Press Release · April 6, 2026
Merv Game Studio Secures Investment and Strategic Advisorship from iLottery Veteran Steve Hickson
Steve Hickson, founder of Sideplay (acquired by Scientific Games in 2021), joins Merv Game Studio as investor and strategic advisor.
Merv Digital Solutions today announced that Steve Hickson, founder of the Sideplay studio, has joined Merv Game Studio as an investor and strategic advisor.
A storied iLottery career
Hickson began producing eInstant game content in 2002, and spent over two decades building a formidable portfolio of innovative, high-performance game content — with the Sideplay studio being recognized as a global leader in digital lottery game production.
During that time, hundreds of instant-win games played by millions of lottery players around the world were produced by the studio. Sideplay became the primary supplier of digital eInstant games to the UK National Lottery and a leading content partner for major North American iLottery programs, including the Pennsylvania Lottery. In 2021, Scientific Games — one of the world’s largest lottery suppliers — acquired Sideplay in recognition of what the studio had built.
What Hickson brings to Merv
Hickson brings to Merv Game Studio a rare and powerful combination: deep technical knowledge of eInstant game production, hard-won commercial experience scaling a studio in regulated global markets, and an expansive network of lottery relationships across the world. His involvement is expected to elevate the studio’s operator conversations, accelerate distribution into new jurisdictions, and help Merv Game Studio raise the bar on every game in the growing portfolio.
“Steve built Sideplay into one of the best independent eInstant studios in the industry, and that’s exactly what we are doing at Merv Digital.” — Merv Huber
“I’ve seen a lot of studios come and go, and I know what it takes to build one that truly delivers.” — Steve Hickson
Momentum continues
The announcement builds on a strong year of momentum for Merv Digital Solutions. The company formally launched in April 2025 and has since appointed industry veterans across game design, engineering, and commercial leadership.
From day one, our mission has been to bring better digital solutions to this industry. Steve Hickson helped define what “better” looks like for eInstant game content. Having him invest in and advise Merv Game Studio is a tremendous honor — and a powerful signal.
