Launches & sign-ups 29 April 2015
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (23 to 29 April 2015)
PPRO Group strikes deal with PugglePay
Payment providers PPRO Group has announced a partnership with PugglePay, which will allow the firm to incorporate integrated alternative payment options into their offering.
PugglePay, a Nordic-facing payment solutions provider, currently has more than 100,000 customers from more than 200 merchants within the egaming industry. It is also directly available to consumers in Sweden and Finland without the need for registration.
The firm simplifies online purchasing by verifying customer’s mobile phone numbers, sending them a passcode and guaranteeing the merchant 100% of their payment immediately.
“We relish the opportunity to work with innovative companies, especially those with a vision to break down the barriers currently associated with a fast-paced industry such as mobile payments,” Ralf Ohlhausen, chief strategy officer of the PPRO Group, said.
Johan Friis, co-founder of PugglePay, added: “We are proud to enter into this strategic partnership with the PPRO Group. The PPRO Group is a unique and innovative partner within the payment industry. We are convinced that this partnership will be most fruitful for both sides.”
Unikrn partners with Tabcorp for new eSports platform
Gaming and eSports firm Unikrn has partnered with Australian egaming operator Tabcorp to create a new platform which will allow users to bet on eSports events.
Unikrn’s platform will offer streaming and community functionality around major eSports events, and in legal jurisdictions, betting opportunities on matches and tournament outcomes.
The eSports market continues to boom in popularity. The global audience on Twitch.com saw 16 billion minutes of live gaming streams watched per month last year on average. But betting opportunities on major events remain limited.
“eSports is one of the largest sports globally, attracting viewer numbers that are on par with traditional sports such as American football and basketball,” Rahul Sood, CEO and co-founder of Unikrn, said.
“We couldn’t have found a better partner than Tabcorp to drive innovation and bring wagering to the fast-growing eSports market. Tabcorp’s track record as a global leader in responsible betting and its experience running an integrated wagering and media business provides Unikrn with the platform to build a secure, legal and fun arena for adults to gather, game, and bet on eSports,” he added.
Bwin.party to ramp up UK marketing efforts
Bwin.party announced a one-year sponsorship deal with UK-facing TV channel Dave as the firm begins to ramp up UK marketing for its PartyPoker and PartyCasino brands.
Steve Rodgers, head of acquisition marketing for the bwin.party games labels, said the one-year deal with the UKTV-owned channel was part of a wider marketing push in the competitive UK sector.
“Our positioning fits perfectly with theirs and it’s a great way for us to cut through a crowded marketplace,” Rodgers said.
William Hill Aus negates in-play ban with ‘Click to Call’
William Hill Australia customers can now place in-play bets online for the first time following the launch of the operator’s new ‘Click to Call’ feature, a product designed to work around the country’s live betting ban.
The industry-first product, which was launched last week on both WilliamHill.com.au and TomWaterhouse.com.au, enables punters to bet on in-play events online in a matter of seconds.
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, Australian betting operators are currently prohibited from providing online betting during live sports and can only accept wagers placed over the phone.
Sportingbet updates iOS app
Sportingbet has released version 2.0 of its casino iOS app, with a new homepage and a focus on improved user experience.
Easier navigation between games, including during game play, has been incorporated as well as an improved search function to encourage easy access.
Load times are now faster and graphics have been sharpened on the app’s more than 80 slots and selection of table games.