888 Launches Multilingual Online Sportsbook
Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Online-Casinos.com
MULTILINGUAL ONLINE SPORTSBOOK LAUNCHED BY 888.COM
Partnership with Blue Square pays off
The giant Gibraltar-based online gambling group 888.com met its planned launch schedule this week for a new multi-lingual online sportsbook (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa reports). 888sport.com has gone live in the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Austria, with localised versions of the sportsbook in each of those regions.
The launch is the realisation of a goal to provide players with a one-stop-shop for gaming and betting products, and will have appeal for recreational medium to low stakes punters in particular.
888.com group marketing director Matt Robinson said: “888.com’s entrance into the sports betting market represents a significant milestone in the progression of our diversified, multi-channel strategy to grow customer reach and appeal globally. We believe that although our sportsbook addition will result in existing clients betting on sports with us, it will also provide an opportunity for new clients to experience our award winning brand.”
888.com already has sponsorship agreements with the Seville Football Club and the 888.com World Snooker Championships and it will look to these to help promote the new member of the family.
“Sports sponsorship has always been a significant part of 888.com’s marketing strategy and now that we are offering clients an opportunity to bet on activities like football and snooker, we will be looking to offer plenty of markets on Seville FC games and 888.com World Snooker Championship matches in the coming months,” said Robinson.
888sports.com was developed in partnership with Rank group online gambling subsidiary Blue Square, and MD Martin Belsham is confident the deal will strengthen both parties: “We will benefit from 888’s international experience and liquidity as we extend our reach beyond the UK; and 888 will complete their customer offer by adding Blue Square’s innovative range of betting products,” he said at the launch.
