Launches and sign ups 18 January 2012
A round-up of the egaming industry's launches and sign-ups from the last seven days (12 January to 18 January 2012)
IGT to buy Double Down Interactive
American provider preparing to pay US$500m total consideration for social gaming company.
US gaming machines provider IGT is set to buy social gaming company Double Down Interactive, whose Double Down Casino flagship product is one of the largest gambling-related apps on Facebook.
The acquisition would comprise a total consideration of US$500m, with half of this coming in the form of cash. The remainder is broken down into $85m in retention payments over the next two years, plus $165m in cash payable over the next three years providing the Seattle-based developer meets financial performance targets.
The cost is five times higher than the amount paid by Caesars Entertainment in May for its 51% share in social game developer Playtika, reported as $80-90m but believed to be closer to $100m.
Israeli company Playtika is responsible for the Slotomania online slot, which included former 888 CEO Gigi Levy among its investors and attracts 5.4m monthly active users on Facebook.
Analysis: IGT acquisition of Double Down Interactive
While walking the corridors of US gaming conferences and seminars Patti Hart one day saw her vision of the future; one where “gamblers” will be able to choose what game they play, how and on what they play it and in whatever paid or free-play format they choose.
Not long afterwards she somehow convinced the IGT board to part with US$500 (£326m) of shareholders money for a barely two year-old social gaming start-up that only launched its Double Down Casino app on Facebook in April 2010.
Double Down Interactive’s growth, however has been nothing short of spectacular. As eGaming Review highlighted in the current issue of the magazine it has gone from diminutive base of early adopters to being one of Facebook’s top five most played apps in just 18 months with 4.7m monthly users, generating more than US$140,000 in daily revenue and an estimated $10m a year in operating profit. And all this with a close-knit workforce of just 80 staff, many of whom were immediately transformed overnight into millionaires.
Profile: Double Down Interactive
The key facts on Double Down Interactive, purchased by IGT in a deal worth up to $500m
PokerStars launches first real-money app in Italy
PokerStars has launched its first real-money iPhone and iPad poker application in Italy with an Android version likely to be released soon, eGaming Review can reveal.
Last November eGR exclusively revealed that Pokerstars had released its first ever mobile poker client on the Italian app Store, however it has now progressed from a play-for-fun product into the realms of a real-money mobile offering quicker than many predicted. Customer ratings on the Italian app Store rate the new app four and a half stars out of five.
The operator plans to roll out similar real-money apps in 2012 in regulated and newly regulated and regulating markets with the UK and France followed by Denmark and Spain said to be next.
Victor Chandler rebrands as BetVictor in UK
Gibraltar-based bookmaker Victor Chandler is preparing to align its UK operations with those overseas by rebranding as BetVictor.
The process is designed to “Create consistency internationally”, according to marketing director Karl Riley, with the new UK brand name already in place across Europe.
BetVictor chairman Victor Chandler (pictured), who will remain the figurehead of the business, said: “The UK will continue to be the fulcrum of our international business and it makes perfect sense that the same brand name is used here as in foreign territories.”
Betclic to end Marseille shirt sponsorship deal
Betclic will not renew its sponsorship of French football club Olympique de Marseille beyond the end of this season.
The deal, initially signed in May 2010, cost the French operator 7m a year according to newspaper Le Figaro, slightly less than the 16m over two years which it is believed to have paid for its sponsorship of Italian club Juventus.
William Hill partners with Premier League Darts
William Hill has agreed a deal to become the exclusive betting partner of the Premier League darts competition, taking over from 888.
It is the operator’s second sponsorship of a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) event in the space of three months, following on from November’s Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.
London agency Isabel wins Jackpot Joy ad account
London-based advertising agency Isobel has been awarded the £5m Jackpot Joy advertising account.
The television and online advertising campaign is set to begin in April, and according to Campaign magazine, the firm “ which works with the likes of InterCasino and Weight Watchers “ fought off competition from M&C Saatchi, DraftFCB and Creature.
Unibet signs Danish football partnerships
Unibet has signed deals to become the exclusive betting partner of Danish football clubs F.C. København (Copenhagen) and FC Mitdjylland.
The Swedish operator will sponsor stands at the stadia of the two clubs, placed first and third in the Danish Superliga respectively.
888 launches Big Brother Bingo
888 has partnered with Endemol and Channel 5 to launch Big Brother Bingo in tandem with the latest celebrity series of the reality TV show.
The game will allow players to win prizes related to the programme “ which moved to Channel 5 from rival Channel 4 last year “ including VIP tickets for eviction nights.
Intralot to launch fixed-odds betting in South Africa
Greek operator Intralot is preparing to launch fixed-odds betting in South Africa after its subsidiary Intralot South Africa was awarded a licence by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
The licence covers online betting across the Commonwealth country, as well as nationwide mobile and telephone activities, while land-based sports betting facilities in the Western Cape province are also included.
Leander in Betsson supply deal
After taking on Leander Games’ Reely Poker slot in November, Betsson has agreed a deal to add four further games from the Argentinean solutions provider.
Reely Poker was provided to the Swedish operator’s players when it launched on Gaming Technology Solutions’ EdGE platform, and is now joined by Reely Roulette, Megadeth, Treasures of the Sahara and Snake Slot.
Amaya granted extension to complete Cryptologic acquisition
Amaya has been given until Thursday 2 February to complete its due diligence procedures and finalise financing arrangements for its acquisition of Cryptologic.
Leander partners with Avatingo creators
Argentinean solutions provider Leander Games has signed an exclusive deal to supply social gaming company beJig with slots content for Facebook.
Poker Channel gets rights for Epic Poker League
The Poker Channel “ owned by Power 50 operator Gaming Media Group – has secured the rights to show more than 70 hours of footage from the Epic Poker League to viewers worldwide.
Pinnacle Entertainment “in talks to buy Epic Poker League”
Pinnacle Entertainment, which operates eight land-based casinos in the United States, is believed to be in discussions to acquire the Epic Poker League.
Yatahay network rebrands as Winning Poker Network
The Yatahay network will now be known as the Winning Poker Network after announcing its rebranding today.
Betradar releases two new live betting products
Betradar has announced the launch of two new in-play products.
Jackpot Party releases All That Glitters 2
Jackpot Party has announced the launch of its latest slot game, available exclusively at Jackpot Party Casino.
The Française des Jeux-owned sportsbook software provider LVS will provide the Loterie National de Cote d’Ivoire (LONACI) with its Advanced Betting Platform. The sportsbook will launch as Sportcash ahead of this month’s African Cup of Nations football tournament, initially in 80 betting shops, before expanding to support 2,000 terminals over the coming year.
GTECH has signed a five-and-a-half year extension of its deal with Colombian lottery Grupo Empresarial en Linea S.A. (GELSA). The Lottomatica subsidiary has supplied the GELSA with online lottery technology and commercial services since 2002.
Sports Betting Tech (SBTECH) has launched its first-ever mobile betting platform. The HTML5 platform, built with banking and cashier functionality, can be personalised to allow operators to interact with players more effectively, and will be showcased at ICE next week.
Medialivecasino has obtained certification from NMi, meaning it is now compliant with AAMS regulation and therefore permitted to operate in the Italian market.