffic situation using multiple inputs, like cameras, sensors, and takes the real-time decision towards extending the green light and managing the traffic on the intersections,” he said.

“It was for the first time in the region that we are deploying a smart fusion system for traffic that is aimed to reduce the traffic by 15 per cent to 20 per cent.”

In Berlin, RTA showcased this technology in a bid to set a “benchmark” so that Europe can “learn from those opportunities,” Almarzooqi said.

Within the upcoming year or the year after, we’re going to complete the migration of around 600 intersections from the existing system to the new AI-based system, he added.

Interactive kiosks

RTA’s smart kiosks provides various digital services related to vehicle licencing, drivers, parking, nol, and revenue management services (licencing, sales invoice, etc. The services are seamless and are availanble round the clock.

Hind Aldah

Hind Aldah covers business, tech, crypto and all that jazz for a younger audience. In her spare time…More

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IGT Joins Growing Roster of Licensed Vendors as Emirates Builds New Gaming Ecosystem

IGT Secures Prized UAE Vendor License

UAE’s Gaming Market: From Zero to Sixty

Inside the GCGRA’s Growing Vendor Ecosystem

IGT’s Evolution: From Lottery Giant to Gaming Powerhouse

The $6.3 Billion Deal: IGT, Everi, and Apollo Global Management

Next-Generation Gaming Technology Reshaping the Industry

UAE’s Strategic Position in the Regional Gaming Landscape

Wynn Al Marjan and the Integrated Resort Model

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Technology

Organizations and companies are partnering to introduce Black students in Detroit to golf

Lack of money is a barrier

From the gridiron to the golf course

Technology

Latest Strava Updates Use AI to Recommend Routes, Level Leaderboards, and More

2025 Strava Updates: Crowdsourced Wayfinding

AI-Powered Routes

Tappable Points of Interest

Point-to-Point Routing

Fair PRs & Leaderboards

Fair Leaderboards

2024 Strava Updates Now Active

Technology

Dubai’s RTA showcases 5 tech innovations at GITEX Berlin

Palm payment in final stages

Enhancing pedestrian and cyclist experience initiative

Managing traffic with AI

Interactive kiosks

Hind Aldah

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