News round-up 21 August 2015
This weekâs news in brief sees Rank Group trial a multi-channel initiative which encourages retail customers to go mobile
Rank Group continued its digital overhaul by announcing in its quarterly results that it has been trialling a new Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative. The initiative has been underway at a handful of Mecca venues for around 10 months, and invites customers to download software onto their own smartphones or tablets to play cash line bingo, main stage bingo and slots, rather than playing on paper or on in-store Mecca Max devices.
Gala Coral said better leveraging of its retail presence was helping to drive mobile growth, as the group reported an 80% upsurge in sports staking for Q3 FY2015. The firm credited its multi-channel Coral Connect product for the growth, with Coral Connect sign-ups now totalling more than 260,000 and contributing more than 40% of Coralâs online gross win. Group CEO Carl Leaver said the firmâs âstrategy of providing an integrated, entertaining and seamless multi-channel experience for our customersâ was paying dividends.
Meanwhile Gala Coral also appointed bwin.partyâs former head of product David Fuke as its new head of mobile and web as the operator looks to build upon strong mobile growth so far in 2015. Fuke had previously spent six years at the helm of bwin.partyâs product line across casino, games and bingo, and will report directly to product and gaming development director Itay Fisher. He replaces Robert Fell who was appointed head of mobile and web in January and leaves to pursue opportunities outside the industry.
Almost one in four attempts to open an account with an egaming operator on mobile is being abandoned, at a cost of £39m to the industry in 2014, according to a new study. The study, commissioned by management and credentials company Jumio, also found that slow loading times, complicated payment processes and navigational difficulties were the most common reasons cited for failing to complete a transaction. âAs mobile transactions continue to skyrocket, so do abandoned purchases, incomplete account openings, and lost revenue,â Marc Barach, Jumio chief marketing officer, said.