Launches and sign-ups 17 July 2013
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (11 July to 17 July 2013)
Playtech in 38.3m PokerStrategy acquisition
Founders of Power Affiliate to remain with business on consultancy basis
Playtech has bought eGR Power Affiliate PokerStrategy.com in a 38.3m bolt-on acquisition deal.
The London-listed software provider said in a statement that the acquisition is complementary to both Playtech’s PTTS marketing division, the holding company for affiliate business Europartners, and its overall poker offering. The deal has been funded by Playtech’s existing cash resources.
According to Playtech the affiliate business generated a profit before tax of 19.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2012, and as of the end of last year it had had gross assets of approximately 18.5 million and net assets of approximately 16.3 million.
PokerStrategy to “maintain independence” after sale
PokerStrategy has pledged to maintain its independence and continue to work with poker rooms away from the iPoker network despite being acquired by iPoker parent company Playtech.
The company said in a statement it “will stay fundamentally the same”, working with its existing partners and adding new partners going forward. Its management team is set to remain in place following the 38.3m bolt-on acquisition, while founders Dominik Kofert (pictured) and Enrique Guzmán will stay with the company on a consultancy basis.
PokerStrategy, which generated a profit before tax of approximately 19.5m in FY 2012, its two largest customers in the last 18 months.
Full Tilt to launch online casino
Full Tilt Poker is rebranding as Full Tilt Gaming ahead of the launch of an online casino, eGaming Review can confirm.
The move was announced internally last week to employees of its parent company Rational Group and will be the first non-poker launch from the Isle of Man-based firm.
“The Rational Group intends to expand our product offering to include casino style games on Full Tilt Poker,” Rational Group spokesman Eric Hollreiser said.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Rank pens slots deal with Bally
Rank Group and Las Vegas-based technology supplier Bally have signed a deal which will see the latter’s online slot games appear on Rank’s Mecca Bingo brand.
The partnership follows a number of similar agreements signed by Rank in recent weeks after the company agreed a deal with Novomatic Group company Greentube for six online slots last month.
Bally continues EU expansion drive
Bally Technologies has signed a deal to supply its online slots games to William Hill as the Las Vegas-based technology supplier continues to expand its presence in Europe.
The deal is Bally Technologies’ third with a European egaming firm in the space of a month following similar online slots deals with Paddy Power and Rank Group.
Betware and Prima win Danske Spil contract
Microgaming-powered Prima Networks and platform provider Betware have jointly won a public tender to provide Danish national lottery Danske Spil with a bingo and instant games offering.
Betware sealed the win on the back of its open gaming platforms and Microgaming’s portfolio of bingo and instant games products, following a competitive tender process. The Danish monopoly operator previously selected Icelandic supplier Betware to help launch the company’s mobile offering in June 2012.
Bwin signs Juventus deal
Bwin.party has agreed a deal with Juventus which will see it become the official online gaming and betting partner of the Serie A football club.
The three-year partnership will see bwin integrated in Juventus’ digital and social platform with online and offline co-branding activities and stadium branding also part of the sponsorship package.
32Red signs sponsorship deal with Nottingham Racecourse
Gibraltar-licensed gaming operator 32Red has signed a sponsorship deal with Nottingham Racecourse, which will see the company support a number of race events this year.
32Red will sponsor the entire race card at the venue on Friday 19 July, as well as a new £25,000 handicap race and three additional meetings in October.
Paddy Power invites agencies for stunt campaign
Paddy Power has invited PR agencies to pitch stunt ideas as the Ireland-based operator looks to develop its agency roster in the lead up to next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Paddys head of mischief Ken Robertson said the company should be in a position to move ahead with new agency partners in the next couple of months, adding that it will continue to work with its previous collaborators.
Software providers in multi-channel slots deal
Genesis Gaming and Relax Gaming have announced a strategic partnership in what the software providers claim is the industry’s first development and delivery combination.
The two companies will supply multi-channel video slot games on both online and mobile simultaneously to online casino operators, in an effort to offer both greater marketing and operations efficiency.
Betfair and the Spanish Liga de Fútbol Professional (LFP) have signed a deal which will see the egaming operator hand over betting information to help investigations into suspicious betting patterns related to La Liga and Segunda División matches. Under the agreement, LFP can request information on gambling activities and data used to identify individuals when there are reasonable grounds to do so.
Net Entertainment has signed a deal to bring Fisticuffs to its Touch catalogue of online video slot games. “Our online mobile portfolio is constantly growing to reflect the increased importance of the sector within the industry,” chief product officer Simon Hammon said.
Full Tilt Poker has revealed details of the first ever Full Tilt Poker Montreal Festival, featuring a C$1million guaranteed, C$1,000 + C$100 main event. The festival will take place at the Playground Poker Club in Kahnawake between 21 September and 3 October this year, with various other events and tournaments taking place.