Tombola has signed an initial two-year deal to become Sunderland's principal shirt sponsor, providing the club with a major boost for the new 2010-11 season and beyond.
Offering one of the most innovative and exciting soft gaming sites in the UK, tombola.co.uk is also the country's biggest and most popular online bingo website.
Speaking about the announcement today, SAFC chairman Niall Quinn said: "We are thrilled to be joining forces with Tombola at what is a really exciting time in our football club's journey. The company's headquarters are in Sunderland so they know exactly what the club and the city are all about and we are excited by the possibilities this partnership offers to us both."
Tombola offers innovative gaming software unique to their own site, all of which is developed in-house. Their forward thinking approach means that tombola.co.uk has more players than any other site, with over £3 million won in prize money every week.
Phil Cronin, chief executive of Tombola said: "Sponsoring Sunderland AFC is a fantastic opportunity for Tombola. With our own head office here in Sunderland we have been able to see the work that Niall and his team have done to transform the fortunes of the club. We're really looking forward to working with Sunderland and we're confident that this sponsorship will help us achieve our own ambitions."
Sunderland AFC marketing & commercial director Lesley Callaghan said: "Tombola will become our club sponsor for an initial two-year period and we are very much looking forward to forging a strong and positive partnership with them. This is a very attractive deal for the club from a commercial perspective and in turn we are sure that by working together we can help Tombola to realise their aims and ambitions for their company."
The partnership will see Tombola's name emblazoned on Sunderland's new home and away shirts for the 2010-11 season and also across key sites throughout the Stadium of light. The company hopes that the partnership with Sunderland Football Club and the global exposure that top flight football brings will raise awareness of their products to a whole new audience, increasing their already significant stake in a growing industry.
Lesley continued: "As a company leading the way in their field Tombola is already a hugely successful organisation and we are sure that the partnership with this club will not only cement their position at the very top, but will also help to introduce the company to a much wider audience through the fantastic global reach of top flight football."
April 14, 2010
April 13, 2010
PartyGaming's Cashcade gives Dragonfish bingo deal 2-year boost
Foxy Bingo owner Cashcade has signed a two-year extension to its contract with 888 business-to-business arm Dragonfish to keep its bingo brands on the Dragonfish platform.
The deal, which ties revenue streams from Cashcade brands including Foxy, Think and Cheeky into the Dragonfish platform until May 2014, follows the widespread mooting of a possible move off the network by 888 rival PartyGaming following PartyGaming’s buy of Cashcade in July 2009.
Dragonfish managing director Gabi Campos said PartyGaming's decision to keep Cashcade on Dragonfish, which also avoids the disruptive effect of moving the bingo operator's players to another platform, reflected the strength of the Dragonfish bingo software and back-end.
Campos said: “Major standalone networks require software with sufficient flexibility to allow a variety of marketing campaigns that can be integrated into the back office, and Dragonfish can provide this.”
Cashcade is the largest bingo operator in the UK, and owns standalone networks Foxy Bingo, Cheeky Bingo, Think Bingo, Little Big Bingo, Bingo Scotland and Foxy Zero, which are all powered by Dragonfish. PartyGaming also recently relaunched its ITV Bingo website via Cashcade.
Dragonfish-owner 888 tied Wink and Posh Bingo into the Dragonfish network by acquiring the rooms from owners Daub for £60m in December 2009.
The deal, which ties revenue streams from Cashcade brands including Foxy, Think and Cheeky into the Dragonfish platform until May 2014, follows the widespread mooting of a possible move off the network by 888 rival PartyGaming following PartyGaming’s buy of Cashcade in July 2009.
Dragonfish managing director Gabi Campos said PartyGaming's decision to keep Cashcade on Dragonfish, which also avoids the disruptive effect of moving the bingo operator's players to another platform, reflected the strength of the Dragonfish bingo software and back-end.
Campos said: “Major standalone networks require software with sufficient flexibility to allow a variety of marketing campaigns that can be integrated into the back office, and Dragonfish can provide this.”
Cashcade is the largest bingo operator in the UK, and owns standalone networks Foxy Bingo, Cheeky Bingo, Think Bingo, Little Big Bingo, Bingo Scotland and Foxy Zero, which are all powered by Dragonfish. PartyGaming also recently relaunched its ITV Bingo website via Cashcade.
Dragonfish-owner 888 tied Wink and Posh Bingo into the Dragonfish network by acquiring the rooms from owners Daub for £60m in December 2009.
April 12, 2010
Ladbrokes sells Italian retail business to Cogetech
Following the company’s decision to exit the Italian retail sports betting market last year, UK bookmaker Ladbrokes plc said Monday that it has agreed to sell its Italian retail betting and gaming business to an affiliate of Cogetech S.p.A, one of Italy’s leading online and land-based operators, for a total cash consideration of approximately €5.25 million.
Last August Ladbrokes announced that it would sell its Italian retail business, citing revenue growth below expectations as a result of the continued presence of illegal shops, the increased competition in the market place and the high level of further investment required to achieve critical mass.
Ladbrokes said that its Italian retail business made a loss of £9.9 million in 2009, with a carrying value of the business of £26.7 million.
Cogetech, which has more than 38,000 AWPs in 16,000 points of sale across Italy, will acquire Ladbrokes’ Italian retail business for an expected cash consideration of €5.25 million, payable on completion of the deal.
Under the sale agreement, Cogetech will also assume responsibility for approximately €18 million of guarantees currently provided by Ladbrokes, in addition to Ladbrokes’ head office in Milan, 82 shops and 51 corners located throughout Italy.
Despite its exit from the Italian retail business, Ladbrokes will continue to have a presence in Italy with an increased focus on its online offering, with the company recently becoming the first operator to join Microgaming’s new Italian poker network last month.
The sale is subject to approval from the Italian competition authority.
Last August Ladbrokes announced that it would sell its Italian retail business, citing revenue growth below expectations as a result of the continued presence of illegal shops, the increased competition in the market place and the high level of further investment required to achieve critical mass.
Ladbrokes said that its Italian retail business made a loss of £9.9 million in 2009, with a carrying value of the business of £26.7 million.
Cogetech, which has more than 38,000 AWPs in 16,000 points of sale across Italy, will acquire Ladbrokes’ Italian retail business for an expected cash consideration of €5.25 million, payable on completion of the deal.
Under the sale agreement, Cogetech will also assume responsibility for approximately €18 million of guarantees currently provided by Ladbrokes, in addition to Ladbrokes’ head office in Milan, 82 shops and 51 corners located throughout Italy.
Despite its exit from the Italian retail business, Ladbrokes will continue to have a presence in Italy with an increased focus on its online offering, with the company recently becoming the first operator to join Microgaming’s new Italian poker network last month.
The sale is subject to approval from the Italian competition authority.
Unibet expands live sports stream to include La Liga
Unibet is to offer customers additional live streaming sports content through its website, including coverage of Spain’s La Liga, following an agreement with the Sportsman Media Group.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sportsman will provide Unibet with an extensive rights package and streaming services for over twenty territories across a number of sports including the Spanish premier league La Liga, Volleyball and Handball Champions League, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball and table tennis.
“We are very happy about our new cooperation with Unibet who has streamed live sport on its websites for quite some time,” said Thomas Krohne, Managing Director of the sportsman media group. “This shows the acceptance of our product by an experienced player in this market.”
Other customers of the Sportsman’s live streaming portfolio include bwin, Interwetten, Bet-at-Home, BetClic and Expekt.
Commenting on the agreement, Unibet CEO Petter Nylander said: “We are pleased to be able to increase our streaming offer to our customers. The sportsman streaming package perfectly complements our existing video product with additional top sports events especially during the weekdays.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Sportsman will provide Unibet with an extensive rights package and streaming services for over twenty territories across a number of sports including the Spanish premier league La Liga, Volleyball and Handball Champions League, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball and table tennis.
“We are very happy about our new cooperation with Unibet who has streamed live sport on its websites for quite some time,” said Thomas Krohne, Managing Director of the sportsman media group. “This shows the acceptance of our product by an experienced player in this market.”
Other customers of the Sportsman’s live streaming portfolio include bwin, Interwetten, Bet-at-Home, BetClic and Expekt.
Commenting on the agreement, Unibet CEO Petter Nylander said: “We are pleased to be able to increase our streaming offer to our customers. The sportsman streaming package perfectly complements our existing video product with additional top sports events especially during the weekdays.”
April 09, 2010
Everest Poker sues World Series of Poker
According to the Las Vegas Sun, Ultra Internet Media, which owns the Everest Poker brand, filed a lawsuit in a Las Vegas federal court last week against Harrah's Entertainment, which owns the World Series of Poker.
Ultra Internet Media agreed on a three-year, $22.5 million on-felt sponsorship deal to include the 2008, 2009 and 2010 WSOP. The Everest Poker logo was to appear prominently on the felt of every table, including all television tables. UIM alleges that repeatedly, and as recently as Feb 14, 2010, a French television affiliate, RTL9 not only failed to display the Everest logo but instead featured Full Tilt Poker's logo, an obvious competitor for the French online poker operator, which noted that it does not generate any gaming revenue in the United States.
It seems that the transgression has been a recurring problem and that Harrah's, ESPN and UIM met in February of 2009 to discuss the issue. According to the the suit "Harrah’s and ESPN agreed to control their affiliate, RTL9, and require RTL9 to cease causing violations of the agreement during its broadcasts and transmissions into France."
The lawsuit claims that UIM has paid the full amounts of the deal for 2008 ($6.2 million) and 2009 ($7.9 million) but has no intention of continuing with the agreement in 2010, and has notified Harrah's of its decision to pull out of the 2010 WSOP, which according to the original deal would cost UIM $8.4 million.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, "Seth Palansky, a spokesman for Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment Inc. and Harrah’s World Series of Poker, on Friday said the company had not been served with the lawsuit and would have no immediate comment on the allegations."
Ultra Internet Media agreed on a three-year, $22.5 million on-felt sponsorship deal to include the 2008, 2009 and 2010 WSOP. The Everest Poker logo was to appear prominently on the felt of every table, including all television tables. UIM alleges that repeatedly, and as recently as Feb 14, 2010, a French television affiliate, RTL9 not only failed to display the Everest logo but instead featured Full Tilt Poker's logo, an obvious competitor for the French online poker operator, which noted that it does not generate any gaming revenue in the United States.
It seems that the transgression has been a recurring problem and that Harrah's, ESPN and UIM met in February of 2009 to discuss the issue. According to the the suit "Harrah’s and ESPN agreed to control their affiliate, RTL9, and require RTL9 to cease causing violations of the agreement during its broadcasts and transmissions into France."
The lawsuit claims that UIM has paid the full amounts of the deal for 2008 ($6.2 million) and 2009 ($7.9 million) but has no intention of continuing with the agreement in 2010, and has notified Harrah's of its decision to pull out of the 2010 WSOP, which according to the original deal would cost UIM $8.4 million.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, "Seth Palansky, a spokesman for Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment Inc. and Harrah’s World Series of Poker, on Friday said the company had not been served with the lawsuit and would have no immediate comment on the allegations."
April 08, 2010
Ladbrokes and French TV giant Canal+ form joint venture
Britain's biggest bookmaker Ladbrokes Plc has signed a conditional joint venture agreement with Groupe Canal+ to launch an online betting and gaming service in France, it said on Thursday.
The new service, Ladbrokes first move into the French market in its 124-year history, is set to launch this year subject to competition clearances.
"We believe that there is an opportunity to build a good business in France over time as the market and regulation develop," said Ladbrokes' managing director of remote betting and gaming John O'Reilly.
Under the 50:50 joint venture, Ladbrokes will provide its betting and gaming knowledge and technology, while premium pay TV provider CANAL+ will provide access to media, brand, potential consumers and its experience of operating in the French market.
Each company will provide 2.25 million euros ($3 million) as initial funding for the venture.
The new service, Ladbrokes first move into the French market in its 124-year history, is set to launch this year subject to competition clearances.
"We believe that there is an opportunity to build a good business in France over time as the market and regulation develop," said Ladbrokes' managing director of remote betting and gaming John O'Reilly.
Under the 50:50 joint venture, Ladbrokes will provide its betting and gaming knowledge and technology, while premium pay TV provider CANAL+ will provide access to media, brand, potential consumers and its experience of operating in the French market.
Each company will provide 2.25 million euros ($3 million) as initial funding for the venture.
Mangas Gaming signs M6 French media tie
Mangas Gaming, owner of brands including Everest Poker, Expekt and Betclic, has announced a strategic partnership with French multimedia conglomerate M6 Group.
Metropole 6, known as M6, is the second most-watched private television service in France.
The deal will see Everest and Betclic betting products offered via M6's network of websites, and the Mangas brands will also sponsor poker- and sports-related content across M6's nine digital channels, and collaborate with the group to produce content for broadcast.
The four-year deal will be fully implemented once BetClic and Everest have the required licences in place following the French National Assembly's vote in favour of a bill to legalise online gambling this week, which all but officially opens up the French egaming market to international operators.
New Mangas Gaming chief executive Nicolas Béraud said: "We are delighted about the visibility M6 will provide to our brands and services on both its channels and websites, especially in the poker segment."
M6 Web managing director Valéry Gerfaud said: "We have chosen to actively participate in the growth of the online gaming industry by joining our forces to the leading French sports betting and online gambling group and providing our know-how in contents creation and interactivity."
The deal is the second major egaming-TV deal in France today, and follows Ladbrokes' announcement of a joint venture with French premium TV giant Canal+ today.
Other media companies to enter the French egaming space include TF1, which signed an online gaming and sponsorship deal with France's lottery monopoly, Francaise des Jeux in February, and the Eurosport TV channel, which announced plans to launch betting company SPS Betting with investment fund Serendipity in May 2009.
The deal will see Everest and Betclic betting products offered via M6's network of websites, and the Mangas brands will also sponsor poker- and sports-related content across M6's nine digital channels, and collaborate with the group to produce content for broadcast.
The four-year deal will be fully implemented once BetClic and Everest have the required licences in place following the French National Assembly's vote in favour of a bill to legalise online gambling this week, which all but officially opens up the French egaming market to international operators.
New Mangas Gaming chief executive Nicolas Béraud said: "We are delighted about the visibility M6 will provide to our brands and services on both its channels and websites, especially in the poker segment."
M6 Web managing director Valéry Gerfaud said: "We have chosen to actively participate in the growth of the online gaming industry by joining our forces to the leading French sports betting and online gambling group and providing our know-how in contents creation and interactivity."
The deal is the second major egaming-TV deal in France today, and follows Ladbrokes' announcement of a joint venture with French premium TV giant Canal+ today.
Other media companies to enter the French egaming space include TF1, which signed an online gaming and sponsorship deal with France's lottery monopoly, Francaise des Jeux in February, and the Eurosport TV channel, which announced plans to launch betting company SPS Betting with investment fund Serendipity in May 2009.
April 07, 2010
France votes on bill to legalise online gambling
After a week of tense debate, France’s National Assembly votes Tuesday on a bill to legalise online gambling and open up the French market to international operators. If adopted, the law will come into effect ahead of the South African World Cup in July.
The bill is almost certain to be passed, despite fierce opposition from the left, who argue it is dangerous, particularly to young people.
Virtual poker machines and games of chance are not included because they are considered too addictive to be legalised.
The bill already passed through a first reading by the Senate in February, and has been before the National Assembly since 30 March.
Budget Minister François Baroin said the law would put an end to the “wild and anarchistic” development of internet gambling.
“I am convinced this solution will allow us to gradually drain the black-market of online gaming by creating a legal alternative," he said.
French laws governing online gambling are among the most restrictive in Europe, designed to protect the country’s lucrative PMU and Francaise des Jeux gambling monopolies.
The bill is almost certain to be passed, despite fierce opposition from the left, who argue it is dangerous, particularly to young people.
Virtual poker machines and games of chance are not included because they are considered too addictive to be legalised.
The bill already passed through a first reading by the Senate in February, and has been before the National Assembly since 30 March.
Budget Minister François Baroin said the law would put an end to the “wild and anarchistic” development of internet gambling.
“I am convinced this solution will allow us to gradually drain the black-market of online gaming by creating a legal alternative," he said.
French laws governing online gambling are among the most restrictive in Europe, designed to protect the country’s lucrative PMU and Francaise des Jeux gambling monopolies.
April 06, 2010
Full Tilt Poker under federal investigation
According to a report in the Financial Times, Full Tilt Poker is under investigation on money laundering charges. Two professional players who could be the focus of the investigation are Howard Lederer and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson.
Full Tilt Poker accepts players from the US, and many legal experts believe that despite what the US government insinuates, online gambling is not illegal in the country. Money laundering charges, however, has been a commonly used charge to go after the online gaming industry.
"There are not laws in the US that forbid a player from turning on their computer and gambling online," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz, "Transferring money, however, has become increasingly difficult for these sites that offer their services to US customers."
In 2006, the US created the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Instead of targeting the sites, however, the law is aimed at making financial institutions responsible for blocking Internet gambling transactions. The financial institutions have argued that they do not have the resources to carry out this duty.
The UIGEA has not yet gone into effect. Late last year, Representative Barney Frank and other lawmakers successfully lobbied to have the UIGEA rules delayed for six months. Frank has proposed legislation to overturn the UIGEA and set up the framework for a regulated online gambling industry in the US.
Full Tilt Poker accepts players from the US, and many legal experts believe that despite what the US government insinuates, online gambling is not illegal in the country. Money laundering charges, however, has been a commonly used charge to go after the online gaming industry.
"There are not laws in the US that forbid a player from turning on their computer and gambling online," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz, "Transferring money, however, has become increasingly difficult for these sites that offer their services to US customers."
In 2006, the US created the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Instead of targeting the sites, however, the law is aimed at making financial institutions responsible for blocking Internet gambling transactions. The financial institutions have argued that they do not have the resources to carry out this duty.
The UIGEA has not yet gone into effect. Late last year, Representative Barney Frank and other lawmakers successfully lobbied to have the UIGEA rules delayed for six months. Frank has proposed legislation to overturn the UIGEA and set up the framework for a regulated online gambling industry in the US.
Juventus sign Betclick shirt sponsor deal
Juventus has signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Betclick UK Ltd.. The company will be the official sponsor from the 1st July 2010 up to 30th June 2012. The brand “Betclick” will appear on the Juventus jerseys during all the competitions in which the team will participate.
The agreement is the result of a new commercial strategy by Juventus, as underlined by president Blanc: «In a very difficult economic context, we have decided by identifying an international partner of primary standing, to put into practice an innovative commercial strategy which shares the rights of the first and the second jersey. The agreement signed today is the first of two agreements of official sponsorship that will characterize the next two sporting seasons».
In lieu of this new commercial strategy, which is intended to increment the profits deriving from the jersey sponsorship, Juventus decided to adopt a new format. There will in fact be two different partners who will have the possibility of affixing their brand name on the outfield jerseys.
The agreement signed today foresees the right of Betclick to affix the brand name “Betclic” on the first outfield jersey – the black and white one – in all the national and international sport competitions of the First Team. The contract foresees complex basis amount of €16 million and a variable amount which shall be determined by the sporting results.
Created in 2005 by French entrepreneurs, Betlclick became in just a few years, one of the operators of reference in the sports betting market and on-line gaming in Europe. Betclick is present in 12 European countries and every one of its websites proposes personalized contents and offers. With the headquarters located in Malta and office in England, Italy and Spain, Betclick is the holder of many gaming licenses in the European Union.
The agreement is the result of a new commercial strategy by Juventus, as underlined by president Blanc: «In a very difficult economic context, we have decided by identifying an international partner of primary standing, to put into practice an innovative commercial strategy which shares the rights of the first and the second jersey. The agreement signed today is the first of two agreements of official sponsorship that will characterize the next two sporting seasons».
In lieu of this new commercial strategy, which is intended to increment the profits deriving from the jersey sponsorship, Juventus decided to adopt a new format. There will in fact be two different partners who will have the possibility of affixing their brand name on the outfield jerseys.
The agreement signed today foresees the right of Betclick to affix the brand name “Betclic” on the first outfield jersey – the black and white one – in all the national and international sport competitions of the First Team. The contract foresees complex basis amount of €16 million and a variable amount which shall be determined by the sporting results.
Created in 2005 by French entrepreneurs, Betlclick became in just a few years, one of the operators of reference in the sports betting market and on-line gaming in Europe. Betclick is present in 12 European countries and every one of its websites proposes personalized contents and offers. With the headquarters located in Malta and office in England, Italy and Spain, Betclick is the holder of many gaming licenses in the European Union.
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