888 targets sportsbook growth with app launch
Sportsbook currently 2% of revenues " Kambi-powered app set for imminent release
888 CEO Brian Mattingley has targeted growth in the company’s sportsbook business with the launch of its new mobile app.
Speaking to eGaming Review this morning, Mattingley confirmed the launch of the new mobile sports betting app had been planned for the start of the English football season, however it had overrun by a couple of weeks.
It is the first 888sport-branded product to launch since the operator announced a deal with Unibet’s B2B subsidiary Kambi Sports Solutions for a fully-managed sportsbook service. Mattingley said the mobile app was now complete and ready for release.
Currently the vertical accounts for just 2% of 888’s revenues which according to Mattingley accounts for 0.3% of the UK sports betting market.
While 888’s casino and poker businesses have gone from strength to strength, its sports betting offering has been left in the wake of the likes of William Hill and Paddy Power.
Paddy Power’s mobile betting site attracts 51% of total sportsbook turnover, while mobile represented 35% of its online sports betting revenues at William Hill.
Mattingley said the Kambi agreement will see a greater range of markets offered within a wider range of products, starting with the new mobile app.
“We’re still talking about a tiny proportion of the business in terms of revenues,” he said. “But we’ve invested significant time and resources in it and we’re confident we can begin to target the smartphone and tablet [sports betting] market much better from now on.”