Launches and sign-ups 1 August 2012
A round-up of the egaming industry's launches and sign-ups from the last seven days (25 July to 1 August 2012).
Readers choose Jimmy Carr to host 2012 operator awards
Comedian receives bulk of votes cast in reader poll, edging out Reginald D Hunter and Tim Vine.
Comedian and television host Jimmy Carr has been chosen by the readers ofeGaming Review to host this year’s Operator Awards at The Roundhouse in Camden on November 26.
The 8 Out of 10 Cats presenter received the majority of the votes cast, comfortably ahead of American stand-up Reginald D Hunter and award-winning London comedian Tim Vine.
Betclic Everest completes Everest Gaming buyout
Operator acquires GigaMedia’s 33.33% stake of US-based poker and casino business.
Betclic Everest Group has become the 100% owner of Mangas Everest, the holding company which holds the brands for the Everest poker and casino sites, buying out GigaMedia’s remaining 33.33% stake in the business.
Rumours of the deal first emerged earlier this year in May, when GigaMedia failed to provide any financial results for its share of the company in its results for the first three months of 2012, resulting in widespread speculation that it had written off its stake, after its non-cash investment loss of US$36.3m in Q4 2011 was attributed in part to the brand’s struggles.
In a statement released this morning Betclic Everest revealed that it had increased its 60% interest in Mangas Everest , originally acquired in December 2009, to 66.66% in April this year. The operator already pools liquidity for Everest Poker with its Betclic dot.com and dot.country brands, and will continue to do so following the acquisition.
Horse Racing United Cantors towards poker platform
Deal would see horse track group launch poker platform following regulation in the state.
Cantor Gaming has been chosen to supply California’s Horse Racing United (HRU) with technology for an intrastate online poker platform ahead of potential regulation in the Golden State.
HRU is a non-for-profit coalition of horse racing businesses, whose members include Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields and the Thoroughbred Owners of California. The deal is subject to the HRU being selected as one of a limited number of licensees to operate an intrastate gambling website.#
PokerVIP in PokerTube takeover
Power Affiliates one-to-watch has partnerships in place with several poker sites “ PokerTube continues to operate Buzz Poker.
eGaming Review Power Affiliates one-to-watch PokerVIP (formerly iPokerVIP) has completed the takeover of fellow affiliate business PokerTube and will relaunch the site next month.
The acquisition does not cover InstaDeal network site Buzz Poker, previously known as Speed Poker, which will continue to be headed up by PokerTube’s former owner Stefan Wittmoss.
PokerVIP founder Jamie Nevin (pictured) described the deal as having “great opportunities,” telling eGR “It seems PokerTube is the only site that does what it does and I don’t think it will be challenged any time soon.
Favourit launches “100% unofficial Olympic fantasy betting
Australian company launches ‘London Games’ social betting campaign “ Favourit also thought to be in process of establishing partnerships with real-money sportsbooks.
Australian fantasy sports operator Favourit has announced the launch of its Olympic branding campaign, describing itself as having developed “the very ‘unofficial’ way to [gamify] the Games,” allowing users to place bets to challenge their friends and win virtual currency via its social betting platform.