Betfair to launch poker and bingo with Playtech
Poker will initially launch in regulated markets and could result in operator leaving Ongame " also renews casino deal with software provider.
Betfair will launch a new poker offering with Playtech in selected markets after inking a new deal with the software provider which also covers the launch of bingo and the renewal of 2009’s casino contract.
Described by Betfair as “Enabling [the company] to offer ring-fenced poker products in markets that require them,” the poker offering is set to be rolled out in Spain before the operator’s current financial year ends in April 2013.
It also plans to launch poker with Playtech in Italy “Soon after the licensed betting exchange is launched” “ the European Commission approved the country’s exchange betting decree in May this year, and the decree is likely to be passed into law before the end of 2012.
At present there is no indication that Betfair would move its dot.com offering from Ongame to Playtech. It is currently among the largest operators on the Ongame network, which eGaming Review revealed yesterday is close to being acquired by Canadian software provider Amaya Gaming.
It is unclear whether “ should it choose to move its dot.com poker offering to Playtech’s iPoker network “ it would make the segregated top tier of the network alongside the likes of William Hill, Paddy Power, Titan Poker and Poker770.
The agreement to launch bingo with Playtech comes after the company went live with a mobile bingo offering last month, with Paddy Power and William Hill the first operators to offer the product.
Meanwhile the casino deal “ the duration of which has not been specified by Betfair, represents an extension of a deal first signed in 2009, while Betfair relaunched its online casino last October.
Betfair group operations director Ian Chuter (pictured) described Playtech as “The logical choice for providing us with what we now need,” adding: “This deal allows us to offer a compliant Poker solution in markets where historically we have not been able to and the wider agreement is further evidence of how serious we are in providing our customers with a high quality one-stop shop for all their betting needs.”
Playtech COO Rafi Ashkenazi described the deal as “A testament to Playtech’s ability to offer a full suite of market leading online products and we look forward to continuing to work with Betfair.”