Aristocrat signs US poker deal with Ongame

Aristocrat has inked a deal to integrate the Amaya-owned Ongame poker software onto its online gaming platform.

The memorandum of understanding enables the gaming supplier to offer the Ongame product via its freeplay nLive platform, with a real-money version to be provided where US regulation permits. Aristocrat becomes the second supplier to sign up for Ongame in the US after Bally Technologies in February, with Amaya CEO David Baazov commenting the agreement would “open up a wide range of new opportunities in the United States”.

“Aristocrat and Amaya share a common vision of integrating land-based gaming with online gaming,” he said. “This is a strategic relationship in the most promising market in the world.”

The Ongame product has seen several developments this year, including the roll-out of an iOS and Android-optimised fast-fold offering, Strobe, in March. The Instant Rewards tool was also launched this year, allowing players to earn cash prizes and tournament tickets during hands.

Aristocrat Americas president Atul Bali explained that the deal “aligns perfectly with [the company’s] strategy of bringing best-of-breed wagering, free play and social platform, while integrating both Aristocrat and leading third-party content as part of the nLive offering”.

American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP) in Nevada and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut are the first operators to offer freeplay poker using Ongame’s software, thanks to their B2B deals with Bally to use its iGaming Platform, for which Ongame is the preferred poker partner.

Last year SHFL entertainment announced it will act as the exclusive distributor of Amaya Gaming’s online poker and platforms in the US for the next 10 years, including Ongame. SHFL, previously Shuffle Master, had agreed to buy Ongame from bwin.party in March 2012 before pulling out of the deal in June citing lower-than-expected European revenues and lack of regulatory certainty in the US.