The consideration has not been disclosed, but in a statement Monday Virgin Games & Gamesys confirmed that the former has been acquired by the Gamesys group.
The two online gambling companies revealed that Gamesys intends to leverage the powerful Virgin brand to internationally develop social & real money gaming options. Gamesys already has a partnership with Facebook in the Bingo Freindzy & Slots Friendzy online gambling project in the UK (see previous reports).
The deal marks the end of the Virgin Group's sole ownership of Virgin Games, which was spectacularly launched in 2004 in London. The site went on to clinch a variety of gaming content deals with top industry suppliers, offering its players a wide choice of internet gambling options through a diversity of delivery channels.
Whether Gamesys will retain all or some of the Virgin Games experienced staff is not yet clear; Gamesys itself has a large & highly experienced workforce & management.
The position should be clarified within the next few weeks as the companies engage in a consultative process, but Gamesys has already made it known that there will be changes to the underlying platform to better integrate with Gamesys' own proprietary technical structures, followed by a site re-launch before the end of Q1-2013.
Gamesys has become a respected group in the industry, growing from a start-up in 2001, when it was founded by current chief Noel Mayden, Robin Tombs & Andrew Dixon, along with four software developers.
The hugely popular Jackpotjoy.com gaming proposition was launched the following year, & was an immediate success, enabling the group to franchise 250 white label versions to many major companies.
The group now includes Gamesys Limited, Mice & Dice Limited, Profitable Play Limited & Leisure Spin Limited undertaking software development, its own group marketing, & UK & non-UK online gambling site operations, the latter two based in Gibraltar.
In 2011 Gamesys gross revenues rose 27 percent to GBP 125 million, & this year there have been persistent rumours that the company, which has long been regarded as one of Britain's top online gambling firms, could be the target for a big-money acquisition by unnamed suitors.
Instead, Gamesys has itself done the acquiring in the Virgin Games deal.
In 2012 Jackpotjoy went international with sites in Belgium & Sweden joining its Spanish version Botemania, which was launched five years earlier & has been doing well in the newly liberated Spanish market. The Bingo & Slot Friendzy deal with Facebook gave the company added gravitas in the market, enhancing its already strong reputation for professionalism & integrity-driven conduct.
8/1/2013, 9:47 pm