Launches and sign-ups 2 March 2016
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (25 February 2016 to 2 March 2016)
Unibet experiments with voice recognition technology
The operator’s Siri-like voice betting functionality will be rolled-out in the next version of its mobile app
Unibet has begun trialling voice recognition technology with the upcoming launch of a voice betting feature via the operator’s flagship mobile sportsbook app.
The Siri-like functionality will be available in the next version of the Unibet app, currently awaiting approval from Apple, and was built in-house on Kambi’s APIs in partnership with a third-party technology provider.
The product enables customers to place a wager on selected markets through the phone’s in-built microphone after customers have clicked the microphone icon found on the app’s homepage.
Where there is ambiguity around the bet the customer intended to place, the feature will use a natural language component to help understand the customer’s betting intent and either make a safe assumption or ask the customer for clarification before the bet is confirmed.
Marathonbet unveils revamped UK-facing website
Online sportsbook Marathonbet has unveiled a new UK-facing website as the operator looks to build on the success of its Premier League betting partnership deals.
The Panbet sports betting brand released the revamped website, including a new mobile web sportsbook, last week following an extensive testing period of the product.
Speaking to eGaming Review, a spokesperson confirmed that the new Marathonbet.co.uk site was designed by its in-house development team and customers are now being encouraged to leave feedback on the product.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Ladbrokes gears-up for ?1m EU referendum
Ladbrokes is looking to cash in on the upcoming EU referendum after launching a new “one stop-shop” micro-site dedicated to this summer’s big vote.
The operator said the Grand Parade developed site, which features a referendum barometer based on the operator’s current odds, would help drive retention and customer acquisition in the months leading up to the 23 June event.
Ladbrokes head of political betting Matthew Shaddick told eGaming Review the firm expected to see stakes in excess of ?1m as more punters take to political betting markets.
PokerStars to make US return in March
PokerStars will make its long-awaited return to the US market next month, as parent company Amaya preps its launch five months after receiving a licence from New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
The world’s largest online poker brand will go live in the Garden State on 21 March and Amaya said it will conduct an interim testing period with the DGE and a beta period for a limited player base beginning in mid-March.
Amaya partnered with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City for the launch of pokerstarsnj.com, using the casino’s licence to offer poker and casino games to players in the state.
Playtech launches high-speed mobile bingo variant
Playtech has launched a new mobile bingo game designed to offer “short, sharp bursts of gameplay” to mobile players.
The 36-ball multi-stake game, labelled ‘Cash Cubes’, is played every two minutes having been designed with “speed in mind”.
Playtech said the game offered a “unique built-in retention element”, whereby the more cubes a player collects, the more likely they are to achieve a special bonus.