Launches and sign-ups 12 March 2014
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (6 March to 12 March 2014)
Unibet to launch new mobile casino app
Stockholm-listed operator to debut new native casino app Spin City in coming weeks, featuring a range of Quickspin-developed slots
Unibet is set to continue its aggressive product expansion strategy as it prepares to launch a “market first” Relax Gaming-powered native mobile casino app, eGaming Review has learned.
Spin City will debut on smartphones and tablets for iOS and Android devices and will feature blackjack, roulette and four Quickspin-developed slots titles including Big Bad Wolf and Treasure Island.
The app is currently awaiting approval from the testing house Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and the Swedish-listed operator is optimistic it will be live within two weeks on Android and three weeks on iOS.
Daniel Eskola, head of gaming at Unibet, told eGR the operator is confident the native app will find success with its customers after bypassing HTML5.
Ladbrokes Australia launches branded ATM card
Ladbrokes Australia has launched a branded ATM card enabling customers to withdraw winnings immediately, rather than waiting for their cash to be transferred into their bank account.
Typically Australian gamblers must wait at least one business day or up to 48 hours if they transfer on the weekend, leading to many sticking to retail betting outlets, according to Ladbrokes Australia’s general manager of marketing and communications, James Burnett.
The new card, launched with payments solutions provider Emerchants, effectively makes every ATM in Australia an instant Ladbrokes payout machine.
Unibet begins major poker marketing push
Swedish-listed operator Unibet has launched a major six-week marketing campaign to coincide with the release of its new standalone poker product.
The campaign, which kicked off at the start of the week, includes a new UK-focused TV advertisement which is being aired across all Sky TV channels as well as through various social media sites.
The operator has spent more than £250,000 on the adverts which were developed in partnership with creative advertising agency Home.
Gamesys signs Williams Interactive slots deal
Williams Interactive has signed a deal with Gamesys in New Jersey to provide a range of online slot games for its Virgin Casino and Tropicana Casino real-money platforms.
Gamesys will integrate Williams Interactive’s Remote Game Server into both sites, giving it access to a library of popular titles such as the Wizard of Oz, Zeus, and Goldfish.
Gamesys has partnered with the Tropicana in New Jersey to launch TropicanaCasino.com as well as its VirginCasino.com brand. It has yet to go live its real-money poker product despite launching a freeplay version earlier this year.
Bet Butler acquires B2C customers from troubled Bodugi.com
Bet Butler is set to acquire Bodugi Technology’s real-money social betting site’s customer database following its licence suspension from the UK Gambling Commission, eGaming Review has learned.
The regulator suspended Bodugi’s pool betting and fixed-odds licence last month after complaints players had been unable to withdraw funds from Bodugi.com and following a lack of response to the Commission’s requests to discuss its concerns.
Following the interim suspension Bodugi Technology said it had taken the decision to discontinue its B2C business to focus solely on its B2B operations.
Ladbrokes adds Williams Interactive slot content
Williams Interactive has signed a deal with Ladbrokes to supply the operator with a full suite of online slot games.
Ladbrokes will integrate Williams’ remote game server into its Ladbrokes.com site, giving it access to a library of popular games including The Wizard of Oz, Ruby Slippers, and Zeus.
The games will be available on desktop and mobile, with the integration expected to be complete by the end of Q2 2014.
Online bingo portal WhichBingo.co.uk has announced the launch of its new 2014 WhichBingo awards event.
The re-structured awards will be hosted at the Bullet Business Online Bingo Summit later this year and is set to feature ten categories including Best Online Bingo Site.
“We’ll be bringing our awards directly to the great and the good of the online bingo world as an official part of the 2014 Online Bingo Summit,” Wayne Howe, event organiser, said.
“Our aim is to make our awards evening the highlight of the summit for all attendees,” he added.
Games provider Yggdrasil Gaming has announced a new partnership with Videoslots.com to provide its full portfolio of products to the online casino.
The deal represents Yggdrasil Gaming’s fourth in the space of three months after recently signing deals with Mr Green, LeoVegas and Vera & John.
“Yggdrasil only works with companies that have a strong vision and that bring something new and interesting to the market. We have the same ethos and, with their experienced team, Videoslots.com tick all the right boxes,” Fredrik Elmqvist, chief executive of Yggdrasil Gaming, said.
Betclic Everst Group-subsidiary Everest Poker has appointed British poker professional Sam Trickett as its new brand ambassador.
As part of his role Trickett will attend Everest Poker Live events, write online blogs and provide regular video updates as the poker operator looks to increase customer engagement.
“I’m very excited to be joining Everest Poker and I’m looking forward to interacting with our players online and at Everest Poker Live events, where I’ll be playing and coaching,” Trickett said.
“Everest is a great poker brand and I will be doing everything I can to make it one of the most recognised in the world,” he added.