Launches and sign-ups 27 June 2012
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (21 June to 27 June 2012).
Date set for iPoker split
New network policy to take force from 1 July “ rooms which fail to comply will be separated from “main liquidity pool” in September.
Playtech will begin ring-fencing liquidity on its iPoker network from September, with operators failing to meet various criteria set to be excluded from what it describes as its “main liquidity pool”, the company revealed today.
The move comes several months after eGaming Review first reported on such a potential split, with bet365, Paddy Power and William Hill among the operators set to remain in the main pool. Playtech is still yet to give any indication as to which operators – or indeed how many – would be included on the upper tier of the two-tier network.
A new network policy will be introduced on 1 July, providing a number of conditions which operators on the network will be required to comply with in order to enjoy benefits of the main pool. One of these conditions is the maintenance of a base of 6,000 monthly active players, as well as the introduction of 850 new players each month.
An anonymous representative for one iPoker skin told eGR that he would need further information from Playtech on the make-up and policing of what he calls “the minor network” before deciding whether it was viable to remain on the network.
Fertitta Interactive launches Ultimate Gaming brand
Fertitta Interactive has announced its new real-money and social gaming B2C brand Ultimate Gaming, eGaming Review can exclusively reveal, a move which has been in the pipeline since the company acquired CyberArts for an undisclosed sum last October.
In conjunction with poker platform and games supplier CyberArts, Fertitta Interactive and Fertitta Entertainment, owner of Las Vegas group Station Casinos, said it was just a week away from unveiling its new social poker game, Ultimate Poker.
Speaking to eGR this evening, Tom Breitling (pictured), co-founder of Fertitta Interactive, said social poker and bingo products would be launched under the Ultimate Gaming brand, and that it would launch real money poker as soon as it obtains a licence to do so.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Bet365 launches Sprint Poker
Bet365 has become the first iPoker skin to launch a fast-paced poker offering, with Sprint Poker going live on its exclusive tables with immediate effect.
The release comes just days after Playtech announced that its Speed Hold’em product would be rolled out across the network in the coming months – eGaming Review understands that Sprint Poker is the same product merely renamed for the operator.
Titan launches Speed Hold’em
Titan Poker has become the second operator on Playtech’s iPoker network to go live with the network’s new fast-paced poker product, Speed Hold’em.
The Antigua-licensed company follows in the footsteps of bet365 “ whose version of the game is known as ‘Sprint Poker’ and was launched last week “ in rolling out Speed Hold’em across selected cash tables.
Microgaming terminates 5050poker contract
The Microgaming Poker Network has terminated the contract of network skin 5050poker, one week after the Swedish-listed operator claimed to have left the network of its own volition.
Microgamining explained in a statement today: “The decision was taken after giving 5050Poker Ltd over a week to redress a material breach of their contract, being the non-payment of monies owed to cure their overdrawn network clearing account.” The termination of the contract has come into effect immediately.
NewGame Capital invests in AlchemyBet
NewGame Capital, the venture capital fund run by Cashcade co-founders Simon Collins and Patrick Southon, has announced its latest egaming investment, backing mobile casino operator and supplier AlchemyBet, which is to launch a TV advertising campaign this evening.
AlchemyBet is focused exclusively on developing HMTL5 games “ predominantly slots “ with CEO and founder James Harrison explaining to eGaming Review that this focus was part of a long-term approach, with HTML5 likely to overtake app development in the coming years.
IGT brings Da Vinci Diamonds to Double Down
International Game Technology has announced the launch of Da Vinci Diamonds, one of the supplier’s most popular online slot games on Double Down Casino.
The Nevada-based software provider, which received one of the first egaming licences to be issued in the state last night, first launched Da Vinci Diamonds as a terminal-based game in 2007. Due to its popularity has selected it as the first slot to be rolled out over multiple platforms, with a mobile version to be released later this year.
Shuffle Master sues app firm for trademark infringement
Land-based gaming supplier Shuffle Master has filed a lawsuit suing app developer Avalinx LLC, alleging trademark and copyright infringement.
The trademarks and copyrights referred to in the court papers, filed on Tuesday in the Las Vegas federal court, concern Shuffle Master’s Let It Ride and Three Card Poker table games.
Danske Spil announces Betware mobile launch
Former Danish monopoly Danske Spil has announced the launch of a mobile offering using Betware’s Smartphone Suite solution, which provides the operator with mobile lotto, instant win games and sports betting software for the Android and iOS platforms.
Topjack signs second deal in two weeks
Instant jackpot software provider Topjack Games has announced the signing of its second white label deal in just under a fortnight.
Betclic Everest agrees new Crypto deal
Everest Gaming has signed a multi-year deal with Amaya Gaming subsidiary CryptoLogic which will see the Betclic Everest subsidiary launch at least eight new slot games this year across its brands.
Betfred signs InfoMedia partnership
Betfred has announced a partnership with InfoMedia, which will see the Gibraltar-licensed bookmaker supply the mobile media agency with a full portfolio of integrated gaming services.
TonyBet to launch Kambi pool betting solution
Unibet B2B subsidiary Kambi Sports Solutions has announced its third supplier deal in just over a month, signing a deal to supply TonyBet with its Supertoto and Superscore pool betting products.
Hollywood Poker closes its doors
Ongame network site Hollywood Poker has closed down and transferred its players to RedKings Poker on the same network.
Barcrest signs GTS deal
Scientific Games subsidiary Barcrest has signed a deal with Playtech’s Gaming Technology Solutions (GTS) which will see a number of its games integrated onto the solutions provider’s Enhanced Gaming Engine (EdGE).
Boylebingo to sponsor Dream Idols tour
Boylebingo is to sponsor male stripping supergroup Dream Idols’ UK tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the troupe’s launch.
Topjack Games has announced a deal to supply uWinBingo.com with its Lloyd’s of London-insured instant jackpot games – the third deal signed by the provider in the past three weeks following agreements with Eseguire Limited and Orient Play. uWinBingo will launch a â¬2m jackpot, with a â¬5m jackpot to go live later this year, following by a â¬10m prize pot in 2013.
Co-founder Nick Lynes commented: “We launched only a few weeks ago and have enjoyed a huge amount of interest and have signed a white label deal every week. Our partners see the benefit of being first to market with our instant win multi-million & multi-currency jackpots.
“We are the first company to offer mega instant jackpots on all games not just slots and we have much bigger jackpot prizes and games to come,” he said.
Social poker game BamPoker has gone live on Facebook, offering players the chance to play with former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, who acts as the face of the brand.
“We are committed to providing a fun, social and interactive gaming experience through quality game design,” BamPoker co-founder and CEO Elton Pereira explained.
“BamPoker encourages active user engagement and strong community spirit, something we feel has been missing from the online poker world,” Pereira added.
Ihre Consulting has been appointed by 138SunGame as its exclusive affiliate agency for its launch focusing on the UK, European and Canadian Chinese communities. The site has launched with casino, live casino and sportsbook and will be fully available in English and Chinese, with specific targeted promotions, full customer service and suitable payment methods for these markets. Ihre Consulting will provide it with a full service affiliate management solution.
Scratchcard provider NeoGames has been named as an associate member of the World Lotteries Association. The news comes two weeks after the company was awarded a Danish egaming licence.