Launches and sign-ups 2 April 2014
Launches and sign-ups from the egaming industry in the last seven days (27 March to 2 April 2014)
Coral ‘Connects’ online and shops with cash card
Bookie describes new Connect card, which allows online customers to withdraw funds in store, as “industry first”
Coral has launched a new single-wallet, multi-channel card which can be used for the placement and pay out of bets both online and across its 1,800 UK shops.
The Coral Connect card, which has been developed in conjunction with software supplier OpenBet, uses contactless technology and PIN number security to enable customers to fund bets online, over the counter and at in-shop gaming machines.
The card also allows users to withdraw funds from their coral.co.uk account in cash at their local Coral shop, up to a maximum of £500.
According to Coral, Connect is not a loyalty card, however the operator said it has long-term plans to offer incentives in order to reward greater use.
Ladbrokes’ Playtech migration almost complete after casino launch
Ladbrokes has edged closer to completing its migration to Playtech’s software suite following the full launch of the supplier’s casino products.
As of today Microgaming content has been removed from the bookmaker’s dot.com and dot.dk sites and replaced with Playtech content, including new third-party games which have been added under the ‘Vegas’ tab.
Additional improvements have been made to the Vegas tab and a ‘bonus store’ has also been added, allowing customers to choose how they play bonuses awarded to them.
Ladbrokes also confirmed customers with bonus credit on Microgaming products will have their balances transferred to Playtech casino games.
Seven days in launches and sign-ups:
RewardBet seals African Simplicit-e Gaming deal
Australian software supplier RewardBet has signed an agreement with South Africa-based Simplicit-e Gaming Solutions for an Africa-wide distribution of the RewardBet suite of products.
RewardBet’s platform allows customers to place bets using a simple three-step process across racing (totalisator, fixed-odds and virtual), sports multis (fixed-odds and virtual) and casino. It is designed to maximise returns for customers by placing more of their stake on the most likely outcomes.
The company won the Software Supplier of the Year gong at the 2014 eGR Australia Awards in February.
“We are delighted to have Simplicit-e as our African partner as they have the relationships with key regional operators necessary for the launch of a multi-faceted product such as RewardBet,” Melbourne-based RewardBet founder Greg Conroy said.
Unibet strikes deal with new slots supplier
Unibet has struck a deal with recently established games supplier Thunderkick, a new venture launched by former Net Entertainment veterans, eGaming Review has learned.
Thunderkick was formed in 2012 by a group of former Net Entertainment employees including Sven Grip who held the roles of CTO and then chief of products and strategy before his departure from the company in 2011.
The Stockholm-based supplier has a 20-strong team, led by chief executive Grip, and recently received a Malta licence from the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA).
Mecca Bingo extends Virtue Fusion contract until 2017
Rank Group bingo subsidiary Mecca Bingo has signed a new three-year contract with Playtech’s Virtue Fusion to remain on the software supplier’s bingo platform.
The deal comes after Rank Group chairman Ian Burke revealed plans for an overhaul of its digital businesses in the operator’s H1 FY14 results call, during which he revealed Mecca Bingo online revenues had fallen 40% year-on-year to £6.8m.
Websites are to be redesigned and content management systems overhauled as part of the plans, with particular attention paid to mobile bingo products after revenue on the channel increased by 24% year-on-year.
Unibet ramps up UK push with Royal Windsor partnership
Unibet has increased its focus on the UK market after it signed a deal with Royal Windsor Racecourse to become the venue’s official betting partner for 2014.
The partnership will see Unibet sponsor both the racecourse and more than 20 specific races over the forthcoming horseracing flat season, which got underway last Saturday.
Unibet branding will be present at the racecourse and the operator will also sponsor the track’s owners, trainers and jockeys’ championships over the course of the season.
Rank digital overhaul continues with Quickspin deal
The Rank Group has signed an agreement with games developer Quickspin for a portfolio of video slots games as the operator continues to reboot its digital sites.
The operator, which owns the Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casino brands, revealed in January that it was to overhaul its digital business after recording a poor set of H1 FY14 results which saw operating profit from its bingo business slump by 40%.
Rank Group CEO Ian Burke outlined plans to redesign websites and overhaul its online games offering, with a particular focus to be placed on mobile products.
Matchbook prepares to launch in-house casino
Matchbook is to launch a proprietary casino in the coming weeks, which will be the exchange operator’s first gaming product.
Speaking to eGaming Review, Matchbook chief exec Mark Brosnan said he was “excited” by the product which will enable customers to manage their sports markets and play casino simultaneously.
The split screen technology has been developed in-house by the operator’s development team while customers will also benefit from a single-wallet.