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14 Dec 2012 07:00
14 December 2012
bwin.party digital entertainment plc
('bwin.party' or the 'Company' and, together with its subsidiaries, the 'Group')
Belgian alliance with Groupe Partouche
bwin.party is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Belcasinos SA ('Belcasinos'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Partouche SA ('Partouche'), the largest owner of land-based casinos in Belgium. Under the terms of the agreement, bwin.party intends to collaborate with Belcasinos to offer online sports betting, poker and casino games using bwin.party's leading brands to consumers in Belgium.
Belcasinos is one of only four land-based casino operators that are eligible to apply for the requisite licence to operate online poker and casino in Belgium. Partouche already operates its own online casino in Belgium using one of four licences that it may apply for and expects to be successful in obtaining one of the licences required to also operate online sports betting.
While the commercial terms are not being disclosed, they are consistent with similar agreements that the Group has secured in other territories.
The Group is pleased to announce it has received approval for its relationship with Belcasinos from the Belgian Gambling Commission (the 'Commission'). In addition, the Commission has begun the process of removing the Group's sites from its blacklist. The Group and the Commission have also agreed to drop all pending legal disputes and the Group has begun to adapt its systems in order to comply fully with the prevailing licensing regime.
Commenting on today's announcement, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEOs of bwin.party, said:
"We are excited to have reached an agreement with Partouche to offer our market-leading products under license to consumers in Belgium. Following recent developments in Belgium and after further dialogue with the local regulator, we have put our differences of opinion behind us and are now focused on the immediate commercial opportunity.
"Together with our new partner we are now in the process of securing the necessary approvals to meet the requirements set by the BGC and do not expect any interruption to our service for customers in Belgium."
Jacques Frojman, CEO of Belcasinos and Partouche Belgium, said:
"bwin.party is a market leader in online gaming with strong brands in sports betting, poker and casino. We are thrilled to be working with such a quality partner in Belgium."
Contacts:
bwin.party digital entertainment plc
Investors
Peter Reynolds +44 (0) 20 7337 0100
Media
John Shepherd +44 (0) 20 7337 0100
Notes for editors
About bwin.party
bwin.party digital entertainment plc (LSE: BPTY) is a global online gaming company, formed from the merger of bwin Interactive Entertainment AG and PartyGaming Plc on 31 March 2011. Incorporated, licensed and regulated in Gibraltar, the Group also has licences in France, Italy, Spain and Denmark. With offices in Europe, India, Israel and the US, the Group generated total pro forma revenue of €816.0m and pro forma Clean EBITDA of €199.3m in 2011. For more information go to www.bwinparty.com.
About the Partouche Group
Partouche is listed on the French stock exchange (PART.PA) and operates 49 casinos around the world offering games (slots, traditional games, poker), restaurants and shows. The Group offers to customers the benefits of quality services and well-regulated games areas. Partouche also offers a wide range of hotels, gourmet restaurants, spas, golf courses, beaches and online games. The Partouche group has casinos in many locations including France, Switzerland, Tunisia and four casinos in Belgium. It has 5,600 employees including 344 in Belgium, where it has had a presence since 1995 with the casinos in Chaudfontaine, Dinant, Knokke and Ostend. For more information go to www.partouche.be
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