Launches and sign-ups 19 March 2014
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (13 March to 19 March 2014)
The Sun to shake up UK sports betting sector
BetVictor poised to win race to provide UK’s most-read daily newspaper with white-labelled sportsbook service
UK newspaper The Sun is preparing to gate-crash the online sports betting market after entering final stage discussions with potential white-label partner BetVictor, eGaming Review understands.
The Sun, which according to the National Readership Survey has a readership of more than six million, could launch the sportsbook within the next few months having begun the process of finding a partner more than a year ago.
It is understood BetVictor is in pole position to win the race to supply the News UK title with a fully managed sportsbook, which eGR understands will include the provision of customer services and marketing, after fending-off competition from the likes of Playtech’s Geneity sportsbook.
Although The Sun refused to comment, BetVictor managing director Paul Louis confirmed: “Discussions are ongoing but we can’t comment further at this stage.”
Crown set to acquire remaining Betfair Australia stake
Australian casino operator Crown Resorts is poised to acquire the remaining 50% stake in its online wagering joint venture with Betfair, according to reports in Australia.
Betfair Australia is a 50/50 joint venture between Crown Resorts and Betfair, which launched in August 2006 after receiving a licence from the Tasmanian Gaming Commission.
The operation recorded a AUS$1.6m loss in FY2013 “ the a sixth loss in the seven years since it launched.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Unibet signs games content deal with Yggdrasil
Unibet has become the latest operator to strike a deal with burgeoning games supplier Yggdrasil Gaming after agreeing to integrate its entire catalogue of slots and lottery games, eGaming Review can reveal.
The deal represents something of a coup for Cherry-owned Yggdrasil, with Unibet becoming the Nordic gaming supplier’s biggest partner to date.
Yggdrasil, which went live with its first partner last September, has signed up a number of other big-name partners in recent weeks with the likes of Mr Green, LeoVegas and Vera & John all agreeing terms with the company.
Blue Gem launches Sheriff Gaming content
Content previously owned by Bubble Group, the parent company of Sheriff Gaming, is now being marketed by a new start-up claiming to be entirely independent.
Blue Gem Gaming has launched under management provided by Curacao-licensed holding company Emoore NV, which also managed online casinos BetPort and OmniCasino.
The firm expects to expand its management team shortly ahead of a European push and is now deciding where to apply for a European licence.
888 plots new casino ad campaign
888 has kicked-off a search to find an advertising agency to assist it with devising a new campaign for its 888casino brand.
According to a report by Campaign, 888 has written and issued a brief to a number of agencies with the operator due to invite the best three applicants to a pitch stage early next month.
888 is said to be looking for an agency to launch a “high-visibility activation campaign” which is to target audiences in the UK and potentially the US across TV, print and outdoor.
Intralot to “redefine” sportsbook following mobile launch
Intralot has launched its first mobile sports betting product in Italy and claimed additions to the product, planned for the coming months, could “redefine” mobile sports betting for its global customers.
The HTML5-based sportsbook has been developed to offer pre-match and in-play sports betting for the Italian market and will be developed further over the coming months.
“The SportsMobile roadmap for the next few months includes further attractive patent pending propositions that we believe will redefine the mobile punters’ experience and we are confident for its success in not only Italy but also our global operations,” George Zenzefilis, chief product and services officer at Intralot, said.
NetEnt and GameAccount strike up Italy partnership
Net Entertainment and GameAccount Network (GAN) have moved to strengthen their position in the Italian market by striking a deal which will see GAN distribute NetEnt content in the country.
Work is already underway to integrate NetEnt’s portfolio of games into the GAN platform with Italian operators such as Eurobet, Sisal and Snai to go live with the games during a phased roll-out process over the next few months.
Björn Krantz, MD at Net Entertainment Malta, is confident that NetEnt’s content would find favour with GAN’s network of Italian clients. “Italy is one of Net Entertainment’s core markets and we are positive that our portfolio offering will be well received by GameAccount Network and its major partners,” Krantz said.
GamCrowd secures £5m platform investment fund
GamCrowd has struck a deal with gaming solutions provider Centurion Solutions which will see almost £5m invested into in start-ups on the crowdfunding platform.
The new fund will consist of funds provided by both Centurion and its clients to assist with ‘in-country’ software and product testing as it looks to expand its clients’ scope into new markets.
The platform went live earlier this year and CEO Chris North believes the deal with Centurion is a significant step to help the more than 25 start-ups currently looking for funding on the platform.
ISIS Lab launches real-money social gaming network
Social gaming software provider ISIS Lab has announced the UK release of its regulated social online gaming platform in partnership with casino management company Cladstone.
The ISIS Friends network, which ISIS claims is the first social network built for the UK online gaming market, was launched this week under the isisfriends.com and isisfriends.co.uk domains.
The platform includes a portfolio of bingo, casino, arcade and scratch card games, as well as cashier and customer support functions and social networking features such as profiles and photo sharing.