Rational Group plots sportsbook launch
PokerStars and Full Tilt owner planning online sports betting platform as diversification away from poker continues
Rational Group is in early-stage discussions over the launch of a sports betting platform as it continues to push ahead with plans to diversify its product range, eGaming Review can reveal.
Plans for the sportsbook are still in their early stages, however, eGR understands Rational’s Full Tilt brand has been selected to carry a sports betting product with a number of sportsbook providers having already been contacted.
With a supplier yet to be selected, a release is not expected until 2015, although it is understood a number of providers are keen to work on the project.
A spokesperson for Rational Group, which is also the parent company of poker giant PokerStars, wouldn’t comment on plans beyond confirming it was looking into the sports betting vertical.
“The Rational Group is exploring opportunities to enter global sports betting markets to enhance our online gaming offerings. We will provide additional details closer to that time,” a Group spokesperson said.
The news comes after Full Tilt recently widened its offering with the January release of free-to-play blackjack and roulette games, its first foray into non-poker products.
In addition, last month Full Tilt confirmed it had contracted third-party software supplier Leander Games in order to launch a real-money casino in the coming months.
Full Tilt was recently relegated to fourth position in the PokerScout online traffic rankings, falling behind 888 and iPoker.
In other news:
– Danske Spil launches “100% Danish” live casino