5 Year German Online Gambling Deal for Chartwell

5 YEAR GERMAN ONLINE GAMBLING DEAL FOR CHARTWELL Saxony-licensed online casino operator chooses Canadian gambling software One of the German states will soon have an online casino operation up and running. Calgary-based online gambling software developer Chartwell Technology has revealed that it has been successful in clinching a deal with Spielbanken Niedersachsen GmbH (SNG), the exclusive Lower Saxony state licensed and regulated casino operator, for an online gaming system. SNG plans to launch its Internet gambling venture to complement its existing landbased business. The agreement is for five years and calls for the initial launch of both casino and soft games, with provision for the roll-out of additional gaming products to SNG sister companies as and when locally permissible in Germany. The launch of the Flash technology casino is scheduled for early next (May) month, with a preview currently available at www.casinoland.de Owned by leading international gaming operator Casinos Austria International, which itself has been involved in online poker development with Sweden's Svenske Spel and Boss Media recently (see previous InfoPowa reports), Spielbanken Niedersachsen has been providing games of chance to the people of the German Federal State of Lower Saxony for almost 20 years. Last year SNG's gross win exceeded Euro 94 million. The company holds the exclusive state licence to offer internet gaming to the residents of Lower Saxony, the second largest German state, with a population of 8 million inhabitants. "We are delighted to provide our gaming system for SNG's launch into online gaming" said Darold H. Parken, President and CEO of Chartwell.  "We have gained an exceptional industry partner with a well established gaming business, helping to ensure our future growth in the key regulated German market. It has always been our strategy to align Chartwell with blue-chip licensed operators, and in SNG we have a perfect example" Parken said, adding: "Chartwell went through an extensive vetting process to win this contract with SNG. Our software and people passed the test and we are extremely excited with the opportunity to work with SNG in this growing gaming market." Rainer Chrubassik, CEO of SNG commented: "We shall be launching Germany's first legal virtual casino, and are required by law to ensure the highest standards of security. With Chartwell as our partner we can fulfil our obligations in this respect, while at the same time offering an outstandingly attractive range of products. The intense process of system implementation has been a great challenge to all of us, but one we have succeeded in mastering. The project is unique in Germany and will point the way for future developments." The advent of the German online casino project will be watched with interest by the European Commission, which has been pressuring Germany and 9 other EU members to open up their online gambling industries to private companies both within the country and in other EU nations.