Launches and sign-ups 07/03/12
A round-up of the egaming industry's launches and sign-ups from the last seven days (1 March to 7 March 2012).
Shuffle Master agrees to buy Ongame for 19.5m
Poker network had been described as a “surplus asset” by previous owner bwin.party.
Land-based gaming supplier Shuffle Master has made its first move into the online poker market with the 19.5m (£16.2m) acquisition of the Ongame network from bwin.party.
The cost may be subject to increase if the United States market opens up in the next five years, with Shuffle Master set to pay “[U]p to 10 million in cash within five years of closing, contingent upon the commencement of legalized, real-money online poker in the U.S. within such period.
It notes that “The 10 million contingent payment decreases through the five-year period.”
Despite having the fifth-largest cash game liquidity of all poker rooms and networks worldwide, Ongame was written off as a “surplus asset” in anticipation of the completion of bwin’s merger with PartyGaming in March 2011.
Zynga launches new proprietary platform
Zynga has launched its dot.com platform offering players a new route to a selection of its games beyond the existing Facebook, Google+ and mobile (pictured) platforms.
However rather than representing a move away from Facebook, as suggested when Project Z was announced last October, the platform is “totally integrated” with the social network, which will still take its standard 30% revenue share.
Referring to Facebook in a statement accompanying the launch, the social games developer described the integration as “an extension of the companies’ strong and collaborative partnership.”
Betfair launches odds comparison tool
Betfair’s latest odds will be available on the same screen as its competitors following the launch of a Google Chrome-based web tool, ‘Betfair Everywhere’.
Using keyword technology to find relevant bets and prices, the ‘Betfair Everywhere’ tool allows customers who log in to Betfair.com using Google’s web browser to view Betfair odds and place bets while surfing other selected sports content websites. They will also be able to track their Betfair bets while browsing the web.
By holding the cursor over competitors’ prices, customers will see Betfair’s latest odds appear in a pop-up box, offering the chance to place a bet with a click of the mouse.
Chilipoker merges B2C arm with Poker770
Chilipoker has merged its B2C arm with European-facing operator Poker770 to ensure it is entirely “fit and proper” for entry into the United States.
The operator will continue to serve French customers under its partnership with Iliad Gaming, but players in all other markets will migrate to Poker770 by tomorrow morning.
Chiligaming chief executive Alex Dreyfus told eGaming Review that the move is designed “To focus the business towards the B2B iGaming operation in the US and to divest the company of holdings in unregulated territories.”
Pincus hints at land-based partnership for Zynga
Zynga CEO Mark Pincus has described online gambling as “a natural fit” for the social gaming operator, and has hinted at the possibility of a partnership between his company and a US land-based operator.
Speaking at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco yesterday, Pincus said of egaming: “I think it’s a good natural fit. I think, philosophically, the part people haven’t noticed yet, real money gaming is the perfect [fit] with virtual goods and social games.”
Jackpotjoy launches in Sweden
Gamesys has announced the launch of its Jackpotjoy brand in Sweden, offering bingo, slots and casino games to Swedish players.
Jackpotjoy.se has gone live with Swedish-language chat moderators and is offering players a 100 Swedish Krona (SEK) sign-up bonus. Similar to the UK site, players will be able to play a daily free game with a chance to win up to SEK1m (£94,379). Gamesys has also partnered with four major Swedish banks to ensure player funds are protected.
Golden Nugget buys Missippi casino
Landry’s-owned casino group Golden Nugget has made its first move into Mississippi with the acquisition of Isle Casino Biloxi from the Isle of Capri group.
The venue will become Golden Nugget’s fourth property in the United States, joining one casino in New Jersey and two in Nevada. The New Jersey property, in Atlantic City, was formerly known as the Trump Marina before being acquired by Landry’s last year.
Caliente to enhance online offering with Playtech casino
Mexico’s largest land-based gambling operator Grupo Caliente has signed a deal with Playtech, which will see the company launch the provider’s products on its egaming site.
Bodog88 adds anonymous poker tables
Bodog’s Asian-facing brand licensee Bodog88 has joined the Bodog poker network and introduced the recreational player model already available on the network’s other sites.
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Aristocrat Technologies has signed an agreement with MTR Gaming Group to create a free-play casino product for the Scioto Downs Casino & Racetrack in Columbus, Ohio. Built using nLive technology, the casino agreement follows a deal to supply MTR with Aristocrat’s Oasis 360 casino management system.
Sports betting and lottery data service provider Betgenius has announced that it has extended its supplier agreement with Codere. The operator, which is facing a 115m fine in Italy over the ongoing case against gaming machine operators, will take delivery of Betgenius’ Sportsbook Management solution for a further two years.
Software supplier Play’n GO has signed a deal to supply Malta-based casino Vera&John with a selection of online and mobile casino games. Customers will now have access to a selection of over 52 flash-based online products, and 24 mobile games.
The World Poker Tour will launch its charitable organisation, the WPT Foundation with a party featuring celebrity guests on Saturday, including actor and poker player Don Cheadle.