Hacksaw Gaming's Strategic Expansion Through OpenRGS: A Catalyst for Long-Term Growth in the iGaming Sector

In the rapidly evolving iGaming industry, companies that master scalability and ecosystem growth often emerge as leaders. Hacksaw Gaming, a high-margin developer and publisher of online casino games, has positioned itself at the forefront of this transformation through its proprietary OpenRGS platform. By combining a next-generation Remote Gaming Server (RGS) with strategic partnerships and a lean operational model, Hacksaw is not only accelerating its own growth but also reshaping the competitive landscape for third-party developers and operators.

Platform-Driven Scalability: The OpenRGS Advantage

At the heart of Hacksaw's success lies its OpenRGS platform, a fully proprietary RGS solution designed to streamline game development and deployment. Unlike traditional models that require developers to manage complex backend infrastructure, OpenRGS handles compliance, regulatory requirements and mathematical configurations across 20+ regulated markets. This allows developers to focus on creative execution while Hacksaw ensures cross-jurisdictional readiness.

The platform's technical architecture further enhances scalability. OpenRGS supports multiple game types, whether developers use their own backend systems or Hacksaw's bespoke solutions via SDK generation tools. Integration is simplified through SDK generation tools like Fern and APIMatic, which automate the creation of client libraries for languages such as TypeScript, Python, and Java. These tools reduce development time and ensure compatibility with operators' systems, enabling rapid deployment across Hacksaw's network of 3,000+ casino brands. As a result, the company can launch over 60 games annually with minimal marginal costs, a critical edge in an industry where time-to-market often determines success.

Strategic Partnerships and Market Expansion

Hacksaw's ecosystem growth is driven by a dual strategy: deepening ties with third-party developers and expanding into high-potential markets. In Q3 2025, the company solidified its North American footprint by launching titles on Caesars Entertainment's online casino platforms in Pennsylvania, its second U.S. market entry in months. This followed a July expansion into Pennsylvania's iGaming sector and a license secured in Alberta, Canada. Such moves align with broader trends in the U.S. and Canadian markets, where regulatory clarity and rising online gambling adoption are creating fertile ground for growth.

Collaborations with studios like Kitsune Studios further illustrate Hacksaw's ecosystem-building approach. By acquiring a stake in Kitsune and offering access to OpenRGS, Hacksaw incentivizes third-party innovation while ensuring its platform remains a hub for high-quality content. This flywheel effect-where more partners and games attract more operators-has already yielded results: Hacksaw reported a 50% year-on-year increase in average daily game rounds played in Q3 2025.

Financial Performance and Operational Efficiency

The scalability of OpenRGS is reflected in Hacksaw's financials. In the first half of 2025, revenue surged 61% year-to-date to EUR 90.4 million, with adjusted EBIT rising 53% to EUR 74.4 million, reflecting an 82% margin. This high-margin growth is underpinned by a lean team of 170 employees, with personnel costs at just 6.9% of revenue. Such efficiency is rare in the iGaming sector, where labor and compliance expenses often erode profitability.

Hacksaw's capital discipline is another strength. The company maintains a 75% payout ratio of net profits to shareholders, ensuring strong returns while retaining flexibility for strategic investments. This balance between reinvestment and shareholder returns positions Hacksaw to capitalize on emerging opportunities, such as blockchain-based gaming and AI-driven content moderation as highlighted in its interim report.

Expert Validation and Industry Trends

Industry analysts have taken note of Hacksaw's disruptive potential. A 2025 report by Epam highlights the growing importance of platforms like OpenRGS in reducing development costs and complexity, particularly as budgets for game production exceed $200 million. The report also underscores the role of automation and cloud infrastructure in enabling scalable, secure ecosystems-a domain where Hacksaw excels.

Moreover, Hacksaw's focus on compliance and cybersecurity aligns with regulatory priorities. As fraud detection and fair play assurance become non-negotiables in global markets, OpenRGS's built-in safeguards provide operators with a trusted deployment solution. This is especially critical in the U.S., where fragmented regulations require tailored compliance adaptations-a challenge Hacksaw addresses through its platform's modular design as detailed in its OpenRGS documentation.

Conclusion

Hacksaw Gaming's OpenRGS platform is more than a technical innovation; it is a strategic lever for long-term growth. By democratizing access to regulated markets, reducing development friction, and fostering a collaborative ecosystem, Hacksaw is redefining the economics of iGaming. For investors, the company's combination of scalable infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and operational efficiency presents a compelling case. As the industry shifts toward platform-driven models, Hacksaw's early-mover advantage in OpenRGS could cement its position as a dominant force in the sector.