THINKING BACKGAMMON
Bwin Interactive Entertainment A.G.,
Ålands Penningautomatförening, or PAF, and
NordicBet will be the first to offer
Jadestone Network’s backgammon, according to the Nordic-based owner and operator.
The network, which will be launched this spring, will offer heads-up games and tournaments with support for 25 languages. Previously Bwin, PAF and NordicBet partnered with Jadestone for the company’s DiceArena.
SPONSORING
Following its first TV advertisement, 32Red, an online casino operator, said it will be sponsoring this year’s Flat Jockey’s Championship.
Ed Ware, the company’s chief executive, said in a statement that 32Red will continue to increase marketing spending in 2009. “32Red is proud of the association between our online casino and the cream of British racing,” said Mr. Ware.
The Gibraltar-licensed company operates 32Red Casino, 32Red Poker, 32Red Mobile, 32Red Affiliates and DashCasino.com.
SIGNING
The New York Lottery will continue its relationship with Gtech Corporation for seven more years, the subsidiary of Lottomatica S.p.A. said on Monday.
The estimated $550 million proposed contract would provide the lottery with new online solutions and services starting on March 2010, the company said. Under the proposed new contract, Gtech will provide its Enterprise Series solution, a new I.P.-communications network and will install and maintain up to 20,000 new Altura lottery terminals.
The contract is still subject to approval by the United States attorney general and the state comptroller.
REPLACED
On Tuesday night, WagerWorks’ parent company, International Game Technology, announced the resignation of Thomas J. Matthews, who has been the gaming supplier’s chief executive since 2003.
He will be replaced by Patti S. Hart, an IGT board member since 2006.
In a Wednesday client note, Todd Eilers, analyst with Roth Capital Partners, called the move “not surprising considering the multi-year market share losses, delayed (sever-based gaming) implementation and deteriorating financial and stock performance.” Mr. Eilers wrote that despite the change, improvement to IGT’s financial performance is not anticipated.
LAUNCHING
Virtue Fusion Alderney Ltd., developer of bingo and networked gaming solutions for the online, has launched a multi-currency solution, which it says will liquidize its overseas player base.
The new solution allows players to see games in select languages as well as view prizes in a selected currency.
“This puts Virtue Fusion Alderney’s client base in good stead to compete with established bingo sites in countries like Spain, Sweden and Denmark, etc.,” said Bob McCulloch, the company’s chief executive. “We don’t need to build a customer base from scratch as we are able to show large player numbers and prize pools from launch also eliminating the need to expose ourselves to large marketing liabilities”.