eGaming Review March 2013 | Page 14

[P R O D U C T NEWS ] BONZA GAMING LAUNCHES REAL-MONEY FACEBOOK OFFERING Company formed through Sportingbet-Plumbee JV releases Bonza Slots Bonza Gaming, the joint venture formed LAUNCHES Paddy Power added to its mobile gaming portfolio with the launch of a new Las Vegas-themed casino app designed specifically for iPad and iPhone devices. Isle of Man-licensed operator PokerStars launched a freeplay by Sportingbet and Plumbee, has signed an agreement with Facebook which will see it join Gamesys and 888 in launching a real-money gaming offering on the platform. The company released Bonza Slots featuring ?ve Net Entertainment games, through an exclusive deal that will see NetEnt provide the operator Facebookoptimised variants of its online games. The agreement was announced late last month with the launch of the app taking place at ICE. It becomes the third operator – and the first non-egaming company – to launch a real-money offering on Facebook, following the launch of Gamesys’ Bingo and Slots Friendzy in August 2012, and 888’s Bingo App, via its social gaming arm Mytopia, in December of the same year. NetEnt chief executive Per Eriksson described the partnership as “a new exciting distribution channel” for his ?rm. “Being selected as Bonza Gaming’s main casino games supplier is yet more proof of the con?dence and trust that is recognised through Net Entertainment’s operational and technical leadership,” he said. The company’s formation was ?rst announced in December last year, described at the time as a move to explore “the real-money, social-gambling arena”. Commenting on the announcement, Bonza chief executive Rick Brownlow said: “We’ve worked closely with the Platform and Advertising teams at Facebook to maximise the value Facebook brings to gaming operators.” poker offering on Facebook, its first app to go live on the social network. Stockholm-listed egaming operator Betsson announced the launch of MyFootball Connect, a mobile social sports app developed in partnership with OneUp Games. Full Tilt Poker launched its dot. eu site under a licence from the Maltese Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA). Scratchcard provider NeoGames announced the launch of a new bingo platform, specifically targeted at national lotteries and regulated markets. BetVictor launched a B2B website showcasing its new products and services. AMAYA LAUNCHES INSTANT REWARDS ON ONGAME NETWORK Early trials show 30% increase in player activity and revenues generated Amaya Gaming has launched its Instant SIGN-UPS Mobile gaming operator Locus Gaming signed a deal to take on Rewards tool allowing players on the Ongame poker network to earn cash prizes and tournament tickets in realtime (see page 9 for more). Players earn prizes for achievements such as winning a hand with pocket aces, with the patent-pending tool aimed predominantly at recreational players across the network. Martin Lerby, Ongame’s director of marketing and operations, told eGaming Review that Instant Rewards is “inspired by the social gaming industry” and its focus on achievements. The tool will ultimately be made available on all sites across the network, but has already been trialled for two months on Paf’s dot.com poker room, with player activity and revenues generated risen by 30% across the test period. Herbert Paradis, head of poker for the Åland-based operator, said “Instant Rewards might be one of the most innovative poker features I have ever seen. Poker players love challenges and this product is well suited to incentivise recreational players.” Ongame head of poker Fredrik Kjell said: “The majority of poker players do not make any money; they play because they love the game of poker. Their goal is entertainment, ful?llment and the sense of mastery of the game.” a live dealer casino suite from specialist Evolution Gaming. 188Bet added poker to its offering for the first time, joining Microgaming’s Poker Network. Microgaming launched a Playboy Live Dealer bringing “bunnies and the high life” to the world of online casinos, according to the supplier. Stockholm-based slots developer Quickspin agreed a deal to provide its content to Gala Interactive’s bingo and casino brands. 14 www.egrmagazine.com