Playtech licenses Party Gaming

The news that Party Gaming is to acquire Empire Online and Intercontinental Online Gaming - subject to shareholder approval - has been followed with a statement from online casino and poker software developer Playtech that it has concluded a long term agreement with Party for the continued use of its software to run the newly acquired gaming websites.

The firm said the agreement will come into effect after Party Gaming completes the acquisition of both businesses and assets from, and will be in exclusive force for 4 years.

Chief executive of Playtech Avigur Zmora said his company's software will compliment Party Gaming's existing products and provide additional sources of revenue.

The Party Gaming acquisition deal in late December involved the acquisition of Internet assets from Empire Online for GBP19.2 million, and those of IOG for around GBP14 million. Party Gaming said at the time that the two deals would help increase its earnings by more than GBP4 million this year.

The changes in U.S. gambling laws and total ban on internet-based betting financial transactions in that country have severely affected Party Gaming and it is now using the merger and acquisition route to build up its business in other regions.