May 11, 2010 (CAP PR Wire) — Microgaming (www.microgaming.com), the world’s largest provider of online gaming software, has announced a joint venture with 888 Holdings plc which, subject to the necessary licence approvals, will deliver a French Poker network that will benefit from a shared pool of player liquidity on a single platform.
This venture will see the combination of Microgaming’s world-class software, with 888 Holdings plc first class technological and marketing capabilities to provide a French Poker Network that is aiming to rapidly become established as one of the leading Poker offerings in the French Market.
Gigi Levy, CEO, 888 Holdings plc comments: “This deal marks a turning point in the industry with big networks collaborating in newly regulated markets to create a shared pool of liquidity, benefiting customers and assisting in rapidly generating large poker networks in each market.
“Once we have obtained the required licence and the French market is operational, this represents a strategic opportunity for us. It provides us with the ideal platform to secure a meaningful market share in France which is set to become one of the key poker markets in Europe. This is an important step in the development of the industry, and marks the start of European regulated companies collaborating in the poker field to increase their competitiveness.”
Roger Raatgever, CEO, Microgaming comments: “We are delighted to be working with 888 to deliver a poker solution to the French market. We look forward to combining our wealth of experience and knowledge to bring the highest global standards to the local market.
“We are working hard to ensure quick and seamless integration of our software, and are fully committed to the French market, ensuring that we are fully compliant with all French regulatory standards.”
For further information or screen shots of the game please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Lizzi Malley / Lyndsay Haywood
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
DuncanS@lansons.com / LizziM@lansons.com / LyndsayH@lansons.com
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme, that averages 60 games per year and a unique ‘partnership’ approach to working with operators;
Microgaming software powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The company’s front and back-end software supports multi-player, multi-language games – over 450 of them, all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the world’s largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out over €265million. In May 2009 it created the biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment win of €6.37m.
As a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the forefront of an initiative focused on setting the highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been awarded eCOGRA’s Certified Software Seal following a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development, implementation and maintenance of the software is representative of industry best practice standards Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.