William Hill seals four-year Playtech bingo contract extension
UK operator extends deal with Playtech subsidiary Virtue Fusion until 2018 as it aims to overturn 6% bingo revenue fall
UK bookmaker William Hill has struck a new four-year deal with Playtech bingo to remain on the software supplier’s Virtue Fusion network until 2018.
The deal, which follows a 6% year-on-year fall in H1 2014 bingo revenues for William Hill, will see the operator remain on Playtech’s bingo network as well as using its mobile and tablet products and cross-platform slots content.
A bingo contract was first signed between the two companies in 2007.
“We’re very pleased to have renewed our bingo agreement with Playtech and the highly experienced team there,” James Curwen, director of gaming at William Hill, said. “We look forward to working together to grow the business even further.”
In March Mecca Bingo extended its contract with Virtue Fusion until 2017 and three months later newspaper group Trinity Mirror also announced it was switching its bingo business from Dragonfish to Virtue Fusion.
“We’re delighted that William Hill, one of Playtech’s most established partners, has agreed to renew its contract,” Playtech Bingo COO, Dan Phillips, said. “This is a real endorsement of our market-leading, multi-channel bingo product and the industry’s biggest and best performing bingo network.”
Virtue Fusion, which was acquired by Playtech in February 2010, has deals with a number of major European online gambling operators including bet365, Gala Coral, Sky Bet and Paddy Power.
Earlier this year eGaming Review revealed that Playtech had hired Gary Keaney as its new head of bingo following the departure of Rhys Owen who has since joined location-based UK lottery GeoLotto.
In its latest financial results Playtech recorded a 21% year-on-year rise in H1 2014 revenues but bingo revenues fell 9% to 8.4m.