Online gaming software company Playtech posted a 51 percent rise in annual gross income with a large debt of thanks owed to their online joint venture with William Hill. Gross income for 2012 hit €368.1million with revenues rising by 53 percent to €317.5m and €50.6m coming from their share of William Hill Online’s (WHO) profit. Revenue for the fourth quarter was also released, which showed a 20 percent rise to €83.9m with the casino business showing a big rise of 27 percent.
Commenting on the results CEO Mor Weizer said: “As a result of the impressive performance in Q4 and since the beginning of the year, the board is very comfortable with market expectations for the full year and looks forward to 2013 with confidence.”
The company, which is owned by ex-con Teddy Sagi, now waits to hear what the banks value their stake of WHO at and see whether William Hill plays ball in making a bid.
Belgium has added another four names to its online gambling industry black list. The list, published on the Belgian Gaming Commission’s website, now includes betwingo.com, scratchmania.com, wataro.com and jeuxcash.rtl.be and the four join a number of Europe’s public companies, such as Betfair, bet365, bwin.party and William Hill on the list.
Nevada licensed Z4 Gaming has appointed John English as its senior VP of business development and public relations. His role will see him responsible for developing and maintaining the relationships that will be crucial to the firm’s infrastructure and global growth as well as their public relations initiatives. The company got a Nevada Gaming Commission online licence at the back end of last year and the plan is to offer poker, bingo and keno on their platform on all manner of mobile and online mediums. David Colvin, CEO of Z4, added: “John is the right individual to assist us in taking Z4 to the global gaming community. His strength and understanding of the marketplace as well as his knowledge of cutting edge technology will give us a great advantage in the interactive gaming space.”
Malta-based World Match has signed an agreement with Chess Plus International to distribute their games to the African market. The company’s games will be available through their Surebet247.com site with Nigeria set to be the first country to benefit from the company’s inroads.
According to Chess Plus CEO Sheriff Olaniyan, Surebet247.com is currently the only company with a casino platform in the country, and commenting on the continent as a whole he added: “African market is a virgin and dynamic market and online gaming is at the teething period: the awareness is just been created by Surebet247.com and people are really responding to it. More people are now familiar with Internet and mobile gaming platform and is picking up gradually. Basic understanding of football betting is there and casino is a new game, people want something new and lots of questions were been asked on how to play our casino. Therefore I think the Sport Betting is pulling the casino along into the future”.
