WEBMASTER NEWS
POKERSTARS SPORTS
BETTING SERVICE GOES LIVE
IN UK
Amaya-owned online gaming
brand PokerStars has launched its
new internet sports betting service
in the UK market.
Powered by the PokerStars 7
software, the new operation was
open in time for customers to
place bets on the English FA Cup
final between Arsenal and Aston
Villa in May.
The service is currently only
accepting bets on football, tennis,
basketball, ice hockey, rugby
union, volleyball and handball, but
adverts on the site suggest that
this will be expanded to other
sports in the near future.
Customers are able to access
the sports betting service through
the PokerStars 7 client on desktop
as well as both Android and iOS
mobile devices.
The operator also noted that
customers can use their existing
PokerStars login details to access
the sports betting service and that
there is no need to create a new
account.
PokerStars took its first sports
bet on 31 March as it began rolling
out a beta version of the platform
in select markets, CEO David
Baazov revealed during the
company’s Q4 2014 earnings call
later that day.
PLAYTECH TO ACQUIRE
PLUS500
Gaming software and services
supplier Playtech has struck a deal
to acquire the entire issued
ordinary share capital of Plus500 in
a deal that values the Israeli spread
betting company at approximately
£459.6 million (€641.5 million/$702
million).
Under the agreement, due to be
completed by the end of
September this year, Plus500
shareholders will be entitled to
receive 400 pence per Plus500
share in cash.
Playtech said the agreement
represents a “unique” opportunity
for the company, due to Plus500’s
market reach, advanced
technology, product offering, and
its existing relationships with
customers around the world.
The firm noted it intends to
combine Plus500 with its recently
acquired TradeFX service in order
to utilise the strengths of both
businesses and maximise market
opportunities
8
iGB Affiliate Issue 51 JUNE/JULY 2015
NEVADA GOVERNOR SIGNS NEW BILLS TO
BOOST SPORTS BETTING INDUSTRY
NEVADA GOVERNOR Brian Sandoval has
signed two new bills that could help boost
the US state’s sports betting industry.
According to the Las Vegas ReviewJournal newspaper, the state’s sports
betting industry already attracts
approximately $3.9 billion (€3.5 billion)
in wagers each year.
Senate Bill 443 will authorise the
formulation of business entities to place
race and sports pool wagers, with investors
allowed to join business entities and share
profits and losses from large wagers at
Nevada sports books.
In addition, Senate Bill 445 will enable
Nevada books to set the betting lines and
manage facilities in other jurisdictions.
Several market analysts suggest the two
new bills could help triple the amount
wagered at sports books in the state during
the next five years.
Sports book operator CG Technology,
which lobbied lawmakers and worked
with regulators on the language for both
bills, said the new law will allow Nevada
bookmakers to move into other states
should sport betting become more widely
regulated in the US.
DAFABET NETS SUNDERLAND SHIRT
SPONSORSHIP DEAL
ONLINE BETTING and gaming company
Dafabet has struck a deal to become the
new principal partner of English Premier
League football club Sunderland.
Although the length of the new
partnership was not disclosed, it was
confirmed that the deal will begin in the
2015-16 season.
Under the agreement, Dafabet will benefit
from branding placement on the front of
player’s home and away shirts.
Dafabet is already active in the Premier
League market through existing deals
with Everton and 2015 FA Cup runner-up
Aston Villa.
“Our regional identity sits proudly at the
heart of Sunderland AFC but increasing
our global footprint is also key as we look to
continue to grow and strengthen the football
club for the future,” Sunderland chief
executive Margaret Byrne said.
“Our partnership with Dafabet will open
up new markets for us and we welcome
them warmly to our Sunderland family.”
Dimitris Karatzas, managing director
of online betting and gaming at Dafabet,
added: “We are continuing to increase our
presence in football for the 2015-16 season
and partnering with Sunderland is the
latest step forward.”
JUMPMAN GAMING LINKS UP WITH INCOME
ACCESS
JUMPMAN GAMING, a software
company that operates a number of
online bingo brands in the UK, has
entered into a partnership with affiliate
software supplier Income Access.
Licensed by the UK Gambling
Commission and the Alderney Gambling
Control Commission, Jumpman operates
over 30 online bingo brands such as
‘Lights Camera Bingo’, ‘Showreel Bingo’
and ‘Elf Bingo’.
Under the new agreement, Jumpman
will migrate its B2C bingo brands’ affiliate
programme onto an affiliate management
platform both developed and managed by
Income Access.
Jumpman will also integrate Ad
Serving and mobile-tracking solutions
supplied by Income Access.
The integration of Jumpman Gaming’s
affiliate programme on the Income
Access software is due to be completed
next month, with the affiliate programme
scheduled to be re-launched at the same
time.
“When we focused on expanding our
affiliate programme, there was really only
one choice when it came to selecting a
new platform – Income Ac