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And announces some interesting partnerships, too
UK public company Sportech plc published an encouraging set of full year results this week, showcasing a positive move into profit flowing from some radical refocusing and restructuring.
The parent group for the famous Littlewoods football pools brand saw pre-tax profit rise to an impressive GBP 9.1million (US$18 million) compared to a loss last year of GBP 600 000. Operating profit rose to GBP 15.5 million, an increase of GBP 8.6 million on 2005�s figure.
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On the online operations front, operating profit rose to GBP 1 million in a significant improvement after three successive periods of falling numbers in the division.
Sportech has also announced two separate deals with Orbis and Scientific Games. A company spokesman said the deals would help it develop the future integration of gaming machines and EPOS systems in a retail environment. The company added it was in discussions with a number of retail-led third parties �to significantly increase our distribution�.
The Orbis deal was particularly noteworthy from an online gambling perspective, and involves the provision of the Orbis Openbet
comprehensive back office management and marketing tools as well as a variety of casino style and fixed odds games content.
The games will be launched on Sportech's new gaming portal later this year, and will be delivered from Orbis' OpenBet Fixed Odds Games and OpenBet Casino modules. The OpenBet system enables players to benefit from a significant number of graphically rich games whilst providing a singular log in and wallet process for ease of use and seamless game play.
The 'One Account, One Wallet' solution will provide the Sportech with much better clarity on all its customer data held in one central database, said the spokesman, pointing out this will facilitate data-mining and segmentation for improved marketing services.
Using the Marketing module Sportech will be able to operate and manage a new affiliate programme, create and monitor marketing campaigns and deliver player promotions, gaining the ability to cross-market seamlessly between different platforms and products, thus reducing player churn and gaining higher customer retention.
Commenting on the partnership, Ian Penrose, Chief Executive of Sportech, said: "Following a strategic review the company is committed to reinvigorating the football pools and games business by providing an enhanced customer experience, new and advanced channels of distribution and ultimately extending its offering to new audiences.
"The partnership with Orbis will allow us to give our customers new, dynamic and exciting e-gaming products, as well as enable us to improve our product marketing to existing and new audiences, providing a solid platform for growth."
Orbis, a company in the British NDS group, recently clinched important online gambling deals with the Australian online casino Lasseters, and with Brtain's SkyTV network interactive TV and online poker project.
The Scientific Games agreement will provide football pools ('pari-mutuel') services, technology development and related IT consultancy services which will enable Sportech to become more operationally efficient on a modern technology
infrastructure and will facilitate future integration onto gaming machines and EPOS systems in the retail environment.
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