Wednesday news round-up 12/2
This week’s news round-up features a new deal for LeoVegas, a bold prediction for mobile gambling revenues and some major changes from Unibet
Mobile gambling is set to explode by 620% to reach $62 billion globally by 2018, according to a new report by Juniper Research. The report says growth in wagers via mobile handsets and tablets on casino-type gambling and poker games will be driven by regulation in the US where currently only two states offer online gambling. “Service providers that enter the US market will be required to optimise gambling solutions for mobile users from the outset, given the large appetite for content on handsets/tablets which already exists in this market,” the report said.
Full Tilt Poker has launched its popular Rush Poker software for mobile platforms after extensive beta testing that started in May last year. Native applications for both iOS and Android have been released, allowing players to begin games of fast-fold poker within two taps. Players can play for free or for real-money with deposit and withdrawal functions integrated into the app in order to support the quick-play format. Fast-fold poker products have proven to be popular among players and Full Tiltâs parent company The Rational Group has pursued legal action over what it claims to be patent infringements from other operators also releasing similar products.
Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnström said strong growth in mobile helped the firm achieve record revenues and a 21% rise in EBITDA to £63.4m for the year ending December 2013. Revenues rose by 19% to £234.7m, which the operator said was largely attributable to continued growth from the companyâs operations in Western Europe and a strong performance in mobile. Mobile represented 27% of total gross gaming revenue for the year with mobile apps available for both sports betting and casino with a poker product said to be in development.
Unibet also revealed its new standalone poker site is set to launch next week with a focus on recreational and tablet-based players. The Swedish-listed operator has been working on the product for several months and an initial launch will take place on 19 February, with a wider roll-out of the product planned to take place in subsequent weeks. The new product, which features software developed for both Unibet and its Maria brand by Relax Gaming, comes after the operator also invested â¬1.25m in the Estonia-based supplier. Tjärnström said the product would be released across multiple platforms and confirmed he expected the vertical to âcontinue to grow upwardsâ following the release.
Tabcorp CEO David Attenborough said investment in its mobile channel helped boost its digital turnover to AUS$1.44bn during the second half of 2013. Digital turnover for the Australian operator in the six-month period to 31 December 2013 grew by 15.6% with mobile now contributing more than half (51%) of its total online revenues. Attenborough also highlighted the potential for further investment in new channels and products, particularly in the run up to this summerâs FIFA World Cup and New South Walesâ new horse racing carnival The Championships.