Mecca Bingo extends Virtue Fusion contract until 2017
Rank-owned bingo operator signs new three-year deal with Playtech subsidiary as it plots digital overhaul
Rank Group bingo subsidiary Mecca Bingo has signed a new three-year contract with Playtech’s Virtue Fusion to remain on the software supplier’s bingo platform.
The deal comes after Rank Group chairman Ian Burke revealed plans for an overhaul of its digital businesses in the operator’s H1 FY14 results call, during which he revealed Mecca Bingo online revenues had fallen 40% year-on-year to £6.8m.
Websites are to be redesigned and content management systems overhauled as part of the plans, with particular attention paid to mobile bingo products after revenue on the channel increased by 24% year-on-year.
Playtech’s first HTML5 mobile bingo product was launched in August 2013 before adding slots mini games to the software in May of last year.
Virtue Fusion’s most recent mobile release was a new native iPad bingo app for Gala Coral, although it’s not known if Mecca Bingo will receive a similar product.
Burke had previously claimed there to be “no growth” in the UK online bingo market and noted the benefit rival firm Gala Bingo had recorded since switching from its own bespoke platform to Virtue Fusion in 2012.
The new contract will take Mecca Bingo’s association with Virtue Fusion up until 2017, having originally partnered with the bingo network in 2006.
“Mecca were one of Virtue Fusion’s first ever bingo customers and the further re-signing of a marquee bingo brand like this shows the strength of the partnership”¦ range of products and our future plans,” Daniel Phillips, COO at Virtue Fusion, said.