BetCRIS Transfers US Operation to Sister Site
Costa Rica-based sports book BetCRIS.com on March 1 transferred its U.S.-facing business to its recently launched sister site, Bookmaker.com.
U.S. account holders can log into Bookmaker.com using their same username and password to find that all account details, including open bets and account balances, have been automatically migrated to the site, which will honor all bets, deposits and pending withdrawals. Bookmaker.com was launched for the sole purpose of diversifying the company, and the site has been in the works for two years, according to a BetCRIS representative.
All non-U.S. players remain unaffected and will be allowed continuing access to BetCRIS.com.
Betfair Launches New Pitch
Betfair is preparing to begin its new marketing pitch, "a different kind of betting company," according to the Financial Times. The company, which wants to "eat into" the market of Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral and other fixed odds bookmakers, will try "to appeal to new casual punters while still appealing to core punters," the paper quoted Betfair's director of communications, Mark Davies, as saying. The paper also quoted an executive at a leading bookmaker as saying: "The challenge for them is that they are moving into the consumer market it if they are moving into the consumer market it is already quite competitive. It is about getting to acquire the massive marketing spend in order to achieve the recognition the big players have."
Tabcorp Seeks New Helmsman
Tabcorp will give preference to "candidates with experience in gaming and wagering" as its searches for a new CEO. Former CEO Matthew Slatter on March 21 agreed to leave the company, after receiving a six-month notice by the company's institutional shareholders on Feb. 22. Elmer Funke Kupper, head of Tabcorp's Australian operations, is said to be the leading internal candidate for the job. Company chairman Michael Robinson said that it would take at least three months to fill the position, with the appointment of an external candidate requiring an additional five moths due to probity checks.
Sportech Eyes Vernons
Sportech, owner of Littewoods Gaming, has entered into exclusive negotiations with Ladbrokes regarding the potential £50 million ($96.6 million) acquisition of its Vernons Pools business. If successful, the takeover would give London-listed Sportech control of roughly 90 percent of the pools market in the United Kingdom.
PBA Investigates Sports Betting Venture with PAGCOR
The Philippine Basketball Association is reportedly in negotiations with the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) regarding a $6.2 million-a-year joint sports betting venture. Talk of the venture began late last year, after PAGCOR allowed online betting on PBA games without the league's consent. PBA Commissioner Noli Eala said that talks between PAGCOR and the league were ongoing but did not offer further comment.