Gamesys Buys Virgin Games to Expand Gambling, Social Games Globally

Gamesys, operator of Jackpotjoy.com bingo site, said it has acquired the assets of Virgin Games to expand real-money and social gambling games in the UK and abroad.
The price for acquiring Virgin Games, founded in 2004, from Richard Branson’s Virgin Group was undisclosed.

“We’ve looked at the business for some time, and we’re great admirers of the Virgin brand,” Gamesys’ chief operating officer Lee Fenton told GamblingCompliance.
Virgin Games, which is licensed in Alderney and Malta, currently offers online casino, poker, slots and bingo, but Fenton said it does not have any social games.
Privately-held Gamesys plans to relaunch the Virgin Games site in the UK by the end of March, and it will be adding its own content to Virgin’s site, Fenton said.
He added that Gamesys will expand the Virgin Games label outside the UK but is still deciding which countries it will target and what kind of games it will introduce.

Virgin launched online poker in Italy in 2009 with a star-studded charity gala but struggled to take market share from leaders such as Italian lottery Lottomatica and online rivals PokerStars and Bwin.Party.
London-based Gamesys, founded in 2001, operates games for content providers including Sun Bingo. Last year it launched Facebook’s first real-money gambling app, Bingo & Slots Friendzy.
It held 11.5 percent of the UK online casino market in 2011, second to bookmaker William Hill, and 10.5 percent of the UK online bingo market, according to GamblingData.
“We are delighted the Gamesys Group has acquired Virgin Games and formed a partnership to build a global games business,” said Virgin Group founder Richard Branson in a statement.
“With many new opportunities opening up across the world, it was important to attract a new partner to capitalise the power of the Virgin brand,” Virgin Games chief executive Simon Burridge said.
Last year Burridge predicted the point where social gaming meets cash gambling is where the “high ground” for growth will be in the future.
Oakvale Capital advised Virgin in the Gamesys deal.

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