Sportster Bet and Win
, the social sports betting app developed by Nordeus in partnership with the bwin.party-backed social gaming studio Win Interactive, is to be shut down at the end of January, four months after its launch.
The closure of the Facebook game comes weeks after bwin.party announced that it was in discussions regarding the potential sale of social gaming unit Win development studios.
A communication was sent to Sportster customers that says, “Dear users, we are sorry to inform you that we are shutting Sportster down on January 30th. Please note that you will not be able to log into the game after the scheduled date.”
The social betting game was launch on September 30, a collaboration between game publisher Nordeus and bwin.party’s social gaming development studio Win, aiming to extend the sports betting operators’ social coverage and product portfolio.
Scientific signed with UK-based Mecca Bingo Ltd.
Scientific Games has signed a five-year agreement with UK-based Mecca Bingo Ltd. to provide the server-based gaming solution to Mecca Bingo clubs across the UK.
The server-based gaming platform is powered by technology partner Videobet, a Playtech company and an exclusive content from SG Gaming library along with Clarity, T8 and Triple 7 cabinets.
The new strategic partnership will provide Mecca with SG Gaming’s content library which consists of Category B3, Category C games and community games across a range of cabinets. Established titles, such as the recent Monopoly Hot Properties, and WMS titles The Wizard of Oz Over the Rainbow, Zeus II and Black Knight, will also be available.
The server-based gaming solution will also include the execution of a fully-networked terminal base that will offer operational efficiencies through ticket redemption stations and ticket in, ticket out (TITO) functionality. The Company’s sophisticated business intelligence tools will provide data insight and analysis. This will enable planned focused activity such as promotions and utilization of the platform tools including tournament functionality and tracked free play awards, which will be key for the launch of the gaming solution package.
The deal will be effective in the early part of 2015 and will see SG Gaming and Mecca implement a comprehensive installation plan, involving a combination of terminal upgrades, venue network infrastructure and new terminal installations. This will be supported by a fully integrated training program for staff.
“We are delighted that Mecca has chosen SG Gaming to be their supplier of choice for server-based gaming. This is a groundbreaking deal that represents a major step forward for the bingo sector,” said Phil Horne, group managing director of SG Gaming UK.
