Paddy Power to launch real-money sports on Facebook
Operator is fourth to go live with RMG on social network and first in sportsbetting vertical
Paddy Power is set to become the first egaming operator to launch a real-money sportsbetting offering on Facebook.
The operator will become the fourth to go live for real-money play of any kind on the social network, after Gamesys, 888 and Bonza Gaming, when it beta-launches the offering in the coming weeks.
Known as Paddy Power In-Play!, the new offering has been developed in-house by the Irish operator, with its Sofia-based games development team working alongside its Dublin-based product development team.
“Given the popularity of sports betting in the UK, we’re delighted to be welcoming Paddy Power onto the Facebook gaming platform with an innovative gaming experience,” Will Collins, head of social partnerships at Facebook, said.
Paddy Power managing director of online Peter O’Donovan said the company was “pleased” to work with Facebook. “The launch of the first real money sports betting product on Facebook is testament to Paddy Power’s e-commerce and technology capabilities, as well as our international industry leadership position in social media,” he added.
“The app will add social engagement to online betting, enabling customers to bet on a wide variety of sporting events through Facebook, while also giving them visibility of, and the opportunity to engage with, other users,” Paddy Power said in a statement this morning.
The operator noted that “strict age verification checks” would be made on players using the platform.
Gamesys became the first operator to launch RMG on Facebook when Bingo Friendzy was released last August, while 888 followed suit in December. February saw Bonza Gaming, a joint venture between social casino operator Plumbee and Sportingbet, launch Bonza Slots on Facebook, though Sportingbet’s share of the JV was later bought out by Unibet.
There have also been suggestions that Zynga could be set for a RMG launch on the network after its contract agreement with Facebook was amended last November, though the US-listed firm is yet to undergo such a launch.
In an interview with eGaming Review‘s sister publication Social Casino Intelligence earlier this year, Collins said the real-money launch had been “a great learning experience”. While those to launch RMG on Facebook so far have only done so in the UK, Collins admitted “there is interest” in moving into other regulated markets.