SPO.L Regulatory News (SPO)

25 Apr 2005 07:00

Sportech PLC25 April 2005 Sportech announces launch of Bet Direct Casino & Poker website Sportech PLC ("Sportech"), owner of Littlewoods Gaming, announces the launch ofwww.betdirectcasino.com and www.betdirectpoker.com. The Bet Direct brandedonline casino and poker will further enhance Sportech's existing interactivebetting product portfolio, which already includes the successfulLittlewoodscasino.com and Littlewoodspoker.com sites. A suite of over 30 games will be immediately marketed to the 300,000+ registeredBet Direct player base. The new product portfolio includes an instant casino,catering for betting customers looking for gaming entertainment between sportsevents. Bet Direct Poker players will benefit from joining the IPN network ofBoss Poker rooms, giving an instant liquidity to the poker room from one of theworld's top 10 leading poker networks. Bet Direct players now have access to a wide-ranging product offer on internet,television and, since late March, mobile, via a single electronic wallet. Sportech engaged Boss Media, the renowned international online casino developer,to develop Bet Direct's casino and poker website. Boss Media has significantexperience in the sector and specialises in providing tailor-made solutionsbased on innovative casino and poker applications. The casino and poker siteswill operate from the Netherlands Antilles which is the existing location of theLittlewoods branded sites. Roger Withers, Acting Managing Director of Sportech PLC, said: "We have already established a strong presence in the burgeoning online casinoand poker market place. Sportech's Littlewoods Gaming casino and poker websitesare growing strongly and, given the wide cross-marketing opportunitiesavailable, we are confident that the new Bet Direct products will enjoy the samesuccess. This is a very exciting time for Sportech as we continue to develop ourinteractive product and distribution portfolio focusing on profit generation." Robert Skogh, Sales Director at Boss Media, said: "We are very pleased to be working with Sportech to provide Bet Direct with acasino and poker solution. Given our experience from customised integratedgaming solutions, and Sportech's extensive experience from gaming operations, wesee great potential in this cooperation." - ends - Enquiries Sportech PLCRoger Withers, Acting Managing DirectorGary Speakman, Finance Director 0151 288 3117 Bell Pottinger Corporate & FinancialDavid Rydell / Charlotte Kirkham 020 7861 3232 Notes to Editors Sportech PLC Sportech PLC provides a variety of betting and gaming opportunities to over 1.7mcustomers through Littlewoods Gaming, the UK's leading home gaming company.Sportech is developing Littlewoods Gaming through the utilisation of newchannels of distribution to bring more games to more players in the home,capitalising on the strengths of the well-known and trusted Littlewoods brand. The Littlewoods Gaming portfolio of products includes: football pools andfootball games, sports betting, charity lotteries, on-line casino and poker andentertainment games. Products are available on interactive television, on-line,via telephone, post, retail outlets and a UK network of collectors who visitcustomers in their homes. Sportech PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visitwww.sportechplc.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange