Launches and sign ups 10 July 2014
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (3 July to 10 July 2014)
Betfair unveils Google Glass-optimised sports betting product
Operator to launch new products specifically for the high-tech wearable technology later this year
Betfair has become the first online betting operator to embrace wearable technology by developing a Google Glass-optimised sports betting product which is set to be widely available in the coming months.
The operator is developing a number of bespoke products to be launched later this year and will incorporate the Google Glass technology into existing products as well as a specific ‘Glassware’ product.
The high-tech eyewear was launched in the UK for the first time a fortnight ago after the product had been available in the US market for over two years.
Betfred hands Sportech £9m UK Tote deal
Betfred will outsource its entire UK Tote technology platform to Sportech in a deal announced today for Sportech to supply its multi-channel tote betting services to the bookmaker’s Totepool business.
The 10-year contract, which is estimated to be worth around £9m, will see Sportech’s Racing & Digital division replace Betfred’s existing tote systems from next year.
Betfred gained the exclusive rights to operate all Tote betting on British horseracing after it acquired the Tote for £265m in 2011, and had been seeking ways to consolidate the operations under one provider.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Paddy Power launches “word of mouth” bonusing initiative
Paddy Power has launched a new “word of mouth” bonusing initiative that offers to reward customers based on the number of pooled referrals they can achieve.
The Irish operator has teamed-up with social ecommerce firm Buyapowa for the campaign, which launches today, to run co-buying promotions relating to this summer’s sporting events.
The first campaign is linked to tomorrow’s World Cup quarter final between France and Germany, with Paddys offering an enhanced price of 5/2 “ currently 21/10 – for France to win.
Betway plots summer bingo launch
Betway is planning to launch a UK-facing bingo product next month in a move which will complete the operator’s expansion into all main egaming verticals.
Betway Bingo is expected to be powered by long-standing software provider partner Microgaming and follows a number of hires for its bingo team including brand manager Stephanie Eddy
A landing page for the UK Betway Bingo site currently reads ‘Coming Soon! The best in 75 and 90 ball Bingo’ and once launched will join Betway Sports, In-Play, Vegas, Casino and Poker.
Sisal prepares for Italian IPO
One of Italy’s biggest gaming operators, Sisal, is set to list its share on the country’s stock exchange after announcing its intention to offer up to 77.5 million shares in the IPO.
The company, which reported revenues of 772m in 2013 and holds around a 10% share of Italy’s online sportsbook market, will offer stock at a price between 6.30 and 7.70 a share.
The offer would amount to almost 60% of Sisal’s capital, it said yesterday in a statement, valuing the operator at between 645m-790m.
Optimal Payments signs Premier League shirt sponsorship deal
Optimal Payments has signed a landmark deal to become the official sponsor of Premier League team Crystal Palace for the next two football seasons as it looks to grow its brand visibility in the Asian market.
The payments firm said it will use the high-profile platform to raise the global awareness of its NETELLER service and Net+ Card stored-value product, which will be displayed on the front of the team’s shirts from the start of the 2014/15 season.
Optimal said it is supporting its customers by “delivering big brand credibility” in key growth markets including Asia and Africa by becoming the first Premier League sponsor within the online payments space.
Paddy Power Poker launched in Italy
Paddy Power has added online poker to its Italy-facing site almost two years after launching its sportsbook operations in the country.
The Paddy Power Poker tab was added to its dot.it site this week, and is expected to be followed by bingo and virtual sports later this year.
Paddy Power launched in Italy during 2012 and has since invested heavily in establishing a brand there with the firm posting a 16.8m loss from its Italian operations during 2013.
EntwineTech has announced an addition to its range of live dealer games. From this month, fans of the traditional Chinese game of Sicbo will have another version to play when using software provided by EntwineTech.
“We know our customers like a choice of games and while we have always had a range of Baccarat Roulette and Blackjack live dealer tables we were conscious that our Sicbo customers needed more variety,” Ian Dunning, spokesperson for EntwineTech, said.
“Sicbo is an ancient Chinese game that provides excitement and lots of different betting opportunities to players. Our new Sicbo live dealer games open up even more betting opportunities for our partners to offer their customers,” he added.