Entain To Launch Virtual Sports Games With Inspired Entertainment
Gambling operator Entain has announced its decision to launch virtual sports games both online and at brick-and-mortar betting shops.
Entain announced the news this week, revealing that developer Inspired Entertainment, which partnered with Microgaming back in April 2020, will provide the games to Entain’s real-life and online brands including Ladbrokes, Coral, Eurobet, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Party Casino, Bet MGM, Bwin, Sportingbet, and many others.
Virtual sports are sports games, usually horse racing or football, which are completely virtual and based on fictional players. Virtual games can be wagered on, just like with real-life sports games, but virtual games occur every few minutes and include life-like sound effects.
Inspired Entertainment’s virtual game selection includes NFL football, traditional football, horse racing, greyhound racing, basketball, cricket, tennis, motor racing, and plenty more. Much of Inspired Gaming’s virtual sports game come in numerous variations, although it’s unclear which titles will be made available with Entain brands.
Entain Chief Operating Officer Sandeep Tiku said in a statement to iGamingBusiness: “Inspired has been a trusted key supplier and their virtuals have proven to be very popular with our customers in both our retail and via our interactive platforms. We have been impressed with their continued innovation in virtuals, and we are excited that even more of our customers will be able to enjoy Inspired’s best-in-class content for the first time.”
Inspired Entertainment’s President and Chief Operating Officer Brooks Pierce added: “Inspired and Entain have been collaborating closely for the past decade through a successful partnership in both the online and retail channels. This new agreement is testament to the strength of our offerings, and we look forward to extending our long-standing relationship and opening it up to new territories for Inspired, including North America, with Entain’s recognised brands.”
The announcement comes as Entain continues to make headlines regarding acquisitions. Earlier this month, US casino operator MGM Resorts International announced a takeover offer for Entain, a proposal Entain rejected and claimed “undervalued” the company. Entain’s rejection of the offer then led MGM Resorts to pull its offer and announce that it will not be pursuing a takeover.
Meanwhile, Entain proposed a takeover offer to Swedish betting operator Enlabs, and although the proposal was recommended by the Independent Bid Committee of Enlabds, the offer was rejected by large shareholder and Texas hedge fund Alta Fox Capital Management who said it has no plans on selling shares to Entain based on the operator’s current offering.
Gaming Realms Signs New Agreement With BetMGM
This week, Gaming Realms announced a three-year expansion to its partnership with BetMGM, allowing the game developer to expand across the United States. Under the new agreement, Gaming Realms will supply its selection of slingo content to BetMGM Casino, a join online casino venture by Entain and MGM Resorts, in the states of Pennsylvania and Michigan.
As reported by Gambling Insider, Gaming Realms hopes to launch its slingo titles in Pennsylvania and Michigan within the first half of 2021 after having recently launched with BetMGM in New Jersey. It’s also expressed hope its agreement with BetMGM will help boost its access to other US states in the coming years.
Gaming Realms already possesses a valid supplier license from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) after online gambling launched in the state on January 22.
Gaming Realms Executive Chairman Michael Buckley said in a statement to GamblingInsider: “The new deal will allow us to work more closely with BetMGM going forward and will bring our hugely popular slingo content to an even great segment of the US market.”
BetMGM Gaming VP Matthew Sunderland added: “We’ve found a great partner with Gaming Realms nad our new agreement demonstrates our commitment to delivering next-level gaming experiences. BetMGM Casino players in New Jersey have embraced Gaming Realms’ Slingo portfolio, and we anticipate a similar reaction as we roll out Gaming Realms’ content throughout the US.”
Last year, Gaming Realms struck an agreement with Sky Betting & Gambling (SBG) to expand its player reach throughout the United Kingdom. Under the three-year agreement, Gaming Realms will supply its slingo titles to all of SBG’s gambling brands. In addition, Gaming Realms also struck an agreement with DraftKings, allowing the developer to offers it slingo games to the operator’s New Jersey gambling site.
BetBull And beBettor Announce New Partnership
Gaming Realms and BetMGM aren’t the only companies striking partnerships. This week, mobile sportsbook and casino website operator BetBull announced a partnership with beBettor, a responsible gambling data platform, to improve customer affordability checks.
Under the partnership, BetBull will use beBettor’s affordability API to automatically carry out instant affordability checks for all customers based in the United Kingdom. The service will allow BetBull to “better understand” its customers and to improve tailored protection for all customers. It will also identify at-risk players and allow BetBull to provide them with the help required.
Ian Tannock, the Head of Safer Gambling at BetBull, said in a statement to InterGameOnline: “We are delighted to be working with beBettor on affordability. We’ve been really impressed with the beBettor team, and their friendly support and approach has been first class. It was a major factor in our decision to proceed with integrating beBettor’s affordability solution.”
Scott McGregor, the COO at beBettor, added: “It is great for us to announce our new partnership with BetBull who are at the cutting edge of the industry today. We have really enjoyed working with the BetBull team who are integrating the new affordability data we provide into their next-generation safer gambling frameworks.”
The partnership between beBettor and BetBull comes amid the UK Government’s review of the Gambling Act 2005 which will see the Government consider various changes into the online and real-life gambling industry, including further affordability checks, an end to sports sponsorships, stake limits, and more.