William Hill submits iPhone App bid; Ladbrokes, Bwin follow
William Hill has submitted an application to Apple for a downloadable World Cup predictor 'App' which would allow cash bets, with arch rival Ladbrokes only weeks behind and Bwin also planning to apply, eGaming Review has learnt.
WILLIAM Hill has submitted an application to Apple for a downloadable World Cup predictor ‘App’ which would allow cash bets, with arch rival Ladbrokes only weeks behind and Bwin also planning to apply, eGaming Review has learnt.
The application, for an App that would allow customers to make cash bets via the William Hill website, was submitted to the US consumer electronics giant on 18 May; while Ladbrokes has not yet submitted an application but hopes for approval to launch a downloadable App before the football World Cup begins on 11 June.
Both bookmakers already have iPhone-compatible services.
Ladbrokes remote gaming head John O’Reilly said: “It’s one thing having a web application, another thing having one through the iPhone Store “ it has a different functionality. Our web app is popular with our customers, but launching an application through the Store is a whole different kind of market and customer base.”
The submissions follows a turnaround on gambling Apps by Apple, which recently allowed both Betfair and Australian tote betting business Tabcorp to launch gambling apps after having previously forbidden them.
Bwin hopes to launch an iPhone app soon after the World Cup, product management Tomer Katz revealed. Katz said: “Right now we are working on a live betting App for the iPhone that still has to go through Apple´s App Store approval process”.
Paddy Power is considering the move. Online sportsbook Darren Lovern said: “We’re definitely thinking about it, ideally before the World Cup. There can be problems getting the application through [Apple]”.