SPORTECH MOVES INTO PROFIT
30 March 2007
And announces some interesting partnerships, too
UK public company Sportech plc published an encouraging
set of full year results this week, showcasing a
positive move into profit flowing from some radical
refocusing and restructuring.
The parent group for the famous Littlewoods football
pools brand saw pre-tax profit rise to an impressive GBP
9.1million (US$18 million) compared to a loss last year
of GBP 600 000. Operating profit rose to GBP 15.5
million, an increase of GBP 8.6 million on 2005’s
figure.
On the online operations front, operating profit rose to
GBP 1 million in a significant improvement after three
successive periods of falling numbers in the division.
Sportech has also announced two separate deals with
Orbis and Scientific Games. A company spokesman said the
deals would help it develop the future integration of
gaming machines and EPOS systems in a retail
environment. The company added it was in discussions
with a number of retail-led third parties “to
significantly increase our distribution”.
The Orbis deal was particularly noteworthy from an
online gambling perspective, and involves the provision
of the Orbis Openbet
comprehensive back office management and marketing tools
as well as a variety of casino style and fixed odds
games content.
The games will be launched on Sportech's new gaming
portal later this year, and will be delivered from Orbis'
OpenBet Fixed Odds Games and OpenBet Casino modules. The
OpenBet system enables players to benefit from a
significant number of graphically rich games whilst
providing a singular log in and wallet process for ease
of use and seamless game play.
The 'One Account, One Wallet' solution will provide the
Sportech with much better clarity on all its customer
data held in one central database, said the spokesman,
pointing out this will facilitate data-mining and
segmentation for improved marketing services.
Using the Marketing module Sportech will be able to
operate and manage a new affiliate programme, create and
monitor marketing campaigns and deliver player
promotions, gaining the ability to cross-market
seamlessly between different platforms and products,
thus reducing player churn and gaining higher customer
retention.
Commenting on the partnership, Ian Penrose, Chief
Executive of Sportech, said: "Following a strategic
review the company is committed to reinvigorating the
football pools and games business by providing an
enhanced customer experience, new and advanced channels
of distribution and ultimately extending its offering to
new audiences.
"The partnership with Orbis will allow us to give our
customers new, dynamic and exciting e-gaming products,
as well as enable us to improve our product marketing to
existing and new audiences, providing a solid platform
for growth."
Orbis, a company in the British NDS group, recently
clinched important online gambling deals with the
Australian online casino Lasseters, and with Brtain's
SkyTV network interactive TV and online poker project.
The Scientific Games agreement will provide football
pools ('pari-mutuel') services, technology development
and related IT consultancy services which will enable
Sportech to become more operationally efficient on a
modern technology
infrastructure and will facilitate future integration
onto gaming machines and EPOS systems in the retail
environment.
Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa
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