New poker room for Microgaming network

[jetset]

BETSHOP JOINS MICROGAMING'S ONLINE POKER NETWORK

Leisure and Gaming plc subsidiary has a wide membership

Leisure and Gaming plc subsidiary Betshop.com has signed up with the Microgaming Poker Network for its online poker activities, joining a growing number of new additions that have joined the network this year.

Widely regarded as one of the fastest growing European online betting companies, Betshop is targeted primarily at emerging European markets, and operates Betshop.com, a pan-European online service, as well as a land-based franchise network of betting outlets. Land operations include Betshop Italia with over 1 000 franchised licensed betting outlets throughout Italy. Betshop operations are active in a number of European countries, including the UK, Italy, Romania, Cyprus and Greece.

The move to the Microgaming Poker Network provides Betshop with one of the industry's most reliable platforms, instant player liquidity and access to one of the most aggressive tournament schedules on the web.

Betshop group managing director Gabriel Chaleplis says: "Adding poker to our offering is in line with our strategy of adding new products to our rapidly growing online site and franchise network and follows our launch of scratch cards in the Betshop Italia network at the beginning of February. Our focus on emerging markets has given us a rapidly growing base of customers, who are hungry for new products. Although poker is a mature product in Western Europe and the US, many of our users are yet to be exposed to it."

Isle of Man-based Roger Raatgever, CEO Microgaming adds, "Betshop is undoubtedly one of Europe's success stories and we are delighted it has joined our increasingly successful poker network. There has been much talk of developing new markets over the last year, although much of it has focused on Asia, yet we have a wealth of emerging markets on our doorstep. As broadband penetration increases across Europe, it will be those companies who are already tapping the potential that will benefit. We look forward to welcoming greater numbers of players to the network from these emerging European markets."