Launches and sign-ups 20 June 2012
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (14 June to 20 June 2012).
Playtech announces move to main London listing
Trading on AIM to be cancelled on 2 July, with trading on London Stock Exchange’s main market to begin simultaneously.
Solutions giant Playtech has given notice of the intended cancellation of trading on company shares on the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) Alternative Investment Market (AIM) ahead of the company’s application for a premium listing.
The supplier announced that it will publish a prospectus ahead of its admission to the main market on 28 June, before commencing trading on 2 July, and at the same time cancelling trading on AIM, subject to approval from the UK Listing Authority and the LSE.
Existing shareholders have been advised to “consult their own tax advisers as to the tax implications of the proposed move”.
The company’s original application for a premium listing on the LSE was rejected in March 2011, with the UK Listing Authority informing Playtech that it had not fulfilled the criteria of having a three-year track record of being responsible for 75% of its income and profit, as its joint venture with William Hill Online contributed more than 25% of Playtech’s earnings. This condition is occasionally waived when the Listing Authority considers applications.
iPoker to introduce Speed Hold’em
iPoker is set to become the latest poker network to introduce a fast-paced variant of the game, with ‘Speed Hold’em’ due to launch at selected stakes next month.
The Playtech owned network has revealed that there will be no waiting lists on the fast-fold tables, while players will be able to join Speed Hold’em cash game player pools up to 10 times.
A spokesman for Playtech explained to eGaming Review that the new variant will be limited to cash games and gradually rolled out across all the skins on the network. He added that the software provider hoped to introduce a tournament version of Speed Hold’em “later this year”.
Microgaming to introduce new rake model
The Microgaming Poker Network is poised to debut its new rake allocation model, “True Value” on 1 July.
Under the new dual-layer system – laying one rake allocation method directly on top of another – the software provider claims it will allocate rake to operators “Based upon volume, activity and win/loss ratio.”
The system will give a certain value to each individual player, with new players holding a greater value, and the network expects this to encourage operators to attract recreational players.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Pinnacle Entertainment wins FS+G auction
Pinnacle Entertainment, the operator of a number of bricks-and-mortar casinos across the United States, has become the new owner of the assets of Federated Sports+Gaming after fighting off competition from William Hill and three other bidders in Wednesday’s auction.
The operator, whose portfolio includes seven casinos and one racetrack, lodged a winning bid of US$4.2m for the most valuable asset of FS+G – the Heartland Poker Tour – while the remaining assets, including the loss-making Epic Poker League, went for a further $300,000.
Hills and Ladbrokes apply for personalised domains
William Hill, Ladbrokes are the only two leading egaming operators to apply for generic top-level domains (gTLDs) after the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) released the full list of applicants yesterday.
Hills have applied for use of the dot.williamhill domain, while Ladbrokes have submitted requests for the dot.ladbrokes and dot.bet handles. A number of smaller companies, including US-based companies dot Bet Ltd and Foggy Way, LLC and Irish firm Afilias Ltd, which has also applied for the dot.casino and dot.poker domains. Genting, meanwhile, have applied for the dot.genting domain.
HKJC in Manchester United partnership
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has agreed partnership with the Manchester United Foundation, the charitable arm of the English football giant.
The HKJC raises money for local charities and community initiatives through its betting and horse racing activites, donating a total of HK2.65bn (£215m) last year. As part of its partnership the two bodies will work together to raise funds for charitable schemes in Hong Kong using the Manchester United brand, as well as further boosting the football club’s profile in Asia.
Tapie signs up Partouche as ISPT partner
Groupe Partouche has been confirmed as an organising partner for next year’s inaugural International Stadiums Poker Tour (ISPT) event in London.
The France, Gibraltar and Belgium-licensed operator will host online satellites for the event, which is due to take place at Wembley Stadium in London from 31 May-6 June next year.
Ladbrokes signs CryptoLogic extension
Canadian software supplier CryptoLogic has announced that it has signed a “multi-year” extension of its deal to provide online casino games to Ladbrokes.
The agreement will see Labrokes launch around ten new CryptoLogic titles on its games site in the coming weeks, with a further six to be rolled out over the next few months. The companies originally partnered in August 2009, which saw Lads add Crypto’s Bejeweled, Cubis and Jenga products to its Ladbrokesgames.com.
Zynga bolsters casino offering with slots launch
Social gaming giant Zynga has announced the launch of Zynga Slots on the iOS platform which the operator describes as “the most social slots game to date.”
The product was developed by the team responsible for Zynga Poker, with players able to win higher jackpots based on the number of friends they recruit to play alongside them, and a number of bonus games and themes based on other Zynga products including FarmVille and Hanging with Friends.
Kambi signs second Spanish land-based partnership
Unibet B2B subsidiary Kambi Sports Solutions has signed up a second land-based partner ahead of the official launch of the Spanish market, agreeing a deal with Egasa Group, the country’s third-largest gaming group.
IGT to launch $1bn share buyback
International Game Technology (IGT) has announced that its board of directors has approved a US$1bn (£643m) share repurchase programme of its outstanding common stock, replacing the current $500m authorisation.
Cantor Gaming in mobile deal with Cali tribe
Cantor Gaming has announced an agreement with California’s Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians to provide its Colusa Casino Resort with a mobile casino gaming platform.
5050poker leaves Microgaming network
Malta-licensed Microgaming skin 5050poker has been suspended by the network with immediate effect, citing breach of contract, just days after its parent company 5050 Poker Holding issued a statement with regards to the software provider’s imposition of table caps.
William Hill among five bidders set for FS+G auction
Federated Sports+Gaming, the company which owns the rights to the Epic Poker League and Heartland Poker Tour, is set to auction off selected assets at an auction in Washington DC this evening.
Probability casino added to App Store
Mobile casino operator Probability has announced that its LadyLuck’s Mobile Casino has been granted admission to Apple’s App Store, with a range of promotions available to prompt existing customers to download the app.
Topjack signs first white-label deal
Topjack Games, a software provider whose instant win games carry jackpots insured by Lloyds of London, has signed its first white-label deal.
Betboo signs Mobenga deal to launch mobile offering
Mobile sportsbook supplier Mobenga has announced a deal with GVC Holdings subsidiary Betboo marking the South American-facing operator’s first venture into mobile betting.
Bet-at-home extends Schalke deal
Betclic Everest subsidiary bet-at-home has agreed an extension of its partnership with German football club FC Schalke 04, which will run until June 2014.
ComTrade launches 36win Belgian casino
Slovenia-based software provider ComTrade has gone live with Pascual Games’ 36win brand, launching its Belgian-facing online casino.
MediaLiveCasino in land-based deal
Casino San Remo, Italy’s largest land-based casino, is set to move into the egaming realm after agreeing a deal with live dealer provider MediaLiveCasino.
Betradar moves into retail with Liga Stavok deal
Sports data provider Betradar has extended its partnership with Russian bookmaker Liga Stavok to provider a terminal-based version of its Virtual Football League (VFL) product, following a successful online launch.
Sports betting data provider Sportradar has become an associate member of the World Lottery Association after being approved by the organisation’s executive committee. CEO Carsten Koerl said: “Our membership will allow us to actively exchange experiences, and to support the members in dealing with future challenges, especially with regards to an increasing number of regulated sports betting markets.”
Gamesys has launched free Facebook slot Fuzz Balls. The game, the latest from the operator to go live on the social network, is themed around cats chasing piles of money, and its launch is accompanied by a promotion which will see Gamesys reward players with bonus coins for every purchase.