Gaming technology firm Scientific Games Corporation is giving the middle finger to UK bookmaker William Hill’s efforts to complicate Sci-Games’ planned acquisition of NYX Gaming Group.

On Tuesday, Sci-Games announced that it had acquired 10.7% of the Toronto-listed NYX’s outstanding ordinary shares. Sci-Games, which previously held no stake in rival NYX, paid over C$27m (US $21.2m) for the shares.

In September, Sci-Games announced its intention to acquire NYX for C$775m, a move intended to boost Sci-Games’ ability to take advantage of US efforts to legalize sports betting. NYX owns OpenBet, a leading provider of sportsbook technology to gaming firms, including William Hill.

But Hills helped NYX pay for its 2016 OpenBet acquisition, making Hills a significant NYX shareholder with nearly 32% of outstanding shares, and Hills announced earlier this month that it might block the Sci-Games deal unless it received certain assurances regarding the continuity of its OpenBet arrangement.