NEW DEAL Today CryptoLogic Ltd. announced a five-year licensing agreement with PartyGaming, a Gibraltar-based operator.
The software developer, headquartered in Toronto, said it will give PartyGaming a suite of top-branded casino games, six of which will launch in the first quarter of 2009. Under the agreement, which was made through WagerLogic Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CryptoLogic, PartyGaming will have an opportunity to add other Crypto games in the future.
“This is one of CryptoLogic's biggest customer wins of the year and an endorsement of the branded games element of our new strategy,” said Brain H. Hadfield, CryptoLogic’s president and chief executive. “It proves that when you combine great innovation and excellent execution, you get expansion.”
Jim Ryan, PartyGaming’s chief executive, called his company and the software developer two of the biggest names in I-gaming.
"This agreement reflects PartyGaming's strategy to broaden our product base -- and grow our player base -- through innovative alliances,” he added. “Because these games will be great for our players, they will be good for our business."
BETTING ON ITALY Only days after Italy’s Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato, or AAMS, granted PokerStars a license for online poker, the company unveiled www.PokerStars.it.
The real-money site will follow the limits imposed by a new Italian law and will hold tournaments for fees ranging from 50 euro cents to 100 euros.
"PokerStars is proud to be entering a flourishing market with this new product," said Fabio Angeli Bufalini, PokerStars Italian country manager, in a prepared statement. "This is a ground breaking time for the online poker industry, and it's very exciting that the Italian market is pioneering this move. This also is the start of a global template which could potentially be adopted in other markets internationally in the next few years."
CRYPTO’S NEW AUDITOR Grant Thornton Ireland has been appointed auditor of CryptoLogic Ltd., the company announced on Friday. The company succeeds KPMG L.L.P.
In a prepared statement, Robert Stikeman, the software developer’s chairman, said that the global auditor will provide CryptoLogic with “the right combination of depth, breadth and value.”
"Their strong Irish presence, experience with companies our size, and expertise in all three countries where we have listings make Grant Thornton an excellent fit to support CryptoLogic with its new strategy,” he continued.
The statement went on to note that there have been no events since the company’s last audit or any disagreements between it and its former auditor.
FAIR TRADE? According to The London Times, Gala Coral Group has confirmed its departure from four trade associations: Bingo Association, the British Casino Association, the Association of British Bookmakers and the Remote Gambling Association.
“This is not us withdrawing from these associations because we don't think they're very good,” a spokesperson from the gaming company told the paper. “We've got a new Gambling Act and a new regulator, but we have separate trade associations where there's a lot of duplication.”
Nambling Notes is .