Vast bison herds once roamed North America. Now, their likenesses “stampede” down reels in retail casino slots games. Soon, that retail casino “Buffalo” brand may be at the core of US online casino game titles debuting from Aristocrat Leisure‘s new iGaming division by the end of 2022.
The Buffalo brand is one of Australian gaming and tech company Aristocrat’s most popular retail casino games, so the news that the bison-friendly theme may dominate its US online casino options may be information American iGaming fans welcome.
Confirming that belief, Global Gaming Expo (G2E) conferees roaming the exhibits at the Las Vegas show came face-to-face with the buffalo images at Aristocrat’s stand.
That brown furry visage is how Aristocrat wanted gambling industry insiders to discover the new “online real money gaming” division, Anaxi, as well as its news about Aristocrat’s American online casino market entrance.
In Aristocrat’s announcement on Oct. 10, Anaxi CEO Mitchell Bowen said:
We are thrilled to be showcasing our new Anaxi brand at G2E Las Vegas and invite our customers, partners, and players to ‘Experience Anaxi’ with us on the Aristocrat Gaming stand.
That’s what Mike Epifani, casino content manager with the Sharp Division of Catena Media North America, saw at G2E.
Epifani, who manages Bonus.com, spoke yesterday with Jon Hanlin. Hanlin is Aristocrat Gaming‘s senior vice president of commercial strategy and business analytics.
Hanlin said since creating Buffalo 12 years ago, his company’s seen the brand grow to include 35 different iterations and be worth more than $1 billion.
Aristocrat (ARLUF) stock’s value has risen more than 1% since the Anaxi announcement.
Aristocrat says:
Anaxi is a third business unit within Aristocrat Group, sitting alongside Aristocrat Gaming and the Pixel United mobile-first publishing business.
What’s More American Than Buffalo?
Bison stampede down slot reels, Wild West music plays, and various wilderness sounds punctuate Aristocrat’s retail casino games. Currency reminiscent of the Buffalo nickel also appears – but usually bearing an eagle or another aspect of Americana.
While it’s unclear what form its US online casino games will take, Anaxi will likely stick with success.
Aristocrat announced on Oct. 10:
Anaxi’s first regulated iGaming products will launch with two major customers in the US by the end of calendar 2022.
Bowen adds:
Anaxi reimagines the world’s greatest gaming content online and begins our journey towards becoming the most trusted name in online RMG globally.
To that end, Aristocrat agreed on Sept. 26 “to acquire B2B online RMG supplier Roxor Gaming, as part of Anaxi’s growth strategy.”
US Online Casino Gamblers May See Variety
Unlike Aristocrat, Roxor Gaming‘s most popular titles are more exotically themed, including Tiki Island and Secrets of the Phoenix.
However, Aristocrat’s games are meatier than just Buffalo.
Hanlin also told Epifani that Aristocrat has “an exclusive slots partnership with the NFL and will release an NFL slot by Fall 2023, which will feature a team selector at the beginning.”
On its site, Anaxi also lists Miss Kitty and 5 Dragons titles.
Plus, the origin of the Aristocrat division’s name is rather exotic. The Greek word Anaxi means “tribal chief” or “military leader.” The most notable Greek philosopher to bear the name, Anaximander, contemplated the “boundless” nature of the universe.
So it sounds like Anaxi may have limitless US online casino possibilities.
About the Author
