Italy now Netent's second biggest market
Software provider looking towards UK expansion following Bonza Gaming deal.
Net Entertainment has seen Italy grow to become its second biggest market following the launch of slots in the EU Member State in December, the company revealed in its interim report for the three months ended 31 March
The Swedish-listed provider entered the dot.it market in July 2011 following the regulation of casino table games, however it was only with the authorisation of slots four months ago that the company managed to begin growing its Italian business to its full capacity.
While revenues per region have not been broken out, the firm saw group revenues rise 16.7% year-on-year while Q1 operating profit was flat at SEK41m (£4m).
The first quarter saw Netent sign new agreements with 888 and Bonza Gaming, with the latter going live for real-money play on Facebook in February. Chief executive Per Eriksson (pictured) confirmed that the company will provide Bonza with “a wide range of slot games and other casino gaming” on the social network, while noting that its platform integration with 888, covering online and mobile content, is “ongoing”.
A further five of Netent’s existing customers also signed up for the Netent Touch mobile offering during the quarter, with the same number committing to taking on a live casino product from the provider. Four of the five live casino customers have already gone live.
Eriksson asserted that the company will continue its UK push, while revealing it is also in discussions in “a number of countries in Europe and the US”.
“We are looking at what opportunities can open up in the US, but do not underestimate the challenges that such an effort would mean,” Eriksson said.
Meanwhile UK-facing bingo business bgo – formerly known as Mandalay Media – has today announced a deal with NetEnt to take on its full suite of slot games.
“Offering quality games, with the best graphics and animation is very important to us,” said bgo founder Alex Holt, adding that the Netent deal “provides our demanding player base with the quality, depth and breadth of games they expect from us”.