Boyd acquires Pala Interactive for $170 million in the United States.

Pala Interactive, a North American iGaming software and services provider owned by the Pala Band of Mission Indians, is being purchased by Boyd Gaming for $170 million.

Pala Interactive, which was created in 2013 by the Pala Band of Mission Indians, is an innovative online gaming technology firm that offers real money and social gaming solutions to businesses and consumers in regulated marketplaces across the United States and Canada.

Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “The acquisition of Pala Interactive marks the next phase in the ongoing execution of our iGaming strategy, providing us full control over the technology, development and customer experience. By integrating online casinos with our existing land-based operations, we will be able to further leverage and monetise our expansive customer database and the amenities of our nationwide portfolio of properties, driving growth in both our land-based and iGaming operations.”

Mr. Smith continued: “Given our nationwide geographic distribution, significant database and established loyalty program, it makes sense for us to pursue a direct approach with our iGaming operations. By engaging directly with our guests and having the ability to personalize the customer experience, we are confident in our ability to create a cost-effective and profitable regional iGaming business. While the acquisition of Pala Interactive supports our iGaming strategy, we remain fully committed to our sports-betting partnership with FanDuel, which has allowed us to participate in the nationwide expansion of sports-betting. We look forward to welcoming the Pala Interactive team to our Company and building a highly successful online gaming business in the years ahead.”

Pala Interactive offers a player management system, casino, poker, integrated sports, social casino, and poker platforms, as well as a full spectrum of managed services. Pala Interactive offers B2B services in eight states and Canada, as well as B2C and B2B2C services in New Jersey and Canada, respectively.

“Our tribe was at the forefront in creating an online gaming platform,” said Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. “We brought together the best minds in the business to build and ultimately transact, what has become a very successful business.”

Jim Ryan, CEO of Pala Interactive, said, “This is the result of a considerable capital investment and  lot of hard work by the Pala Tribe and Pala Interactive employees to build a modern-age online gaming platform and business tailored to the North American regulated gaming market. Boyd Gaming’s acquisition of the Pala Interactive business, positions the enterprise for the next growth phase, which includes the development and execution of an iGaming strategy for Boyd Gaming and a continued commitment of investment and development in Pala’s B2B business.”

Pala Interactive recently earned its Ontario Gaming Related Supplier (GRS) Manufacturer License, which paved the way for the acquisition. Securing the GRS license is another step forward for the company in the regulated iGaming sector in North America, and it prepares the company for future expansion in the Canadian market.