Launches and sign-ups 13 May 2015
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (7 May to 13 May 2015)
William Hill unveils Google Cardboard VR app
Prototype of ‘Get In The Race’ virtual reality app launched at Digital Shoreditch festival as operator pledges to drive industry innovation
William Hill has unveiled a new app for Google Cardboard as it makes the first move by a major operator into the virtual reality (VR) channel.
The ‘Get In The Race’ app is currently only a prototype, but allows users to experience a 3D horse race from the perspective of a jockey.
It utilises Google Cardboard, which turns an ordinary smartphone into a basic VR device and is available for as little as £8.
The app combines the raw GPS race track data which William Hill gathers at courses with VR technology to recreate races, and allows users to navigate data and place bets by moving their eyes.
SNAI and Cogetech strike 225m merger agreement
Italian gaming giant SNAI has struck a deal to acquire fellow Italian online and retail operator Cogemat and its subsidiary Cogetech in an agreement worth up to 225m.
SNAI chairman and chief executive Giorgio Sandi said the deal would, among other things, provide a boost to its relatively small digital operation.
“[The transaction] will allow us to create an important integration between stores and betting points of the two companies, as well as to obtain a good business equilibrium between the betting activities and the games machines, with the aim of reaching the best opportunities from the online and mobile channel,” Sandi said.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Sportech readies sale of Football Pools business
Sportech is considering a £100m sale of its Football Pools business in order to focus on its expanding US operations.
Sources close to the situation confirmed reports in The Times the firm was ready to dispose of the Football Pools at the right price and had recently rejected an unsolicited £70m-£75m offer.
Sportech is increasingly focused on its growing operations in the US where it operates a number of land-based horserace wagering venues, including its flagship Winners venue in Connecticut, and its MyWinners.com real-money wagering site.
Stride closes in on Spanish acquisition after £10m IPO
Multi-brand bingo-led operator Stride Gaming will use the money raised by floating on London’s Alternative Investment Market to drive a period of expansion both in the UK and abroad with the firm currently closing in on a Spanish acquisition.
The firm has been in advanced discussions with an unnamed Spanish operator since September, and hopes to make an announcement in the coming weeks although the firm’s chief executive would not be drawn on commenting further on the deal.
But, talking to eGaming Review following last Tuesday’s IPO announcement, Stride’s CEO Eitan Boyd said the firm was actively looking at potential acquisitions and would return to the market to raise further funding should it find the right operator.
12BET re-enters UK sports betting market
12BET has re-entered the UK sports betting market with a new European-focused sportsbook, eight months after the new Point of Consumption (PoC) regime prompted the firm to withdraw from the market.
The Isle of Man-based company relaunched the TGP Europe-powered sportsbook for the UK and European markets last week offering 6,000 live football events every month and an average of 60 markets per event.
Last year 12BET was one of a handful of operators to close parts of their UK-facing businesses ahead of the UK’s overhauled licensing regime and on 30 September stopped accepting all sports wagers from UK-based customers.
Mybet to overhaul sportsbook
Mybet has entered into a partnership with trading platform and services provider Amelco to “comprehensively overhaul” its sportsbook with a focus on system stability.
The deal with the UK-based firm is still subject to a contract being agreed but is expected to be completed next month.
“We are delighted to have found a strong and experienced partner with which to realise our goals in Amelco,” Sven Ivo Brinck, Mybet’s CEO, said.
Evolution signs up five operators to Belgian live casino
Operators including Unibet and bwin.party have signed agreements with Evolution Gaming to utilise the firm’s Belgium-based live casino product.
A total of five websites – bwin.be, unibet.be, 777.be, Circus.be and starcasino.be – will stream live dealer games from Evolution’s new studio at the Casino de Spa.
The new studio will be streamed from the historic casino’s Pink Ballroom and is expected to go live by the end of Q2, with all games available on desktop, tablet and smartphone devices.