Delaware North and Eureka Entertainment create fourth-largest Illinois route-gaming business in joint venture

NAPERVILLE, IL and BUFFALO, NY (March 13, 2025) – Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company with a portfolio of casinos and other gaming venues, today announced it has combined the company’s route-gaming business in Illinois with Eureka Entertainment’s route-gaming business, Universal Gaming Group (UGG).

As a result of the transaction, which was recently approved by the Illinois Gaming Board, Delaware North’s Gaming & Entertainment Management – Illinois LLC (GEM Gaming) has been combined with UGG to form Universal GEM Gaming LLC.

The new entity is jointly owned by Delaware North and Housatonic Partners, the private equity investment firm behind Eureka Entertainment, with Delaware North being the majority owner. Delaware North acquired GEM Gaming in 2016 from a private ownership group. Eureka Entertainment acquired UGG in 2018.

Universal GEM Gaming partners with restaurants, bars, veterans and fraternal organizations, and truck stops to provide onsite gaming to patrons. It is the fourth-largest route-gaming operator in Illinois, the largest route-gaming market in the U.S., with approximately 2,500 Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) supported by 125 employees statewide.

The combined company distinguishes itself in the market through industry-leading service response, regulatory compliance and regularly updated game options. Universal GEM Gaming is being led by CEO Russell Poore, former CEO of UGG, with David Frame, former GM for GEM Gaming, serving as chief revenue officer.

“This was a very strategic move for Delaware North to strengthen our route-gaming business in Illinois by joining forces with a respected competitor in UGG,” said Brian Hansberry, Delaware North group president for gaming. “Universal GEM Gaming will continue to complement our traditional casino and interactive gaming portfolio.”

“The joint venture is well positioned for growth thanks to a complementary geographic footprint in the important market of Northern Illinois and the ability to leverage the best practices and capabilities of both Delaware North and UGG,” added Jason Gregorec, president of Delaware North’s gaming division.

“All of us at UGG are excited about this venture with Delaware North. It combines the best aspects of two pioneering VGT companies in Illinois, all under the leadership of a company that has deep capabilities and experience in gaming, operations and marketing,” Poore said. “This venture will allow us to provide more value to game players, more effective service capabilities to our partner locations and a better gaming experience overall.”

“We are pleased to join Delaware North in this joint venture,” added Housatonic Partners Managing Director Alex Dodd. “UGG and GEM Gaming both have a successful history in the market, thanks in part to their demonstrated commitment to doing things the right way. We look forward to the continued success of Universal GEM Gaming.”

Armory Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor on the transaction. Jones Day served as legal counsel to Delaware North, and Greenberg Traurig served as regulatory counsel to Delaware North. Foley & Lardner served as legal counsel to UGG, and Fox Rothschild served as regulatory counsel to UGG.

About Housatonic Partners
Housatonic Partners is a private equity investment firm founded in 1994, with more than $1.5 billion in capital under management. The firm invests in growing, profitable businesses with highly recurring revenue. Housatonic Partners has backed exceptional management teams in more than 100 small to mid-sized companies over the last 30 years. For more information, please visit WWW.HOUSATONICPARTNERS.COM

About Delaware North Gaming
Delaware North is one of the most innovative gaming operators in the United States, specializing in regional venues with slots and video gaming machines, table games, poker rooms, full-service restaurants, retail shops and hotels. We have gaming destinations in New York, New Hampshire, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois, as well as in Australia. We are also the lead consultant on the Catawba Nation’s $700 million casino resort project in North Carolina. Our interactive division operates mobile sports betting and iGaming in several states, and we also own and operate Ruby Seven Studios, a leading developer of social casino gaming applications.

About Delaware North
Delaware North is a global leader in the hospitality and entertainment industry. The company annually serves more than a half-billion guests across three continents, including at high-profile sports venues, airports, national and state parks, restaurants, resorts, hotels, and casinos. Building on more than a century of enduring partnerships and a commitment to local communities and sustainability, Delaware North’s vision is to delight guests by creating the world’s best experiences today while reimagining tomorrow. Learn more at WWW.DELAWRENORTH.COM