NetPlay to launch interactive casino on UK terrestrial TV
Interactive gaming company NetPlay TV is to take advantage of recently relaxed guidelines by British media watchdog Ofcom to deliver the first interactive gambling offering on UK terrestrial television.
Interactive gaming company NetPlay TV is to take advantage of recently relaxed guidelines by British media watchdog Ofcom to deliver the first interactive gambling offering on UK terrestrial television.
Although NetPlay would not confirm the media partner it is launching its SuperCasino programme with, the company has an existing distribution relationship with British TV’s Channel Five to provide its Eurotelemillions Daily SuperDraw service.
UK communications watchdog Ofcom recently reclassified gambling programming as teleshopping, allowing pubic service broadcast channels such as ITV, Channel 5 and Five to show such programming between midnight and 6am.
The deal reflects NetPlay’s new growth strategy of offering its live interactive games to B2B partners, which it unveiled as Netplay posted a 241% growth in EBITDA to £2.4m and an 118% increase year-on-year increase in turnover to £19.8m for 2008.
Guy Templer, who joined the company as new Netplay business development director as part of the recent transaction with Virgin Media TV to acquire the Challenge Jackpot brand, is now heading up a dedicated unit focused on targeting new retail, TV and online partners as part of this new strategy.
Chief executive Martin Higginson said being able to demonstrate that its live streaming roulette consistently attracted six times the wagers placed on a digitised equivalent had proved invaluable in attracting new B2B partners.
“It’s much more compelling having a live operator there than a digitised wheel. The fact that you’ve got your name on the screen makes a big difference”, he explained.
As also reported on EGRmagazine.com, Channel Five signed with PartyGaming this month for a new branded online casino offering.