News in brief: Centrebet launches online casino; OpenBet launch; New Zealand...
Centrebet's new Chartwell-powered online casino has launched today; OpenBet will showcase its new betting promotion display software at ICE next week.
Centrebet has launched a Chartwell-powered online casino through its website. It features various slots and table games from the Canada-based provider’s stable, including its Texas Hold’Em bonus game. Luke Brill, head of marketing at Centrebet, said “We are excited about Chartwell’s future plans for the quality and quantity of their product roadmap and their upcoming Rapid Game Deployment. “
OpenBet will use next week’s ICE conference and exhibition in London to launch its new betting promotion display software OpenBetPromote. The launch will be accompanied by a virtual charity derby, hosted by Sky Sports presenter Alex Hammond, which will use the new software. The British-based provider, that was recently sold in a management buy out, hopes OpenBetPromote will strike a chord with major bookmakers through its ability to increase revenue opportunities in high street stores. Make sure you back eGR Rebel in next week’s charity derby!
The racing industry of New Zealand hopes to impose new taxes to stem what national racing board chief Andrew Brown has described as a ‘leakage’ caused by offshore operators taking bets online. Bets placed with Australian operators on races held in New Zealand currently see no money filter back into the horse racing system, and Brown has admitted that many services “have indicated it is unlikely they would do such a deal unless they were forced to.” Brown hopes recent Australian federal legislation “ forcing operators to pay a ‘race fields’ fee of 1.5% of turnover “ can be applied to New Zealand in the future, thereby helping to fund race stakes and allow home-based operators to offer more competitive odds.
The first legal bookmaker terminals have launched in Azerbaijan, with the first bets set to be placed on a football match between Azeri team Khazar-Lankaran and Turkish side Kasimpasha at 1pm GMT later today. All bookmakers who had previously operated illegally in the former-Soviet republic have now ceased to do so.
Less than one month after announcing her departure from Ultimate Bet, poker player Annie Duke has become the commissioner of a new professional poker league set up by gaming media company Federated Sports+Gaming. The league is set to consist of five tournaments this year, including a championship event in Las Vegas.