Launches and sign-ups 23 October 2013
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (17 October to 23 October 2013)
Mr Green launches online casino targeting female market
Garbo.com will offer real-money and free-play casino games to female players in Sweden
Online operator Mr Green has launched a new online casino specifically targeting female players in Sweden.
Garbo.com will offer a suite of real-money and freeplay casino games from Net Entertainment, including slots, roulette and blackjack.
Titles include Disco Spins, Flowers and Mythic Maiden, Players will be able to access the site through their desktop, tablet or mobile device, which players will be able to access the site through their desktop, tablet or mobile device.
Paddys first to offer online horse race betting in Italy
Paddy Power has become the first licensed operator in Italy to offer customised fixed-odds sports markets and horse race betting online after the country’s regulator relaxed rules restricting legal sportsbooks.
Up until the move, licensed operators were disadvantaged by regulation preventing them from offering as wide a market offering as unlicensed competitors. Italian gambling authority Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (AAMS) is expected to permit further operators to allow these bets in the coming weeks and months.
The idea to allow operators to offer bets not included in the official schedule published by AAMS was first announced during the summer but implementation of the plan suffered a series of delays.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Ladbrokes beta launches new sportsbook site
Ladbrokes has beta launched a redesign of its sportsbook website, including a tab for its soon-to-be-launched exchange product.
Ladbrokes’ exchange product is set to be released imminently, with the tab directing users to a holding page featuring a teaser trailer.
User feedback has been incorporated into the new design, which comprises changes to both the layout and look of the website.
Customers can now access account details and deposit funds directly from the homepage, while a new header has been added to direct customers to extras such as the stats and results centre and racing commentary.
Betfair clinches Channel 4 Racing ads package
Betfair has secured a number of key advertising slots during Channel 4’s horse racing coverage for 2014, beating other operators such as bet365 in a blind auction.
A Betfair spokesperson would not comment on the financial aspects of the deal, however The Racing Post estimates all nine advertising packages, of which Betfair has three, to be worth around £9m, more than the estimated £6-7m paid for the expiring deals.
A split screen 30-second ad, also known as “in-vision”, and a 30-second advert during the broadcaster’s The Morning Line programme will air from 1 January 2014. An additional 60-second live-odds ad will air between April and December 2014.
Ladbrokes’ JV extends China presence with Virtual Football
Ladbrokes will extend its presence in China through the launch of a virtual fixed-odds sports betting game in the Jiangsu province through its joint-venture AGT.
Virtual Football has received approval from the country’s Ministry of Finance, becoming only the second national virtual fixed-odds sports betting title in China after Lucky Racing Game, which is also owned by AGT.
AGT is a joint venture between the Ladbrokes and Hong Kong-based lottery services provider AGTech, with Ladbrokes holding a 49% stake.
Betsson launches new mobile app
Betsson AB has launched a new native mobile app for its mobile sportbook and casino verticals as the Swedish operator looks to increase revenues derived from touch devices.
The native Betsson.com app, which launched today (21 October), is available on the Apple iPhone through the Apple store and is soon to be released on Android. Native apps for more brands within the Betsson group will be launched shortly.
According to the Nordic operator, the app will open up new marketing opportunities for through the use of push technology and other features that are built in to the mobile system.
Scientific Games completes acquisition of WMS
New York-based Scientific Games has completed its US$1.5bn buyout of gaming supplier WMS Industries.
The lottery and gaming giant announced the deal’s completion through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission 10 months after the merger was first announced.
Scientific Games paid WMS shareholders US$26 per share, with the deal approved by WMS shareholders and the Federal Trade Commission. The acquisition leaves Scientific Games US$3bn in debt, but with a $300m line of credit for expansion.
888casino chalks up snooker Shoot-Out sponsorship
888casino has struck a deal to become title sponsor of snooker’s fast paced Shoot-Out event which runs takes place in Blackpool in January.
The one-frame knockout competition, which sees the world’s top 64 players invited to compete in the three-day event, will be broadcast live by Sky Sports.
“The 888casino Snooker Shoot-Out will join several other partnerships we have made with the popular sport recently and over the years,” said Itai Pazner, senior vice president of 888.com.
Net Entertainment has launched a new slots title, Magic Portals, on its Touch catalogue of casino games. The video slot features free spins and wild substitutions, and is available to play on mobile.
Social gaming site Hollywood Poker has launched online slots tournaments featuring celebrities, allowing players to compete against well-known stars such as James Woods and Kelly Hu. The new mobile app, which is free to download, expands on Hollywood Poker’s current celebrity poker game.
888poker‘s new fast-fold Snap Poker product has finished beta testing and is being made available to a limited number of accounts. 5c/10c and a 12c/25c PLO game have been added to the 1c/2c game available on the beta client.