Launches and sign-ups 30 July 2014
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (24 July to 30 July 2014)
Sky Bet eyes Italy and Germany after BSkyB deals
Managing director Richard Flint says BSkyB deal for Sky Italia will expedite market entry two years after obtaining a licence in the country
Sky Betting and Gaming is eyeing launches in the Italian and German online gambling markets following parent company BSkyB’s £5.3bn acquisition of Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland.
Speaking to eGaming Review on Friday, Sky Bet managing director Richard Flint said that although no launch date had been set, the new deal would “certainly help” speed up a launch in these markets.
Sky Bet first applied for an Italian licence two years ago but, as Flint previously told eGR, the fact BSkyB and Sky Italia were separate companies presented a number of challenges.
“The fact that we are now one entity will certainly help our Italian launch and will help move things along in Germany as well,” Flint said.
Williams Interactive has launched a YAHTZEE-themed online slot game, the first Hasbro brand it has added to its portfolio of game content.
The launch is part of a brand licensing agreement between Scientific Games and Hasbro and YAHTZEE is immediately available for roll-out on European gaming sites integrated with the Williams Interactive Remote Game Server.
“We’re thrilled to have YAHTZEE as the first game released online from our deep library of proven Hasbro-branded games,” commented Tom Wood, Director of Casino Products for Williams Interactive.
“With multiple exciting bonuses and a unique ‘store your bonus’ mechanic, we expect the YAHTZEE game to appeal to a wide range of players with multiple motivations and game preferences,” he added.
Svenska Spel eyeing casino launch after profits fall
Svenska Spel has confirmed it is seeking to launch an online casino after the Swedish monopoly recorded a 6% slump in H1 profits in a period where online revenues rose by 5%.
The firm’s operating profit for the period fell to SEK2.3bn (£197.5m), while its online business saw net gaming revenue rise 5% to SEK663.9m or 17% of total group revenue.
Svenska Spel CEO Lennart Käll confirmed the casino licence application had been made late last month and said it was now up to the Swedish government to decide whether the operator would be allowed to launch.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
32Red CEO hints at M&A activity as marketing ramps up
32Red chief executive Ed Ware insists his company will continue to ramp-up its marketing efforts during the second half of the year after being buoyed by this week’s H1 results and hinted at future M&A activity and further international launches.
The operator, which has seen five years of consecutive growth take its annual GGR from £12.8m in 2009 to £38.8m in 2013, continued its upward trajectory last week after posting record half-year revenues of £22.6m.
The Gibraltar-based operator, one of a group of firms supporting the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association’s attempts to overthrow the UK’s forthcoming Point of Consumption licensing regime, is often mentioned as a likely player in widely predicted market consolidation and Ware refused to rule out future M&A activity.
Sky Bet launches TV studio for major football marketing push
Sky Betting and Gaming is launching its first integrated marketing campaign for three years as the operator aims to optimise its close ties with Sky Sports and title sponsorship of the English Football League.
The ‘Are You In?’ campaign coincides with the launch of the new football season and includes adverts broadcast from a new Sky Bet Studio by Sky Sports presenters Jim White and Natalie Sawyer to showcase Sky Bet news, offers and products throughout the entire season.
As part of the campaign, the Alderney-licensed operator has also launched a new customer loyalty programme called the Sky Bet Club as well as the Sky Bet Transfer Fund through which customers can win £250,000 transfer money for their favoured Football League club.
Boylesports and Ladbrokes Aus next to integrate Colossus Bets
Boylesports has become the third major operator to integrate Colossus Bets’ pools betting platform with Ladbrokes Australia also in line to add the product to its online sportsbook.
The product was soft-launched on Boylesports’ site last week and currently offers a limited number of betting options under a ‘Colossus’ tab.
But Boylesports is expected to ramp up the product’s visibility on the site and make more betting options available ahead the start of the new Premier League football season.
Amaya-PokerStars deal passes regulatory hurdle
Amaya Gaming has been given regulatory approval for its US$4.9bn acquisition of the Rational Group from the regulator in each jurisdiction that PokerStars and Full Tilt operate, as well as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).
The approvals are likely to boost PokerStars’ chances of receiving a licence in the US, with the New Jersey regulator saying the online poker giant could be up and running in the state as early as autumn with land-based partner Resorts Casino.
The Canada-based company also revealed that the transaction and the listing of Amaya common shares issuable in relation to its takeover of the Rational Group has received conditional approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange.