Launches and sign-ups 21 August 2013
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (15 August " 21 August 2013)
CVC Capital Partners buys 75% stake in Skrill
Formula 1 owner buys payments firm in 600m deal that sees previous owners Investcorp remain as minority shareholders
CVC Capital Partners, the private equity firm behind the failed Betfair takeover bid, has acquired a 75% controlling stake in online payments provider Skrill for 600m (£511m).
Skrill’s previous owners, a consortium of investors led by Investcorp which invested 105m in the business in 2007, will retain a minority stake and a position on the board.
CVC had a 950p per share takeover bid rejected by Betfair in May, with the sportsbook operator saying the £975m offer undervalued the company.
Exclusive: Betfred.com launches £9m TV ad campaign
Betfred.com is investing almost £10m into TV advertising over the course of the 2014/14 football season.
The online arm of retail bookie Betfred will be a top-tier advertiser on both Sky Sports and BT Sport, spending more than three times the £3m spent in the previous two seasons.
“We’ve massively upped our game,” Betfred.com managing director Chris Sheffield (pictured) told eGaming Review. “We’re spending the same if not more than the biggest operators now.”
The operator will promote products unique to Betfred.com such as the Goals Galore and Double Delight Hat-trick Heaven, as well as its in-play offering, during football coverage.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
GameAccount launches mobile gaming suite
Gaming software supplier GameAccount Network has launched its new mobile internet gaming suite combining responsive design, HTML5 and native applications across all mobile and tablet devices.
The SENSE3 suite brings together HTML5 casino table games, HTML5 casino slot games and downloadable native applications for end user players in regulated online gaming markets.
IGT and Scientific Games are among the firms to provide slots to the mobile gaming suite, which follows the launch of GameAccount Network’s native applications for iOS and Android in the UK and Italy.
SHFL and NYX sign content deal
Gaming systems developer NYX Interactive has agreed a deal with SHFL Entertainment to integrate the gaming supplier’s online products onto its Open Gaming System (NYX OGS).
The partnership will see SHFL offer its real-money online proprietary table games such as Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Casino War, and Fortune Pai Gow Poker to NYX’s online casino partners using NYX OGS.
“We are connident that offering our renowned proprietary table games on NYX’s platform is an excellent opportunity for SHFL to expand its reach,” said Gavin Isaacs, chief executive officer for SHFL. “This agreement will allow us access to new customers, further expanding our B2B online portfolio of casinos served.”
Sky Bet releases seamless login mobile app
Alderney-licensed operator Sky Bet has upgraded its mobile app to include a seamless login function from Sky Bet to Sky Vegas and the installation of the Sky Sports Radio Player.
Other updates to the app include a pull down page to refresh prices and notifications to relay information to customers related to their bets. Speaking with eGaming Review, head of mobile Ben Kamara said the operator has plans to implement this across its other apps in the future.
“We are the first betting company to implement a seamless session handling between our apps,” Kamara said. “We plan to roll this across all our apps very soon so the same experience is there for Super 6 and Fantasy Football, [making] our customers’ journey that much simpler.”
Winner to launch UK push with TV campaign
Winner is to spearhead a push of its sportsbook in the UK with a new advertising campaign ahead of the new English Premier League football season.
The campaign, which highlights the operator’s mobile platform, is due to start this Friday and will air on UK television channels including Sky Sports News, Sky Sports 1-3, Comedy Central, Dave and E4.
Winner head of sport Yoni Sidi revealed to eGaming Review that the campaign, costing a six-figure sum, is hoped to air until the end of the season as the operator considers its options leading into next summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Bodog becomes Arsenal FC betting partner
Bodog has agreed a multi-million pound deal with Arsenal which will see it become the official Asian betting partner of the Barclays Premier League football club.
The three-year partnership follows the Gunners’ recent pre-season tour of Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan, and will see the Philippines-based operator looking to capitalise on Arsenal’s fan base throughout the continent.
The deal will also allow the Asian-facing operator to develop marketing initiatives and use the English club’s database to provide tailored betting offers to fans in Asia.
Betfair launches UK advertising campaign
Betfair has launched a new multi-media advertising campaign throughout the UK and Ireland including a new deal with Sky Sports and a betting partnership with UK radio station talkSPORT.
The campaign comes as part of an increased ad spend from the UK-based operator to promote its Cash Out product, which allows customers to cash out prior to the end of an event.
Betfair has signed a new commercial deal with Sky Sports and a season-long partnership with sport radio network talkSPORT, becoming its Premier League betting partner.
12Bet becomes Crystal Palace stadium sponsor
Isle of Man-based 12Bet has signed a one-year deal with Premier League football club Crystal Palace to become its official betting partner and sponsor of its stadium.
The deal marks the first time an online gaming company has signed a stadium sponsorship deal in the UK with a Premier League club.
“Gaming companies like us are looking for brand exposure on a global level,” said Rory Anderson, CEO of Asian-focused operator 12Bet. “We are delighted to be the first company in our sector to pull off a stadium sponsorship deal in the Premier League.”
BingoPort awards largest ever bingo affiliate prize
Bingo affiliate BingoPort has presented a user with a cheque for £5,000, representing the largest prize awarded by an affiliate site.
The user, Maureen from South Yorkshire, received the cheque after winning July’s ‘Win a Car Competition’, electing to receive the cheque, rather than a new car.
The affiliate teamed up with media agency mc&c tp launch its first TV advertising campaign in order to promote the competition, resulting in BingoPort witnessing 15 times as many registrations as a result.
PugglePay announces Mr Green and Betsson deals
Scandinavian-focused operators Betsson and Mr Green have become the first major operators to partner with mobile payments technology provider PugglePay.
PugglePay, which has around 20 smaller gambling operator clients, supplies technology allowing players to deposit using their mobile phone numbers.
The company was founded in 2012 by chief executive Kristofer Ekman Sinclair and sales director Johan Friis, who previously held roles with Unibet’s B2B subsidiary Kambi Sports Solutions and Betsson.