Launches and sign-ups 17 October 2012
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (11 October to 17 October 2012).
Hills and GVC granted Sportingbet extension
AIM-listed operator reveals it will work alongside both interested parties to facilitate a formal offer of 61.1p a share, valuing the company at £530m.
William Hill and GVC Holdings have been given an extension of four weeks to make an improved offer for Sportingbet, with the AIM-listed operator holding out for a 61.1p a share agreement.
The two parties had seen an initial bid of 52.5p a share rejected earlier this month, while there were unverified rumours of a second offer also being knocked back ahead of yesterday’s initial deadline.
Now they have until 13 November to return with an offer valuing Sportingbet at approximately £530m, and a statement explains: “The revised proposal includes a ‘mix and match’ facility under which Sportingbet shareholders will have the opportunity to apply to receive proportionately more cash or more shares.”
Sportingbet has confirmed that an offer matching this description would most likely be unanimously recommended to shareholders by the operator’s board of directors, explaining that the board “has therefore agreed to work with William Hill and GVC Holdings to facilitate the making of a formal offer…”
Slingo to launch real-money by end of 2012
One of Facebook’s fastest growing games in discussions with two suppliers to license game to operators in regulated markets.
One of the world’s most popular social casino games will launch a real-money version by the end of this year, its chief executive has exclusively told eGaming Review.
Slingo Advance, the real-money version of cross media game Slingo, one of Facebook’s fastest-growing games by daily active users (DAUs) and reaching more than 50 million monthly active users (MAUs) within six months of launch is close to agreeing and signing licensing deals with two of the industry’s leading suppliers, Roberts said.
Introducing what Roberts claims as the “first for-wager social game” at the European iGaming Congress (EiG), which opened yesterday, he described the venture as “yet another milestone” for the company.
The business originally introduced Slingo on AOL in 1996 as the first social game on the internet, while in 2001 it became the first social game to transfer to the land-based slot environment as a standalone game. The Slingo brand of games now includes casual and social games, casino slot machines and table games, state lottery tickets and “pull-tabs”, a low stakes alternative to a scratch card in North America.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
Betgenius in IMG tennis data partnership
Sports data and software provider Betgenius inked an exclusive deal with IMG Media for the distribution of pricing and trading services alongside the multinational media rights and management corporation’s data on tennis’ elite tournaments, following IMG’s acquisition of a majority stake in sports data business Enetpulse.
A tender has been issued for contracts on four different tiers, with the top level covering in excess of 15,000 matches per annum across the ATP and WTA tours and the ATP Challenger Tour from 2013 to 2016.
There are 12 licences available at the “gold” level (over 15,000 matches), 15 “silver” (offering 11,000 matches), 18 “bronze” (8,000 matches) and an unlimited number on the “entry level” covering 4,000 “core” matches. The cost of packages, according to a document seen by eGaming Review, ranges from US$240,000 to $495,000 per year.
Paf to join Microgaming Poker Network
Paf became the latest operator to move its online poker offering to Microgaming’s network, the à land-based operator announced.
No specific date has been given for the migration, although it is due to take place in the near future, and Paf has explained in a statement that “the contract with Microgaming is not a replacement for Paf’s other poker networks, Ongame and Boss Media, but a complement that will bring added value to customers.”
Director Anders Wiklund explained to eGaming Review: “When we launch the new network for customers, it will be done simultaneously with us also rebuilding our complete poker experience on our website, which is likely to go live during Q1 2013. The new network is one puzzle piece in a bigger make-over of our poker experience for our customers, an experience enhancement in line with our Play Among Friends strategy.”
Evolution in poker and mobile launch double
Live dealer software specialist Evolution launched its first poker-style game and a new range of mobile gaming iPad solutions including live roulette with “one major worldwide betting brand” already signed up, the company announced.
It extended its live casino offering with the addition of Casino Hold’em, a variant of five-card Texas Hold’em, and the company’s first foray into poker.
As with its live roulette, blackjack and baccarat games, live Casino Hold’em is streamed in real time to players from tables at Evolution’s studios in Riga, Latvia, while games can be streamed from a live studio in an operator’s own land-based venue depending on specific regulatory rules.
Churchill Downs forms interactive division
Churchill Downs announced the formation of Churchill Downs Interactive, while the racetrack operator’s chief strategy officer Ted Gay was appointed president of the new online arm.
Churchill Downs Interactive will incorporate its online operations including betting website TwinSpires.com and social game site Luckity.com, as well as multimedia poker content, brand and publishing company Bluff Media’s US operations.
Bwin to stream World Cup qualifiers
Bwin.party’s bwin brand agreed a deal with media company SPORTFIVE International for the live streaming of European qualifying matches for the 2014 football World Cup.
Streams will be available to watch free on the bwin.com platform, as well as via the iPhone, iPad and Android versions of the Qualifiers 2014 app, which has been launched jointly by the two parties.
WMS in Betsson and Unibet deals
WMS’ egaming subsidiary Williams Interactive signed multi-year licensing agreements with Swedish operators Betsson and Unibet Group.
The deal allows Betsson and Unibet access to WMS’ games offered by Jadestone, following May’s acquisition of the Swedish games developer. The portfolio also includes games offered by WMS’ UK-facing site Jackpot Party which went live last year.
PKR launches mobile 3D blackjack
PKR went live with a 3D mobile blackjack offering available in the iTunes App Store for iPad and iPhone devices.
The game features non-poker content from the operator’s flagship offering, and its launch follows the release of a 3D roulette app earlier this year.
Relax Gaming launches bingo product
Alderney-licensed software provider Relax Gaming introduced a new bingo offering to sit alongside its existing casino and Fast Poker products.
The first client to go live with the software is Finnish-facing iGame brand Bingohuone, and the product is intended to be targeted at the Nordic market.
Bodog Poker Network in TLC88.com deal
Asian-facing casino and sports betting site TLC88.com is to venture into poker after agreeing a deal with Bodog to join its network.
The Bodog Poker Network was acquired for an undisclosed sum in June by Philippines-based Bodog88, with Patrick Selin stepping down from his role as CEO immediately afterwards.
Bally signs freeplay poker deal with Mohegan Sun
Bally Technologies confirmed a deal which will see it offer its online gaming platform to Mohegan Sun Casinos, which has bricks and mortar venues in Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Mohegan Sun’s Connecticut venue in Uncasville previously hosted events in the PokerStars-sponsored North American Poker Tour (NAPT), however this agreement enables the casinos to host freeplay online poker sites and follows a six-month review period initiated by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority-owned operator.
GTECH G2 launched its new bingo product Bingo 2.5 at EiG, featuring mini-game play, a new in-game lobby allowing players to switch rooms without leaving a bingo session, and a game window that automatically adapts to different screen resolutions.
Microgaming signed a licensing agreement with NBCUniversal to create online video slot games based on the Battlestar Galactica television series. The online gaming software provider has also launched a new brand, Microgaming Go, to incorporate its mobile offering, while the Mega Moolah game was also been launched for HTML5 at EiG in Barcelona this week.
Coral Poker completed its move to the iPoker network, as part of a 10-year deal signed in July last year between Gala Coral and iPoker owner Playtech.
Casino operator Mr Green has announced a deal with Realex Payments, which will see it take on a suite of product and features from the payment solutions provider