ELK Studios

ELK Studios is a Swedish slot developer based in Stockholm. It makes slots only, with no live casino or table games, and it is known for two things in particular: X-iter, a menu that lets players pay for different game modes, and CollectR, the collector mechanic behind its Pirots series. Since December 2021 it has been owned by Scientific Games, the company now called Light & Wonder. Details below are as of October 2026.

History

ELK Studios was founded in Stockholm in 2013, according to several industry profiles (one source gives 2012). From the start it has built games around long-running series rather than one-off releases: the Toro games, which began with Wild Toro, the Nitropolis series, and more recently Pirots.

Wild Toro was the studio's breakthrough. It won Game of the Year at the EGR B2B Awards in 2017, and its bull character has since returned in a string of sequels and spin-offs. In 2021 ELK added X-iter to its games, and in 2023 the first Pirots game introduced CollectR.

In December 2021 Scientific Games acquired ELK Studios; the financial terms were not disclosed. The buyer said at the time that it wanted to take ELK's games to the US and Canadian markets and strengthen its position in the UK and Europe. ELK has kept its own name and continues to release games under the ELK brand.

What makes its slots distinct

X-iter, in plain terms

X-iter is a menu of paid game modes. Instead of a single bonus-buy button, it offers several options, each with its own price per spin and its own promise: a better chance of a feature, a feature that triggers on every spin, or a direct route into a bonus round. It debuted with the slot Bompers in 2021 and won Game Innovation of the Year at the 5 Star Starlet Awards that year.

The important point is what X-iter does not change. A mode that makes a feature certain does not make a win certain, and a feature can pay less than the spin that bought it. X-iter changes how often you see the features and how much each spin costs, not the game's long-run return in your favour. If you use it, count the mode's price against your budget, not your base bet.

CollectR, in two sentences

In a CollectR game there are no paylines: coloured birds move around the grid collecting adjacent gems of their own colour, and each gem they collect adds to the win. The grid refills as gems are collected and can grow during play, which gives these games a progression feel that standard reel slots do not have.

Series as a design approach

ELK tends to return to characters and mechanics it has already built, then add rules, modes and maths to each new entry. That makes a series easy to recognise, but it also means two games with the same name can play quite differently. Treat each sequel as its own game and read its rules.

Notable series and games

• Toro — the series that began with Wild Toro, known for a walking wild bull. Later entries include Toro 911.
• Pirots — the CollectR series that started in 2023. Pirots 5 is the latest numbered entry, and spin-offs exist.
• Nitropolis — a long-running series with its own sequels.
• Cygnus and Katmandu — two of the studio's better-known titles.
• Bompers — the first game with X-iter.

The studio's catalogue is reported to exceed 120 titles, from a single source; we show that figure as an approximate count.

Part of Light & Wonder

ELK Studios is part of Light & Wonder, the company formerly called Scientific Games, which acquired it in December 2021. ELK continues to release games under its own brand and from its Stockholm base.

Licensing and fairness

ELK's operating company appears on the UK Gambling Commission's public register as Elkab Studios AB (account 40844), with two active remote licences: Gambling Software, held since 19 March 2015, and Game Host (Casino), held since 12 February 2018. Industry sources report licences with other regulators too, but we only list what we have checked on a regulator's own register.

A supplier licence is not the same as a casino licence. Whether you can play a particular ELK game depends on the casino you use and the rules where you live, so availability varies by jurisdiction. To check a casino's own licence, see our guide on how to choose a safe online casino.

Company snapshot

Founded	2013, Stockholm (one source gives 2012)
Headquarters	Stockholm, Sweden
Products	Online slots only
Owner	Light & Wonder (formerly Scientific Games), since December 2021
Signature features	X-iter (2021), CollectR (2023)
Catalogue	Reported at over 120 titles
UK licence	Elkab Studios AB, UK Gambling Commission account 40844

A note on RTP and volatility

RTP differs from game to game. Toro 911 runs at 94%. Pirots 5 has a highest version of 96%, and lower configurations of it are also available, with the casino choosing which one runs. The figure that applies to you is the one in the game's own information screen, so check it before you play, every time you try a game at a new casino. Our guide to RTP and volatility explains what those numbers mean over the long run and over a session.

Volatility also varies from game to game, so read each game's own rating rather than assuming a series keeps the same profile from one entry to the next.

Who it suits

ELK suits players who like games with depth: modes to choose from, features that build over a session, and series that reward knowing the earlier entries. It is a weaker fit for players who want simple spins with nothing to learn, and X-iter can make it easy to spend faster than intended. If any of the mechanics here are unfamiliar, our slot mechanics guide covers collectors, cascades, multipliers and feature buys. You can compare ELK with the other studios on our game providers page.

18+ only. Decide on a budget and a time limit before you play, treat X-iter prices as part of that budget, and only play with money you can afford to lose. For help and tools, see our responsible gambling page.

ELK Studios FAQ

Where is ELK Studios based?

In Stockholm, Sweden. The studio was founded there in 2013, although one source gives 2012.

Who owns ELK Studios?

Light & Wonder, formerly Scientific Games, which acquired it in December 2021. The terms were not disclosed.

What is X-iter?

ELK's menu of paid game modes. Each mode costs a set multiple of your bet per spin and changes how features trigger. A mode can make a feature certain, but it does not make a win certain.

What is CollectR?

The collector mechanic behind the Pirots series: birds collect gems of their own colour from a grid instead of paying on lines.

Does ELK Studios make live casino or table games?

No. It makes online slots only.

Is ELK Studios licensed?

Yes. Its operating company, Elkab Studios AB, holds two active remote licences on the UK Gambling Commission's public register.