Launches and sign-ups 6 July 2016
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (30 June 2016 to 6 July 2016)
Gaming Innovation Group acquires Betit for ?54m
Combined group will operate six Scandinavia-facing brands and aim to leverage Betit’s proprietary platform
Gaming Innovation Group (GIG) has announced a ?54m deal to acquire Betit Group as the company looks to create a new powerhouse in the Scandinavian egaming market.
The acquisition will see the exchange of 100% of the shares in Betit into 153.5 million new shares in GIG, which values Betit at approximately ?54m based on GIG’s current share price.
The combined group will operate six Scandinavia-focused brands including Kaboo.com, SuperLenny.com and Thrills.com, while GIG will also aim to leverage Betit’s proprietary front-end platform for its own brands.
“Through this agreement, we team up with some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in the industry, significantly enhancing our reach to end-users, marketing partners and professionals,” Robin Reed (pictured), CEO of GIG, said.
Rank to open new customer service hub
Rank Group is to open a new Sheffield-based customer service hub in September for its retail and online divisions.
The operator has appointed customer service expert Liam Smith as director of customer contact to lead the launch of the centre, which will employ more than 60 people.
Smith joins Rank from Contact Center Managed Services, where he worked as managing director for more than two years, and previously held a number of business roles at UK energy giant npower.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
BetVictor agrees Liverpool FC partnership
BetVictor has signed a three-year deal to become the global betting partner of Liverpool Football Club, replacing previous sponsor Marathonbet.
The agreement, which was announced on Friday, will also see the Gibraltar-based operator sponsor the training kit of the Premier League team.
BetVictor will create unique offers and betting markets for Liverpool matches while the operator’s branding will also heavily feature at Anfield and on Liverpool’s press conference backdrop.
Playtech unveils new virtual tennis product
Playtech has launched a new virtual tennis product following the “largest motion capture project ever attempted”, according to the company.
The game, which is now live on all platforms, was built through a year-long process of motion capture initiatives at Warner Bros Studios and 3D design and modelling work at Playtech Studios.
“Our Virtual Tennis product is unlike anything the industry has ever seen and feels as if you are courtside watching a Grand Slam,” said Elliott Norris, Playtech’s head of virtual sports.
NetBet gets Romania stay as SBTech secures licence
Netbet can continue with its SBTech-powered sportsbook in Romania after the provider was granted a licence by Romanian authorities just days before the operator’s regulatory deadline.
As part of receiving its interim permit last year, NetBet, like all operators, was given one year to ensure its suppliers were licensed by Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN).
NetBet received its interim permit on 1 July 2015 so had SBTech not received its licence on or before the 30 June deadline, the operator would have been required to pull out until able to meet the regulator’s requirements.
Tipico launches over-the-counter deposit app
Tipico has launched a prepaid deposit app which enables punters to top-up their online accounts using cash at a large number of retail pay points across Germany.
Tipico Pay, which was developed in partnership with payment company Funanga, was initially launched in Austria at the end of last year and after a successful trial period has been rolled-out to Tipico’s biggest market.
The app release means German customers can now top-up their online accounts at thousands of pay points including kiosks, petrol stations and well known retail chains.
Dafabet extends partnership with Sunderland AFC
Dafabet has extended its deal with Premier League football club Sunderland AFC to remain as its principal partner until the end of the 2018-19 season.
The deal will see the Philippines-based operator’s name emblazoned on the club’s home and away shirt for the next three seasons, becoming one of the north east club’s longest-serving partners in its history
The partnership between the two firms began last year, originally signing a two-year deal with the Premier League.