Rank Regulatory News (RNK)

13 Mar 2008 07:00

888 Holdings plc13 March 2008 888 Holdings Plc ('888' or the 'Company') 888 Announces UK and European launch of sports betting offering 888, one of the world's most popular online gaming entertainment companiesannounces the launch of www.888sport.com ("888sport"), a pan-European sportsbetting offering, developed with Blue Square, the interactive gaming and bettingdivision of Rank Group Plc. The offering is being launched today, simultaneously, in the UK, Germany,Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Austria. 888sport is now part of 888's unifiedentertainment offering of Casino, Poker, Bingo and Backgammon. 888sport will be offered in five languages; English, Spanish, German, Swedishand Danish and will include editorial content and sports and betting selections,each tailored and localized per country. 888sport will also feature livein-running betting and will cover many sports fields including: • UK and Irish horseracing • UK, European and international football • Greyhound racing • Golf • Cricket • Rugby • Tennis • Other novelty events such as Big Brother Today's launch enables 888 to fulfil its strategy of cross-selling its newsports betting services to its existing customer base whilst leveraging itsrobust multi-channel marketing engines to acquire new sportsbook customersglobally. Gabi Campos, Senior VP, Head of Offering for 888 said: "We are delighted to offer our customers an international betting experiencewith endless options to take part in sports events, whether live, seasonal or inthe future. Our international launch reinforces 888's strategy of creating alarge community of people consuming entertainment content online. Thecomplementary skills and work cultures of the 888 and Blue Square teams mean weare confident of completing a global rollout by the end of 2008." Martin Belsham, Managing Director of Blue Square said: "Blue Square has earned a strong reputation in the UK for innovation ininteractive betting and gaming. Today marks the company's first move overseas,bringing together Blue Square's market-leading sports betting products with888's international brand strength. The launch of a multi-lingual sportsbook ispart of our strategy to access a broader customer base by developing andmarketing gaming and sports betting products for the international marketplace." - ends - Contacts and enquiries: 888 Gigi Levy, Chief Executive Officer +350 49 800Aviad Kobrine, Chief Financial Officer +350 49 800 Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Ann-marie Wilkinson / Nick Lambert / Andrew Benbow +44 (0) 20 7861 3232 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange