Merv Digital Solutions today announced that Steve Hickson, founder of Sideplay Entertainment and widely respected leader in the global iLottery industry, has joined Merv Game Studio as an investor and strategic advisor. The announcement marks a watershed moment for the studio, adding one of the industry’s most accomplished entrepreneurs to its growing roster of world-class talent.
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 that have been 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. Hickson’s achievement in founding and growing an independent eInstant studio is widely recognized as a great success in the iLottery industry.
“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,” said Merv Huber, Founder & CEO of Merv Digital Solutions. “To have someone of his caliber choose to invest in Merv Game Studio and lend his expertise to what we’re building — is a validation of our team and a blueprint for future success. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome him.”
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.
“I’ve seen a lot of studios come and go, and I know what it takes to build one that truly delivers,” saidSteve Hickson, Strategic Investor and Advisor, Merv Game Studio. “What Merv and his team are building is the real deal — the right talent, the right creative instincts, and the right approach to the lottery market. I’m proud to back this team and excited to roll up my sleeves and help them reach their full potential.”
The announcement builds on a strong year of momentum for Merv Digital Solutions. The company formally launched in April 2025, appointed industry veteran Harpreet Garcha as Chief Growth Officer in February 2026, and has steadily expanded its eInstant game portfolio and operator partnerships. Merv Game Studio’s first commercial titles are slated to go live across multiple lottery markets before the end of 2026.
“From day one, our mission has been to bring better digital solutions to this industry,” said Huber. “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.”