Launches and sign-ups 24 October 2012
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (18 October to 24 October 2012).
PKR prepares for real-money mobile poker launch in UK
Target submission into Apple planned for end of November as operator looks towards real-money launch in the UK.
PKR could submit a real-money mobile poker offering to Apple as soon as November as the operator looks to continue its expansion into the space.
It unveiled a mobile 3D blackjack product last week with the app going live in the iTunes App Store. It is the second freeplay mobile app to be released by the company after its roulette offering was rolled out earlier this year.
Unlike the blackjack and roulette apps, PKR hopes to release mobile poker on a real-money basis in the UK, although a freeplay version will be made available in other markets. The operator also hopes to make submissions to Apple with regards to real-money blackjack and roulette apps before the end of this year.
Chief operating officer Leon Walters (pictured) told eGaming Review: “Ultimately our goal is to have PKR for real-money in regulated markets and a best in class social/play-for-fun game for the rest of the world.”
Evolution to launch Ladbrokes live casino
Evolution Gaming is to launch a dedicated live casino area of Ladbrokes, the live dealer supplier has announced this morning.
The branded Ladbrokes area will initially consist of three live blackjack tables each branded with the operator’s red cloth in front of a bespoke 3D rendered backdrop featuring the company’s ‘L’ logo.
The area will be available exclusively to Ladbrokes’ customers via Ladbrokes.com with two tables operating 24/7 and the third open 12 hours every day.
Evolution to launch Deal or No Deal live concept in 2013
Evolution Gaming has signed an exclusive three-year international agreement with the world’s largest television producer to launch the Deal or No Deal brand into the online live dealer market, the company announced this morning.
The exclusive global deal with Endemol, the company behind Big Brother and Million Pound Drop, will see Evolution develop new live dealer casino games with the Deal or No Deal brand, which will be distributed across its network excluding the United Kingdom.
No further details were available as to which operator will be the first to integrate the new game or games with the live concept and development said to be in the “very early stages”, however it is scheduled to go live sometime in 2013.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
NYX Gaming Group sets up US subsidiary
London headquartered software developer NYX Gaming Group has set up a Nevada-based subsidiary, representing its first move into the US market.
Overseen by group CEO Matt Davey, NextGen Gaming USA will offer social slots to companies licensed in the Silver State, with a view to establishing a relationship ahead of any potential future regulation of the vertical.
Davey told eGaming Review: “We are hoping that Nevada licensed operators will look to us for social as a means of testing the water before they can bring slots online real money, and then we hope that when the time comes they will want our [real-money] online technology.”
Svenska Spel in national stadium deal
Swedish monopoly operator Svenska Spel has signed a partnership with the country’s national football stadium, Friends Arena.
The stadium, in Stockholm’s Solna municipality, will host its first game next month when the Swedish men’s team plays a friendly against England, and the deal with Svenska Spel is due to run until the end of 2013.
Other events due to take place during the period include the UEFA Women’s European Football Championship, with Friends Arena due to play host to the final.
Microgaming enters lottery space with Genera deal
Microgaming has made its first venture into the online lottery market through a deal which will see its bingo, scratchcard and lottery games provided to Kombispel by partner Genera Networks.
The agreement also marks Microgaming’s first deal in Sweden, where lottery operator Kombispel was the first partner to go live on Genera’s BingoFair bingo network last month. The software provider’s CEO Roger Raatgever said: “After the first month our content is already proving as popular with Swedish players as it is elsewhere.
Quickspin signs slots agreement with Betsson
Online and social gaming development studio Quickspin has signed a licensing deal with Betsson that will enable eGaming Review’s fifth highest ranked operator to gain access to its portfolio of slot games.
Quickspin, formed by ex Net Entertainment head of product management Daniel Lindberg, NetEnt’s former head of design and product strategy for video slots Mats Westerlund and former Unibet executive Joachim Timmermans, currently has three fairytale-themed slot games within its portfolio with a fourth due for imminent release.
IGT provides Double Down app to 15 more casinos
IGT has signed partnership agreements up with a further 15 regional land-based US casino partners to offer its DoubleDown Casino application on their websites, taking the total to 24 since the arrangement was introduced in August.
The 15 as yet unnamed casinos join the likes of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas, Jacobs Entertainment casinos and Casino Del Sol Resort in Arizona in entering a revenue sharing deal with IGT to host the Double Down Casino application “ one of the most popular of its kind on Facebook “ on their customer-facing websites.
Bwin in betting terminal deal with Catalan operator
Bwin.party has agreed a deal with Grup Solplay whereby its bwin brand will operate self-service betting terminals for the Catalan operator.
Solplay, predominantly a gaming machines operator in the autonomous region, will expand into Valencia on a trial basis for an unspecified amount of time.
Singapore signs MoU with Alderney regulator
Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), its first with a European regulator.
The MoU is designed to strengthen cooperation between the CRA and the AGCC in areas such as sharing information and knowledge in order to combat issues such as money-laundering, organised crime, cheating and problem gaming.
Bwin.party has signed a deal with Weswit to implement the web technology firm’s live data product, Lightstreamer, into its gaming platforms. Lightstreamer technology enables the streaming of real-time gaming data and messaging across multiple channels and apps, including HTML5, Android, iPhone, iPad, and many other platforms.
Tod Martin, bwin.party’s group technology director, said of the deal: “Lightstreamer was the clear scalable solution to handle the complex real-time data communication required by our state-of-the-art gaming products. We are confident the Lightstreamer solution will provide the highest quality gaming experience for our customers.”
The English Football League has signed a partnership with Bet Butler whereby the betting concierge service has become the league’s official gaming and betting provider. The two-year agreement will see the league’s 72 clubs awarded a share of winning and losing bets placed by their fans.
Bet Butler chairman Chris Bell said: “I am delighted by this deal that benefits both football league clubs and supporters. It is a marvellous endorsement of our unique technology which will offer the fans the best available price, but also deliver an important revenue stream for their club.”
Mobile casino operator Lucky247 has signed up with Microgaming to take on a portfolio of mobile software from the Isle of Man-based provider. The operator, owned by Malta-registered To Play Central Ltd, will add a number of HTML5 and Android games as part of the agreement.
SBTech has been awarded best online betting platform at the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Exhibition (BEGE). Chief executive officer Itai Zak said: “It was a fantastic event for SBTech…we have been recognized for the very thing we pride ourselves on: innovation and cutting edge solutions for the sports betting industry.”
Loaded magazine has signed a deal with Isle of Man-licensed Cashball Network which will bring about the roll-out of a white-label casino solution across mobile, social and online. The white-label solutions provider currently offers egaming content from the likes of Microgaming, NYX Gaming Group and Sheriff Gaming.
Betway has offered support to 5-a-side and 11-a-side grassroots football teams across the UK, providing branded team kits and information on leagues and games for members who deposit a minimum of £20 and stake a minimum of £60, in partnership with Toga Sports.
Betting exchange operator Betdaq has launched a dedicated NFL micro-site – betdaqnfl.com – offering streaming of live commentary on every Sunday with expert analysis from US-based pundit John Arnette. Betdaq marketing director Shane McLaughlin said: “The popularity of American Football in the UK and Ireland is bigger than ever and we saw the need to offer punters a dedicated NFL site where they can get tips and information direct from NFL experts in the USA.”
Insured jackpot provider Topjack Games has launched new game Blackjack Millions, which carries a bonus game with a £2m jackpot. It has also updated its client with improved graphics.
Sheriff Gaming has released ‘Bugs’, a new 3D slot with a progressive jackpot. Spokesman Eric Roskamp described the game as “A really fun and light hearted progressive slot game that combines the feature rich and engaging graphics that our 3D games are famous for with all the added excitement that playing a progressive slot brings.”