Kambi enters Spain; Aspers to cast dragon adrift; Plumbee appoints former Betfair man

kambi aspersKambi Sports Solutions has signed a contract with one of Spain’s leading casino groups ahead of the market opening. Unibet’s B2B arm will provide a sports betting service to Grupo Acrismatic with the initial contract lasting for two years. Under the terms Acrismatic can offer online, mobile and retail sports betting with the launch expected to take place before the start of next season in late August 2012. Kristian Nylén, CEO Kambi, commented: “It is excellent news for us that, in competition with other suppliers, we have been selected as a supplier to one of Spain’s leading casino groups. By using Kambi’s sportsbook solution, Acrismatic will be perfectly positioned to compete profitably and successfully in the re-regulated Spanish sports betting market.”

Aspers could close one of their four UK casinos with their one Welsh venue facing the chop. The casino firm, which only last year opened the UK’s largest casino in London, will start a 90-day consultation this week with staff to say their Swansea casino business is “not commercially viable”. It was built back in 2007 at a cost of £13 million with the hope that it would gain one of the UK’s new casino licences. The small casino licence, which would have let them do more with the venue, still hasn’t come up for tender and five years on they’ve failed to attract the estimated 10,000 weekly visitors expected. 100 jobs could be lost if the venue ends up closing.

Social casino start-up Plumbee has added a gaming industry specialist to their board. Former Betfair and King.com CFO Owen O’Donnell joins up as an independent non-executive director and will stay on in a similar role on the board of Rank Group. The London-based firm is backed by VC and was founded back in July last year.