MALAYSIAN GAMBLING HEAVYWEIGHT ENTERS INTERNET SECTOR

27 June 2008

Genting International to start online casino operations tomorrow (Friday)


The Malaysian gambling group Genting International, which owns Stanley Leisure and has been buying chunks of Rank plc stock this year, is about to enter the online gambling sector with a casino and poker venue branded CircusCasino.com and Circus Poker.co.uk, commencing operations tomorrow (Friday).

Already the subject of much speculation (see previous InfoPowa reports) the Alderney-licensed operation will be Genting's first foray into the world of Internet gambling, reports Reuters. Industry sources told Reuters that the $17 billion Malaysian firm is also keen to use the new site as a testing ground for potential launches in Asia, where a number of countries are in the process of reviewing online gambling rules.

Before being bought by Genting in 2006, Stanley struggled with a number of costly attempts to build its own Internet betting site. This time the firm has opted to buy the online poker and casino software from London listed Playtech.

Genting will have solid cross-marketing opportunities to promote the new operation through a database of members that play in its land casinos.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa