Grand Prive Group's U.S. Exit (Latest)

November 24, 2008 (InfoPowa News) — Earlier information that the Microgaming-powered Grand Privé online casino group is to depart the U.S. market entirely has been confirmed by recent emails to the group's affiliate marketers making the move official.
 
The email advises that as of December 1st 2008, Grand Privé Affiliates — the program that administers the group's affiliate marketing — will cease to exist with the closing of all U.S. operations. It goes on to assure affiliates that all payments due for November will be made as usual, but that this will be the last payment made by the program.  
 
The email cites recent developments in general trading conditions in the United States as the reason for Grand Prive's departure after several years of operations in the region, concluding that Grand Privé Affiliates is no longer a viable business division.
 
In what seems to be an alternative offering for affiliates, the email announces that a new European-based program, Villa Fortuna Affiliates, is " … up, running and ready to forge a new business relationship with you."
 
But the Microgaming-powered Villa Fortuna Casino.com will handle only non-U.S. business. The new casino is available in English, German, Italian, and French, with Flash casinos currently available in all languages excluding Italian.
 
Italian and Spanish Flash casino software will be added shortly.
 
Affiliate marketers are urged to visit the new Malta-licensed casino into which "Massive capital investment is going to build this new casino to where she rightfully belongs — at the very top of the gaming food chain," the email informs, ending on an optimistic note by anticipating European success following the U.S. departure.
 
It was not clear when InfoPowa went to press as to what arrangements have been made by Grand Prive to keep their soon-to-excluded U.S. players in the loop … or what the exit arrangements will be.