PLAYTECH PREPARES FOR LEGALISATION OF FRENCH ONLINE
GAMBLING MARKET
5 June 2009
Online gambling software developer will make
its initial moves through Chili Poker
Industry observers opined that something was in the air
when the Playtech-powered Chili Poker.com online poker
room inked an agreement with the French telecomms
powerhouse Iliad in February this (2009) year. This week
Playtech plc made an announcement which showed what the
endgame was.
The gambling software developer and
provider revealed that it has signed an agreement with
Chilipoker to become a direct licensee - marking the
strengthening of Playtech's presence in the
soon-to-be-regulated French market. Chilipoker, which
had been running on the Playtech platform as a sub
licensee through one of Playtech's licensees and will
become a direct licensee following its significant
growth in the last few years.
Chilipoker is a key
strategic licensee given its knowledge and presence in
the French gaming market, the statement informs. It's
agreeement with Iliad's 'Free', the second largest
internet service provider in France, to provide its
gaming services and brands to its 12 million users gives
the company a major edge in the region. The growth of
the Chili Poker brand has also been cemented by a three
year deal with World Poker Tour to set up televised
events in Marrakech, and by its official sponsorship of
the World Poker Congress in 2008.
The Playtech
announcement says that the deal with Chili Poker
"...reaffirms Playtech's ongoing strategy to diversify
into newly regulated markets. France has recently
published draft regulations on internet gambling which
upon approval by Parliament, will take effect in January
2010."
Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer of
Playtech, commented: "We are delighted to have
consolidated our relationship with Chilipoker in
reaching an agreement for it to become a direct
licensee. The French gaming market offers huge potential
for gaming operators, and we will be looking more
closely at establishing our foothold here in advance of
the gambling regulation coming into force next year."
Chili's deal with Iliad was something of a coup. The
company boasts a subscriber base in excess of 4.2
million and a reach of 12 million users, and Chili has
ambitions to leverage the agreement to gain entry to the
French market once opened, initially with its online
poker offering followed by betting and bingo facilities
before the end of the year 2010.
Chilli CEO
Alexandre Dreyfus, commented: “We have been looking to
partner with a major group for some time in order to
move onto the French market in the best conditions. We
are not marketing our products in France at the moment
out of respect for the regulatory situation there. But
as soon as the market opens up, we will be able to make
use of the marketing and technical firepower provided by
Free."
Dreyfus stressed that Iliad has not taken
a stake in Chili Gaming. “It will be a joint offer for
poker and sports bets with Chilipoker- and Chilibet-branded
products,” he said.
Iliad is also in the process
of obtaining a 3G licence which multiplies business
opportunities, especially for Playtech's mobile gambling
interests. The telecomm group's turnover grew 29 percent
in 2008 to Euro1.5 billion.
Online Casino News Courtesy of
Infopowa
More news here.
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