Launches and sign-ups 25 January 2012
A round-up of the egaming industry's launches and sign-ups from the last seven days (19 January to 25 January 2012)
Exclusive: Ladbrokes acquires US sportsbook supplier
UK bookmaker pays US$3m for 65% stake in sportsbook software business that supplies several of the largest casinos in Nevada and Delaware.
Ladbrokes has followed in the footsteps of rival William Hill and made its first strategic acquisition in the United States at a time when intrastate gaming is looking increasingly likely, eGaming Review can exclusively reveal.
The UK listed bookmaker has invested an initial US$3m in exchange for a 65% majority stake in Stadium Technology Group, a Las Vegas-based supplier of software and in-game betting applications to sportsbook operators, third party suppliers and some of Las Vegas’s biggest land-based casinos. It has a retained option to buy the remaining 35% of the business over the next five years on a performance-related basis.
Stadium supplies its licensed technology to a number of sportsbook and third party suppliers in Nevada and Delaware. Casinos that use its software directly or through third party suppliers include Atlantis, Cosmopolitan, Crystal Palace, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, M Resort, Palazzo, Treasure Island and The Venetian.
A spokesman for the company told eGR that Ladbrokes’ primary objective in the US is to secure a “regulated, licensed presence” and that Stadium was a business that had proven innovative technology wits competitors.
Playtech-Scientific Games JV breaks down, senior sources reveal
Playtech’s two-year old Sciplay exclusive joint venture with US lottery and gaming supplier Scientific Games has ended, according to numerous senior sources close to the matter.
The exclusive 50/50 equity joint venture is now known to have been reduced to a “strategic partnership” with both parties free to pitch to prospective customers separately from one another, whereas under the previous terms of the deal they would only offer joint products and services. According to one source, who chose to remain anonymous, Scientific Games will still be able to offer Playtech software if it chooses, but if it does not, now has the option to offer rival products.
According to a source connected to one of the firms both businesses are meant to jointly pitch to potential clients, but it is believed this has increasingly failed to happen in recent months.
Playtech admits to Sciplay deal restructuring
Playtech has admitted its US joint venture with Scientific Games has broken down, confirming eGaming Review’s exclusive revelation yesterday.
Despite refusing to comment when given numerous opportunities to do so, the software supplier admitted during its fourth quarter results announcement this morning that the terms to its two year-old Sciplay had been reduced to a non-exclusive agreement and that the relationship had been restructured to make way for a simpler supplier relationship”.
Overnight Scientific Games’ share price fell by almost 10% on the news with executives at the lottery supplier understood to be “upset” that the formerly exclusive deal had changed many holding the belief that the JV put them in a strong position to exploit the US once it regulates.
Playtech announces 2 JVs following Sciplay “restructure”
Playtech has signed two new joint ventures following today’s confirmation its US partnership with US lottery supplier Scientific Games has been reduced to a “non-exclusive” strategic partnership.
Yesterday eGaming Review exclusively revealed that the partnership was to be restructured, confirmed in a statement released this morning. The companies will continue to work together, but on a “non-exclusive basis.”
The reworked agreement effectively shuts down Sciplay as the entity through which Playtech and Scientific Games collaborated under the terms of the original deal, signed in January 2010. The deal was designed to give Playtech the opportunity to license its software to Scientific Games’ 120 state gaming providers, and target government lottery contracts. All Sciplay-related entities, including the free-play poker site Calshark.com, will be placed under Scientific Games’ ownership.
Cozy goes live with Facebook platform
Indian social games developer Cozy Games has launched its Facebook platform, aimed at the US market.
First reported by eGaming Review in December, the virtual credits-based game features five variants of bingo and more than 80 side games, and is expected to put the company in a good position to adapt to any relevant changes in American egaming legislation.
The news comes less than two months after eGaming Review exclusively revealed that Facebook had held exploratory talks with several egaming operators with regards to opening up for real-money gambling.
NYX launch first Facebook app
NYX Interactive has added a full range of 3D content from Sheriff Gaming to its Open Gaming System (NYX OGS), where it will complement titles from NYX, NextGen and Microgaming.
The agreement comes just aweek after NYX, which, along with NextGen makes up the NYX Gaming Group, launched the SlotsPoint Facebook app.
The NYX Gaming Group was formed when NYX Interactive acquired NextGen in November, and while Matt Davey is group CEO, David Flynn continues to head up the NYX side of operations.
OpenBet announces third Canadian lottery partnership
OpenBet has signed a deal with the New Brunswick-based Atlantic Lottery Corporation to supply its sports betting platform for the lottery’s PRO”¢LINE sportsbook.
The platform allows PROӢLINE to take both online and offline bets from players, and gives users access to statistics, feeds and forums.
IGT in Hasbro licensing deal
American provider International Game Technology (IGT) has renewed its licensing deal with Hasbro until the end of 2014, allowing it to continue developing slots based on brands from the toy and board game company.
Among the brands set to be used on IGT’s casino games portfolio are Monopoly, Battleship, Transformers and Dungeons & Dragons.
Comtrade and Bally in strategic partnership
Slovenia-based solutions provider Comtrade has entered into a strategic partnership with Bally Technologies, with a focus on the interactive arm of the gaming technology manufacturer.
The agreement is set to accelerate the provision of Bally’s slots content to an online audience, and follows the US-based company’s appointment of Michael Probert as European general manager for interactive.
Amaya signs licensing agreement with Aristocrat
Canadian service provider Amaya Gaming has signed a three-year licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Australian solutions provider Aristocrat Leisure.
The deal, organised through Amaya’s subsidiary Chartwell Games, will see a number of Aristocrat titles licensed for use online and on video lottery terminals (VLTs).
PMU and Mansion announce affiliate programmes
Pari Mutuel Urbain and Mansion have announced the launch of new affiliate programmes, the former with Income Access.
PMU’s programme is set to go live in “early 2012″, although no definitive date has been set for the poker-focused programme, which is set to utilise affiliate tracking software from Income Access.
William Hill signs Passoker licensing agreement
Passoker has signed a supplier agreement to provide its in-play betting product to William Hill Online.
Gaming Edge releases third edition of Poker Edge scorecard
PokerStars has retained its place at the top of Gaming Edge Associates’ Poker Edge scorecard, which ranks the top poker networks and standalone sites on a variety of criteria.
Microgaming to launch Batman slot games
Microgaming has signed a licensing agreement to create a series of video slots based on the Batman films The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
LVS signs deal with Mauritian sportsbook
LVS has announced a deal with Stevenhills to supply the Mauritian retail sportsbook with its Advanced Betting Platform (ABP).
Microgaming signs deal with Initial Rewards
The Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) has announced a deal with Initial Rewards, a supplier of loyalty products to the egaming sector.
Betware signs EGASA deal
Icelandic software supplier Betware has signed an agreement with Spanish land-based operator Grupo EGASA.
JenningsBet signs deal with Passoker
Passoker has signed a deal with JenningsBet to supply its in-play betting product to the bookmaker.
SBTech to supply Betshop with live betting solution
Sports Betting Technology (SBTech) has signed a deal with Betshop to supply the bookmaker with its live betting solution for online and retail customers.
Mobile Poker Club launching real money iOS and Android apps
Mobile Poker Club will launch real-money apps for the iPhone and iPad and Android devices this week.
JMPi releases A Pot of Gold
JPM Interactive (JPMi) has launched its latest AWP game, the Irish-themed slot A Pot of Gold.
Gamesys has signed a deal with marketing solutions provider Blue Sheep to improve its online marketing strategy across its brands.
888 have released a multiplayer slot game based on the popular television show Deal or No Deal on 888Bingo.