NICOSIA, Cyprus – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Playtech (LSE:
PTEC), the AIM listed international designer, developer and licensor of
software for the gambling industry, today announces that it has agreed to
exclusive terms with TankSoft Inc, one of the foremost specialists in
mahjong gaming software.
As a central part of Playtech's strategy to build on its market leading
position in Asia and to gain competitive advantage it aims to offer its
Licensees the best mahjong products available. After extensive research
TankSoft was chosen as the ideal partner in that it is the only company
that offers solutions to the major issue of collusion. It also allows
Playtech to offer a full range of mahjong games which include country
specific versions and various unique and patented features. Playtech
expects to be able to offer its Licensees mahjong games by the end of 2006.
TankSoft is a well established and respected company in its gaming
field, having been responsible for mahjong products dating back to 2000 and
is the holder of several key mahjong patents. Its management team has
unparalleled experience with President and CEO, Dr Tai-Up Kim, involved in
the game for over 30 years. The company also retains the consultant Mr Ide
Yosuke, who has been world mahjong champion on several occasions and has
published more than 20 books on mahjong. TankSoft has previously licensed
its mahjong programme libraries to Nexon Japan who have been utilizing the
TankSoft product on their play for fun sites.
Avigur Zmora, CEO of Playtech, commented: "We have 11 sites that cater
specifically to the Asian market that have been requesting mahjong games
from us. In order to ensure the quality of product that our licensees have
come to expect from Playtech we have been careful to find the best partner
in this field. In TankSoft we believe we have found that partner. By the
end of 2006 we will have added TankSoft's market leading games and
functionality to Playtech's tried and tested core gaming platform which
will help us to further penetrate the Asian market."
TankSoft President, Dr Kim, commented: "We are very excited to be
working with the industry leader in gaming software for Asia, if not the
world. Amongst the many companies that approached us, they were the only
ones that recognized the importance of the measures taken to completely
negate collusion and the other features that make our games truly unique.
The combination of our dynamic and reliable games coupled with Playtech's
highly respected platform should result in a world leading mahjong
offering."