Launches and sign-ups 27 March 2013
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (21 March to 27 March 2013).
PokerStars’ Atlantic Club acquisition delayed
Parent company Rational Group understood to be yet to complete interim casino authorisation application.
PokerStars’ entry into New Jersey is set to be delayed, with a verdict on its application for a casino licence needed to acquire the Atlantic Club Casino unlikely to take place until late summer at the earliest.
According to NorthJersey.com, Stars’ parent company the Rational Group has not yet completed all parts of the required paperwork “ despite claiming otherwise in January – meaning that the state Division of Gaming Enforcement’s (DGE) 90-day review period has not begun.
Once the DGE has reached its verdict, the Casino Control Commission would then have 30 days to make a decision.
However, Atlantic Club COO Michael Frawley has underlined the Rational Group’s commitment to the purchase, saying in an interview on the NJ Today programme that the Rational Group plans to invest approximately $20m in the first year after the acquisition, and $40m over the first five years.
32Red to end Swansea shirt deal
Gibraltar-licensed operator 32Red has agreed to forego the final year of its shirt sponsorship deal with League Cup winning football club Swansea City.
The agreement was first announced in 2009, before being extended for three yearsin 2011, however the operator has agreed to end the deal a year early in exchange for a sum of £950,000, a sum which CEO Ed Ware told eGaming Review “…was impossible for us to refuse.”
“The club are clearly interested in attracting not a new shirt sponsor necessarily, but a sponsor who can help them develop the stadium and do other weird and wonderful things, which isn’t necessarily where we are – they approached us and asked is it possible that we can terminate early in exchange for some cash and eventually we agreed,” Ware explained.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Aristocrat partners with Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort for online casino
Aristocrat has announced a partnership with the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort to build the tribal gaming operator’s online casino.
The casino in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, currently run Aristocrat’s offline casino management system, and will now introduce the gaming supplier’s nLive play-for-fun casino onto its website. The two systems will be integrated to give the casino a holistic view of player behaviour and reward system.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort director of marketing and entertainment Raul Venegas said of the deal: “Aristocrat has been a valued partner of Soaring Eagle Casino for many years, and as we embrace new technology and prepare for the next phase of our business ventures, we are very happy to have Aristocrat working side by side with us.”
Betfair to sponsor World Snooker Championships
Betfair has replaced Betfred as the title sponsor of the World Snooker Championships, the sports’s organising body has confirmed.
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn confirmed the agreement via his Twitter account, before adding in a statement: “We are thrilled to welcome Betfair as title sponsor for the first time. They have shown tremendous support for our events this season and the exposure they have already gained for their brand on a worldwide scale has been phenomenal.”
Betfred had sponsored snooker’s flagship tournament for the past four years, following a deal announced before the 2009 championships, after previous sponsor 888 had cut short its five year sponsorship agreement.
PMU launches iOS sportsbook
Former French monopoly operator Pari-Mutuel Urbain has announced the launch of an iPhone- and iPad-optimised sportsbook, PMU Sport.
The app, which is available now to French punters, features a customisable newsfeed allowing users to track odds offered on their favourite teams and sports personalities and offers in-play odds, which accounts for 52% of bets placed with the operator.
“Mobile and new consumption patterns have always been at the heart our discussions for improving PMU. Our applications have been downloaded more than 500,000 times, which already generates 17% of amounts staked in sports and is used by 32% of our active players,” PMU’s marketing director Cyrille Giraudat explained.
Intralot launches mobile platform in Peru
Intralot’s Peruvian subsidiary has launched its online gaming platform for mobile devices.
The release allows Intralot de Peru to offer its customers its full array of lottery and sports betting games in the country, including Tinka Megabol, Gana Diario, Te Apuesto and Ganagol.
Bally adds GeoComply solution to egaming platform
Bally Technologies has agreed a deal with GeoComply to incorporate geolocation technology into its iGaming Platform.
Along with IGT, Bally was the first to be licensed as a service provider for online poker in Nevada last year, while GeoComply has also applied for licensure in the Silver State.
Power 50 operators join Dusk Till Dawn for charity month
Operators including Paddy Power, SkyBet, 888, Genting and PokerStars have donated prizes in aid of a charity month held by UK poker club Dusk Till Dawn.
The venue itself has pledged to match all charity donations in April up to a total of £50,000, while prizes can be won in live and online tournaments, a raffle and a silent auction.
PokerStars launches four new Omaha games
PokerStars has announced four new Omaha games, the first new titles the operator has added since 2008.
Courchevel, Courchevel Hi/Lo, 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo and 5 Card Omaha will be offered on Stars’ dot.com and dot.country websites.
Media Corp shares boosted by BoxNation deal
Media Corp has entered an agreement to supply a white label egaming solution to Boxing Channel Media Ltd “ a deal which has contributed to a 25% rise in the company’s share price.
Media Corp shares have risen 0.03p to 0.15p on the back of the announcement, which centres around the BoxNation TV channel, and becomes the company’s first white label deal. Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Media Corp will supply an online sportsbook and casino via its Intabet platform, which will be integrated onto the BoxNation website.
Betsson Malta has agreed to take on mobile slots content via NYX Gaming Group‘s Open Gaming System (OGS). The Swedish-listed operator will add titles from NextGen Gaming and Sheriff Gaming, with further content to follow.
Henric Andersson, Betsson AB product director, described the move as “an obvious choice,” adding that “Via NYX OGS we not only obtain access to their existing portfolio of content today but also increase Betssons’ ability to deliver future games content via multinational and boutique suppliers alike, at a very rapid pace, thus keeping our offering fresh and exciting for our loyal customers.”
Testing agency eCOGRA has deemed Microgaming‘s casino and poker software compliant with European Gaming and Betting Agency Standards, awarding the software provider a renewed Certified Software Seal.
Microgaming chief executive Roger Raatgever said: “The eCOGRA certification is synonymous with the highest possible level of professional conduct in the online gaming industry. We are proud to receive a renewed Certified Software Seal as it reflects how seriously we take player protection and responsible gaming.”
Microgaming has also marked the 10th anniversary of its poker network, which began life as the Prima Network in 2003 and is now known as the MPN following this year’s latest rebranding.
Describing the MPN as “one of poker’s best loved and longest-established network,” Microgaming’s head of network games Lydia Melton said “We’ve seen so many changes on the network and in the industry in the last ten years – the rise of regulated markets and loss of other markets, software innovation and nearly five billion hands dealt at our tables. I’m really excited about what could happen in the next ten years.”
Affiliate network and egaming marketing business Income Access has launched an online course offering its customers education on affiliate marketing.
The Income Access Accreditation is designed to increase industry expertise and skills, with insight and training from a wide range of egaming professionals and companies, while current affiliate managers will be able to increase their knowledge and ensure they are using the Income Access software to its maximum potential, the company said in a statement. Individuals who successfully complete the course will be awarded with Income Access’ Certified Partner accreditation status.
Software provider BetOnSoft has updated its mobile client and launched seven new slot titles, bringing its mobile portfolio up to 19.
The new releases include the Rising Sun and Trick or Treat video slots, and chief software architect Devan Govender said: “The release of Mobile Web Client 1.2 is the next important increment in the BetOnSoft mobile games platform “ delivering major improvements in performance and gameplay as well as additional games.”
Net Entertainment has announced the launch of five-reel video slot Muse: Wild Inspiration. Chief product officer Simon Hammon said of the Ancient Greece-themed title: “There are a number of innovative features and we’re sure our players will love being transported back to Ancient Greece.”