Launches and sign-ups 4 March 2015
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (26 February to 4 March 2015)
Ladbrokes to converge mobile and desktop platforms
Operator says desktop platform will switch to Mobenga in H2 as it looks to provide “ubiquitous” digital experience
Ladbrokes has said it will become the first operator to run its online website using a mobile platform as it looks to “move away” from separate desktop and mobile definitions.
Speaking after the bookmarker announced a 70% hike in 2014 digital profits, out-going chief executive Richard Glynn (pictured) said its planned H2 migration to a Playtech-powered Mobenga platform had been brought about by the ongoing consumer shift to mobile devices.
The move will see Ladbrokes ditch its current in-house desktop front end, although the new desktop site will continue to be powered by its OpenBet back-end and proprietary Mercury pricing system.
Ladbrokes currently uses the Mobenga platform for its mobile and tablet products and Glynn said providing a similar version on desktop would provide customers with a more “ubiquitous” experience.
Metro Play launches BetConstruct-powered sportsbook
666BET-owned Metro Play has launched a BetConstruct-powered sportsbook as it begins its transition into a multi-vertical operator.
Metro Play Sportsbook is now live on desktop and mobile and currently features various betting markets for a number of sports including football, tennis, basketball, ice hockey and handball.
“We are very pleased [â¦] to extend our relationship with 666BET’s group of companies,” George Voyatzis, BetConstruct’s commercial director, said.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Unibet to move to stand-alone bingo product
Unibet will end its bingo partnership with Playtech’s Virtue Fusion and launch a Relax Gaming-powered bingo product later this year.
The Stockholm-listed operator has opted not to renew a deal with the software supplier, which runs out later this year, and the move apes Unibet’s poker strategy with the firm deciding to go it alone with its poker product in early 2014.
The new Unibet Bingo product will be joined by its Maria and Bingo.com brands on the new Relax Gaming bingo network and will initially be launched in the UK, Belgium and Estonia as well as on dot.com.
Playtech launches Rainbow Riches Bingo
Playtech has announced the launch of Rainbow Riches Bingo, the first bingo variant of the popular retail slot game.
The product has been licensed and developed in partnership with Scientific Games and is now available across mobile and desktop.
Playtech said its development of the game was mobile-led, first across handset and bespoke tablet platforms, followed by desktop client delivery.
GTECH to rebrand as IGT
GTECH will rebrand its soon-to-be enlarged company to IGT and undertake an organisational restructure as soon as its multi-billion dollar acquisition of International Game Technology has been finalised.
The gaming and lottery provider, which has agreed to pay US$6.4bn for IGT, said that upon completion of the deal the combined entities will be branded as IGT while holding company Georgia Worldwide will change its name to International Game Technology.
The new logo will, however, display the GTECH globe alongside the IGT name while the supplier’s corporate headquarters will be based in the UK, with operational centres in Rome, Las Vegas and Providence, Rhode Island. The business will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IGT.
Adjarabet launches with Microgaming’s Babelfish API
Microgaming has signed-up Georgia-based Adjarabet as the first customer to utilise its new Babelfish API, allowing the operator to tap into Microgaming Poker Network’s liquidity through its own customised poker client.
Multi-vertical Adjarabet developed the poker product in partnership with software development firm Singular, and its players will continue to have access to existing tables in Georgian currency but also add the ability to use the network tables when required.
“We were looking for a partner to help us grow and improve our poker offering; when Microgaming presented Babelfish we knew it was exactly what we needed,” Alastair Ives, head of poker at Adjarabet, said.