Launches and sign-ups 13 August 2014
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (7 August to 13 August 2014)
888sport to get Spanish launch this week
Operator finally gets regulator go-ahead to release product ahead of new football season
888 has been given the green light to launch its sportsbook in Spain as the operator looks to build on its strong gaming market share in the regulated Spanish market.
The release of 888sport.es is due to take place this week, just ahead of the start of the new Premier League football season and two weeks’ before the Spanish La Liga is due to kick-off.
888 snapped-up a Spanish remote sports betting licence from local gaming company Nevron at the start of the year and had initially hoped to have the Kambi-powered product ready in time for the World Cup, however, it is thought regulatory issues prevented this from taking place.
Following its H1 interim management statement, 888 chief executive Brian Mattingley told eGaming Review he was “bullish” about its sportsbook prospects in Spain, citing the growth the vertical had enjoyed in the UK over the past 12 months.
PokerStars launches licensed Bulgarian site
PokerStars has launched to players in Bulgaria after being granted an online operating licence by the country’s State Commission on Gambling back in February.
PokerStars.bg is the first poker site to go live after the country revamped its Gambling Act at the start of the year to attract more foreign investment.
“PokerStars strives to be first-in-market when online poker licenses are made available and we’re proud to be the first locally licensed poker site in Bulgaria,” Eric Hollreiser, head of corporate communications for Stars’ parent company the Rational Group, said.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Casumo unveils “platform of the future”
Online casino operator Casumo has overhauled its desktop website to create what the Malta-based firm describes as a “platform of the future”.
Changes to the website include a visual redesign to the user interface and layout, and a new dashboard to provide an overview of games, valuables and campaigns.
Speaking with eGR, Casumo co-founder and designer Kim Larsen said the main idea behind the redesign was to make the interface “invisible” and allow more screen estate for the game.
SIS signs exclusive La Liga data deal
Bookmaking service provider Satellite Information Services (SIS) has signed a deal with Spanish football association Liga de Futbol Profesional’s (LFP) to become their official data partner, giving them the exclusive right to distribute live data from the Spanish football leagues.
SIS was selected after a competitive tender process and the three-year deal, which starts this season, includes Spain’s top three professional football divisions and its two cup competitions, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa.
Data collected by SIS, and sold to partner bookmakers, will include team line-ups, scores, cards, shots and corners.
TGP Europe brands switch to SBTech platform
The Gaming Platform’s (TGP) European arm has signed a multi-year deal with SBTech to provide its turnkey sportsbook solution to TGP Europe’s white label business.
The deal has sees operators including JenningsBet, 138.com, Setantabet.com and Wilsonbet.com migrate to SBTech’s sportsbook solution, with the firms also gaining access to the supplier’s mobile and tablet betting and gaming products.
Steve Templeman, managing director at TGP Europe, said that the deal would expand on its existing sportsbook operation.
Unibet CEO casts doubt on Svenska Spel casino plans
Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnström said he doubted Svenska Spel’s will receive permission to launch online casino launch from the Swedish authorities and any approval would be an “extremely strange” decision.
The Swedish monopoly revealed it had requested permission to launch an online casino last month, however Tjärnström said that any approval would be at odds with the current infringement proceedings Svenska Spel is facing over its online poker and sportsbook products.
“To then add on [casino] would seem to be putting fuel on the fire to me, so I doubt it,” Tjärnström said.