Playtech has signed a confusing deal to provide Betfair with yet more casino games as well as bingo software to Betfair TV. Confusing in that Betfair has deals with a ton of casino based software suppliers already. It is also quite surprising the proponent of exchange betting is offering games which payers have to beat the house instead of being the punters pal with this kind of content they become the players enemy in some respects.
The betting exchange's Freeview digital channel which is soon to be launched will see Playtech provide its downloadable casino client will run alongside Betfair's existing casino licensing deals with Chartwell and CryptoLogic.
Playtech's bingo software offering considered by many to be inferior as an offering will enable Betfair to run live bingo games alongside the roulette games already running on its free-to-air TV channel. Blackjack and poker games are also in the pipeline. Contradicting earlier reports that surfaced on the Internet prior to the official announcement, a Betfair spokesperson emphasised that Betfair was not launching a new online bingo site running on Playtech's bingo software platform, or poker on Playtech's iPoker network though this will no doubt be where the deal leads if it is successful.
Playtech chief executive officer Mor Weizer said his company was "excited to be working with such a like-minded business which revolutionised the gaming industry." Now Playtech have Betfair on board next stop Ladbrokes? Then they will have a lock on the space - Playtech's share price has gone from strength to strength since this release.
