European slot developer 4ThePlayer has obtained its full license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), expanding its US presence. The company entered the US market through a live transactional waiver in New Jersey in August 2022 and received its provisional license in Michigan two months later.
Thanks to that provisional license, Michigan players have already been enjoying some of 4ThePlayer’s titles, like 9k Yeti and 3 Secret Cities. With a full license, the developer will bring more titles to the Great Lakes State, like the popular 6 Wild Sharks already on offer in NJ alongside some European favorites that will be new to the American audience.
At the same time, 4ThePlayer is working on several upcoming releases tailored explicitly for the US market. The first wave of those titles will become available later this year.
Chris Ash, the Business Development Director and co-founder of 4ThePlayer expressed his excitement, stating that they are thrilled about this achievement in their US market strategy.
Online casinos have been highly successful in Michigan, bringing in $150.2 million in revenue in May, up 18.2% year-over-year. Ash added that New Jersey and Michigan are just the start for the company in the US, and they anticipate entering more regulated markets. Pennsylvania seems likely, while West Virginia and Connecticut offer additional room to grow.
Last year, Bonus Brand Manager Mike Epifani spoke with 4ThePlayer co-founder and Commercial & Marketing Director Henry McLean at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas about the company’s then-upcoming US debut.
Now, virtually every online casino in Michigan features the game.
Michigan Casinos with 4ThePlayer Slots: BetMGM Casino Michigan | DraftKings Casino | FanDuel Casino
What Should Michigan Players Expect To See From 4ThePlayer?
In designing its products, 4ThePlayer focuses on thematic graphics and interactive bonus features. For example, in 3 Secret Cities, players progress through a treasure map as they play.
One of the company’s most popular slots in Michigan is 9K Yeti. Its press release mentions 6 Wild Sharks, suggesting that’s another hit title players in the Wolverine State can expect to see soon.
Featured Slot: 9K Yeti
The 9k Yeti slot has a Mount Everest theme and offers equally lofty chances to win. The slot wins up to 9,011x the wager, and one of the most prominent features is the free spins round. Players can re-trigger up to 880 Free Spins, potentially racking up huge prizes.
In addition to the excellent graphics, a nice visual touch is that the Yeti’s hat on the Wild symbol changes from season to season. For example, around Thanksgiving, the Yeti wears a hat resembling a turkey, while it wears a Santa Claus hat for Christmas.
The game’s key features include:
- Big 6×4 reel layout
- 4,096 ways to win
- Max win of 9,011 times the bet
- Stakes from $0.20 per spin up to a maximum of $25.
- 95% return-to-player (RTP)
- Up to 880 free spins
To Watch For: 6 Wild Sharks
This ocean-themed slot immerses players in shark-infested waters. It features high volatility and allows players to choose between Standard and Advanced modes. In Advanced mode, the player can place up to six locked Wilds anywhere they like in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th columns, though each one increases the cost per spin. It makes for a highly customizable experience.
The game’s Free Spins feature, triggered by landing two Scatter symbols, also features customizable Wilds.
Many of the game’s other features will be familiar to 9K Yeti players:
- 6×4 reel layout
- 4,096 ways to win
- Max win of 10,368x the bet
- Minimum bet of $0.10 and a maximum of $50.
- 96.5% RTP in Classic mode, up to 97% in Advanced.
US iGaming Success Has European Developers Flocking to the Market
It’s no wonder that companies like 4ThePlayer are hurrying to increase their US footprint. At the beginning of the year, Bonus News Managing Editor Alex Weldon estimated that US online casino revenue would reach $6.5 billion this year.
With this in mind, multiple leading European companies are looking to expand in the US. In early June, Greentube received a license in Pennsylvania. That marked the fourth state for the company, after New Jersey, Michigan, and Connecticut.
Meanwhile, White Hat Studios also launched in Pennsylvania in March, marking its fourth state entry. While still behind the others, 4ThePlayer, can gain followers with its interactive slots and winning ways. We won’t be surprised to see the developer enter other markets like Pennsylvania in the near future.