Launches and sign-ups 5 September 2012
A round-up of the egaming industry's launches and sign-ups from the last seven days (30 August to 5 September 2012).
Exclusive: iPoker 2 licensees to form action group following split
Playtech network split sparks “minor room” iPoker licensees to discuss forming official forum to share liquidity, ecology, investment and competition concerns.
A number of iPoker licensees that failed to meet the criteria to enter its top tier following the network’s split today are close to forming an unofficial forum in order to discuss shared concerns that they could lose out as a result of the division, eGaming Review has learned.
Playtech’s scheduled iPoker network split was confirmed earlier today with William Hill, bet365, TitanPoker “ that recently merged with CelebPoker “ Paddy Power Poker and Poker770 fulfilling network owner Playtech’s strict volume and player ratio guidelines. Its largest licensees will now form and share liquidity within its exclusive iPoker 1 network that will focus predominantly on recreational players and that contribute as much as 70% of the network’s overall liquidity for cash games.
In an eGR poll last week 50% of readers said four operators or fewer would begin on the higher tier, despite several more being rumoured to be in contention for inclusion. Betfred and Dafabet, owned by Asian Logic, were both on the borderline of joining iPoker 1 however they have now been moved to the second tier.
Paddys and Hills sign up for Playtech mobile bingo app
Playtech’s newly launched mobile bingo product has gone live, with two leading operators releasing the app within its first week.
The Playtech-owned Virtue Fusion bingo software has been made available on Android OS smart phones and offers 90, 80 and 70 five ball games alongside Deal or No Deal Bingo. The product also allows players to talk with other players regardless of the platform or device they use.
Last week Paddy Power became the first operator to launch the mobile bingo app, which is integrated with the Virtue Fusion web-based platform and allows players to manage their account via the Android device, while yesterday William Hill Bingo announced it had done the same.
Titanbet named first Playtech/Geneity licensee
Long-term Playtech licensee Titanbet is the supplier’s first customer to sign up to its new Geneity technology-based sports betting platform following its acquisition earlier this year, eGaming Review can confirm.
Following this morning’s first half financial results Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech told eGR that Titanbet, as well as already using Playtech’s casino, poker, bingo and live gaming technology, is its first online and mobile sports licensee and has this week soft launched the supplier’s newly acquired sports betting platform.
Playtech took over the British software provider at the end of January this year for an initial consideration of £11m plus a further performance-based £4m.
Danske Spil to launch sports betting platform with OpenBet
Danske Spil has selected OpenBet to provide it with its online sports betting platform.
Denmark’s state-controlled operator said it expects to have the new platform up and running in spring next year, having first announced the opening of the tender process in October.
Its sports betting manager Jens Nielsen told eGaming Review at the time taht the operator was looking for a partnership deal for a platform that will “make us competitive in the future”. “We need to move to a more modern platform and system than the one we currently have today,” Madsen said.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Hills adds Scottish FA to England deal
Williamhill.com has become an “official supporter” of the Scotland team in a similar arrangement to the landmark deal it struck with the English Football Association earlier this year allowing it to use the national team’s branding and player image rights across various online and offline products.
The operator today signed an initial two-year deal with the Scottish FA further strengthening its stranglehold of Scottish football following its existing deal to sponsor the Scottish Cup and its contract as the official betting partner of the Scottish Premier League (SPL). Ralph Topping, chief executive of William Hill is also chairman of the SPL.
The deal, which comes into immediate effect, will see William Hill benefit from a wide range of sponsorship rights, including advertising, branding, hospitality, and exclusive Scotland imagery and content.
Smart Gaming launches live mobile roulette
Smart Gaming Group has announced the launch of the first live roulette game for mobile devices, allowing players to interact with a live dealer and play with real money or for free.
The free-to-download real-money app, available on iOS and Android, follows Smart Gaming’s launch of the first live roulette game for Facebook users two weeks ago.
The game’s presenters are based at the company’s London studio and the Smart Live Casino platform is also featured on Sky channel 863.
Betfair has agreed a deal to sponsor Europa League football coverage on ESPN. The deal covers live matches in the European club competition, as well as repeats and highlights shows broadcast by the channel.
Bodog’s Asian-facing brand licensee Bodog88 has partnered with Chartwell, bringing in a number of casino games from the Amaya Gaming subsidiary. Meanwhile the Bodog Poker Network has launched a new advertising campaign for its anonymous poker tables.
‘Beach’, the latest video slot from Net Entertainment, has gone live this week. The game includes several new features including the ‘wave’ feature, which washes symbols ashore and gives what the Swedish developer describes as “a feeling of heightened win anticipation”.