Launches and sign-ups 19 December 2012
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (13 December to 19 December).
888 second operator to launch real money Facebook offering
Gibraltar-licensed company will initially launch the real money Bingo Appy game “ casino games and possibly also poker to follow.
London-listed egaming operator 888 has announced an agreement with Facebook which will see it become the second company to launch a UK-facing, real money gambling offering on the social network.
The company follows Gamesys, which became the first to go live when it launched Bingo and Slots Friendzy in August this year, described at the time by COO Lee Fenton as “a huge opportunity” for the company.
As with Gamesys, 888’s offering will be covered by its existing Gibraltar licence and will be operated by the company’s existing social casino subsidiary Mytopia, which was relaunched in April after effectively beingwritten off in a “non-cash impairment charge” of $20.2m in August 2011.
Itai Freiberger, 888 chief operating officer, said of the deal: “888 has long recognised the potential for social gaming. Our Facebook freemium offerings have found a significant audience, and we are very excited by the opportunity money gaming on Facebook provides. We are working closely with Facebook ensuring we introduce the best of both worlds of real money and social gaming.”
The company will first launch Bingo Appy (which also features a free-to-play variant), and will follow up by rolling out a casino offering including slots, and possibly poker according to a source within 888.
Plumbee announces Sportingbet joint venture
Plumbee has entered into a joint venture (JV) with egaming operator Sportingbet to create a new business designed to explore the “real-money, social-gambling arena.”
The newly-formed Bonza Gaming, headed up by Sportingbet’s former head of mobile Rick Brownlow who takes on the role of CEO, is based in Plumbee’s former offices at London’s Silicon Roundabout. Leading a team of engineers, game artists and product managers – the company currently has 12 employees in total – Bonza will look to exploit opportunities for crossover between the social casino and egaming sectors across multiple platforms.
The company is totally autonomous from both Sportingbet and Plumbee, who instead are equal shareholders in the JV, with Brownlow and his management team in full control of Bonza Gaming’s strategy.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Gtech G2 announces rebrand
Gtech G2 has rebranded to SPIELO G2 to incorporate last year’s merger of the two Lottomatica businesses, eGaming Review can confirm.
Lottomatica unified SPIELO International and GTECH G2 at the end of October last year in a bid to offer its customers “the best possible content, technology and a further route to market,” a spokesman said at the time.
Paddys inks NetEnt and IGT agreements
Paddy Power has increased its casino games offering through deals with software providers Net Entertainment and International Game Technology (IGT).
The IGT agreement is mobile-only, covering titles including Da Vinci Diamonds and Cleopatra, and makes Paddy Power the first OpenBet customer to take on board mobile content from IGT’s remote gaming server (RGS) casino portfolio.
William Hill launches new iPad app
William Hill has further expanded its mobile betting business with the launch of a new iPad application.
The release follows the success of the UK bookmaker’s successful mobile app which has been downloaded more than half a million times since being released in February, the company said in a statement.
Zynga to launch Elite Slots
Zynga has announced the launch of the company’s latest social casino title, combining gambling mechanics with aspects of role playing games to attract a new midcore gaming audience.
IGT poker network closes doors
Nevada online poker licensee International Game Technology (IGT) has closed its European-facing IGT Poker network, less than two years after inheriting it in the £70m acquisition of Entraction.
MediaCorp changes name to Inta Plc
Media Corporation has changed its name to Inta Plc as it prepares for a “transitional” first half of 2013, the former parent company of defunct egaming operator Purple Lounge has announced.
IGT launches Ghostbusters slot
IGT has announced the launch of an online version of its land-based Ghostbusters slot, which the company claims features more video clips and character animations than any other IGT game.
SBTech has signed an exclusive deal with African land-based operator Betland. Licensed and regulated in Nigeria, Betland is one of the leading land-based operators in the region with more than 100 betting shops. The new partnership will see SBTech provide top quality land based and betting shop solutions for the African market.