Launches and sign-ups 10/10/12
A round-up of the egaming industry's launches and sign-ups from the last seven days (4 October to 10 October 2011).
Hippodrome in PokerStars and Microgaming deals
Casino previously had JV with MediaCorp’s now-defunct Purple Lounge subsidiary.
Microgaming has announced an exclusive deal to provide online casino software to UK bricks and mortar venue The Hippodrome, while the venue’s online poker offering will be provided by PokerStars.
Stars has taken an undisclosed minority stake in the casino, in London’s West End, which will also see the operator’s branding feature in the Hippodrome’s physical poker room, described in a statement from the venue as “the UK’s first PokerStars’ poker room.” No specifics were provided with regard to the online poker element.
The Isle of Man-licensed operator already has a branded poker room in Macau’s Grand Waldo Hotel, and it is anticipated that its Hippodrome deal will be the precursor to sponsored tournaments and events as is the case in the Asian city. It also has a deal with Casino de Namur in Belgium, a deal which preceded its award of a licence in the EU member state.
PokerStars group strategy director Guy Templer said: “Together we will give poker players the same great poker experience, live 24/7 in the heart of London that they get from PokerStars online. We are looking forward to unveiling some great new live events for the UK poker market in 2013.”
Probability signs agreement with freemium mobile developer
Mobile gambling business Probability has entered into a strategic relationship with Nasdaq-listed developer Glu Mobile which will see it develop a series of real-money gambling games based on Glu’s existing freemium brands.
Initially targeting the UK and Italy, where Probability increased its presence through the acquisition of Playyoo in July, brands such as action games Contract Killer and Gun Bros will be added to the operator’s existing portfolio alongside flagship brand LadyLuck’s Casino, which was added to the iTunes App Store in June.
The slots will also be made available to Probability’s real-money partners such as Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, and CEO Charles Cohen (pictured) said he was confident that the titles, some of which have in excess of one million downloads in their freemium non-slot form “Will appeal to our customers as well as those of our B2B clients.”
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Bet365 integrates ‘1-Tap’ payment solution
Bet365 has teamed up with digital wallet provider Skrill to integrate a new ‘one tap’ payment solution for customers wagering on desktop, mobile and tablets devices.
Skrill 1-Tap will allow bet365 customers to make quick and easy payments without having to re-enter login details or credit card information. The technology has also been integrated into bet365’s standalone apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Skrill’s chief product officer David Roe commented: “At Skrill we are committed to making payments simple. With mobile gambling forecasted to reach US$4.8 billion globally by 2013 bet365 are ahead of the game with Skrill 1-Tap, capturing this rapidly growing sector and making the most of this emerging trend by offering frictionless, mobile-friendly payments.
Winamax launches freeplay online poker site
Winamax has launched a freeplay poker site available to US residents, with a view to offering customers a real-money product if and when the French operator secures a US online poker licence.
The site is available for download on iOS and Android, while a Facebook app was released in April. Although no money can be deposited, it allows players to win ‘wams’ which can be used as a stake to enter tournaments which offer real-money prizes.
A statement on the Winamax website reads: “Because real money poker is currently not authorized in the United States, we have put together a play money offer designed to encourage real poker play and offer an experience as close to the real thing as possible. Should online real money poker ever become legal in your area, we may be opening up our real money rooms to players, and you would be able to enjoy the full online poker experience.”
Win2day adds poker to Belgian offering
Casinos Austria brand Win2day has launched a poker room for the Belgian market in partnership with Microgaming-powered Prima Networks.
Prima already supplies the operator with dot.be casino and bingo products, boasting Belgium’s first licensed bingo room, and its poker offering includes the fast-fold Blaze Poker product already offered to Microgaming’s dot.com licensees.
Win2day was awarded its Belgian operating licence in April this year,receiving an A+licence for online poker and casino. The other holders of the licence are PokerStars, Partouche and Casino777, although the latter only offers casino.
Aristocrat launches freeplay casino site for Michigan tribe
Aristocrat Technologies has launched a freeplay online casino for Michigan’s Island Resort & Casino.
The tribal casino penned the online deal with the US gaming machine supplier last year, having been a customer of its land-based casino management system Oasis 360 since 1995.
The site, which launched last week, uses Aristocrat’s nLiveLink to link the virtual and brick-and-mortar casinos for a holistic view of player behaviour.
Sportech signs Longitude pools deal
On and offline pools specialist Sportech has signed a strategic services agreement with technology and data company Longitude to “bring to market a new and exciting complementary pools offering”, the company announced to the market this morning.
The deal will allow the Vernons.com and Sportech Racing owners to exclusively distribute Longitude’s single pools product in Europe and India for sports pool betting.
HoGaming launches live casino for tablet devices
Live dealer provider HoGaming has launched a new live casino product specifically for tablet devices.
The new offering will include live dealer versions of roulette, blackjack and baccarat games, and capitalises on advancements in mobile technology and the rollout of 4G networks by telecommunications companies, the company said in a statement.
HoGaming has also launched a new live dealer software system, including game analysis and information tools as well as allowing for customers to personalise their experience. CEO Pater Kjaer said: “Our software has been developed from decades of experience from the land-based casino environment and takes the Live Dealer Casino product to the next level.”
Mobile software supplier OMI Gaming has partnered with X18Bet in a deal which will see the Alderney licensee provide the operator with mobile casino games through its Kazuri Casino Module. OMI Gaming spokesman André Orefjärd said: “We are excited to become X18Bet’s mobile casino content partner and this agreement further solidifies our position in the mobile gaming space.”
Irish operator Boylesports has gone live with Net Entertainment casino software, following a deal signed earlier this year.
Software provider GameAccount Network has introduced real-money mobile games for both iOS and Android devices, with the former available in the App Store. All will be available to partners in the regulated Spanish, Italian and British markets on request.
Isle of Man licensee Mahjong Logic has partnered with Betmotion in a deal which will see the Latin America-facing operator add Mahjong to an existing offering comprising online casino, sports and poker. BetMotion managing director Martin Benitez said: The Asian population here in Latin America is quite large and growing fast. Our player base has been asking for Mahjong for quite some time now.
Unibet has signed a betting partnership with Belgian football club Standard Liège, which will see its logo feature on advertising hoardings at the club’s home games. According to Sports Pro Media the deal will be followed by the introduction of the first in-stadium betting offering in the country at Standard’s Stade Maurice Dufresne.