Playtech Buys $85M Worth of Shares at Hard Rock Digital in a Bid to Expand to The US
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Updated by Janne Kouva Jul 6, 2026
The online gambling platform will spend $85m on acquiring Hard Rock Digital to ensure that it can expand its horizons and grow revenues faster than its competitors. Playtech plans to advance aggressively on the continent by expanding its iGaming offerings to more US states.
About Hard Rock Digital
Hard Rock Digital is the online gaming subsidiary of US Leisure and entertainment group Hard Rock International. The company was established in December 2020 by Stars Group and Fox Bet veterans: Marlon Goldstein, PokerStar's former CEO, and Former Stars CEO Rafi Ashkenazi, its executive managing director and Executive chair.
Hard Rock Digital currently operates in The US States of Indiana, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, Iowa, Ohio and New Jersey.
What is the Partnership's Goal?
The new partnership also allows Hard Rock Digital to supply Playtech's casino products and services on a revenue-share basis under long-term commercial agreements. Hard Rock Digital will establish a strong US presence for Playtech, and the latter will provide the former with additional resources to fuel the expansion of these games.
However, the FTSE250 technology group don't expect a significant impact on its Business-to-business results in the 2023 financial year but expects it to rise in the following year. This partnership, which has come at a time when the online gambling industry is experiencing fast growth after the COVID-19 pandemic, will enable Playtech to achieve its goal of expanding to the North American market.
The deal with Hard Rock Digital will be financed by Playtech and include an investment of $85m. Playtech's Chief Executive, Mor Weizer, is delighted to have Hard Rock Digital as a partner. He commented: "The Playtech team is thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with HRD."
He further noted that Hard Rock International had cemented itself as a worldwide marquee in gambling and entertainment. "For Playtech, this partnership significantly advances our position in the North American market and is very much in line with our B2B strategy," he said.
Hard Rock's chief executive officer, Jim Allen, explained that the partnership with Playtech was a perfect fit. They have a shared vision for the future, and Playtech is committed to helping Hard Rock Digital realise its full potential.
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Written by
Janne Kouva
Head of Content
Fifteen-plus years in the gambling industry, and Janne Kouva still gets a genuine kick out of it, whether it's sports betting or the latest slot release. He's seen table games come and go and watched the slot machine world completely reinvent itself, and he still keeps a close eye on every new casino that pops up. His mission is simple: point players toward casinos that are safe, licensed, and actually worth their time, bonuses included.