iGaming Business – Online gambling company Betfair has signed up to the internet cash transaction service of online cash payments provider Ukash. The arrangement will allow Betfair customers who pass verification processes to make cash deposits on their account using Ukash vouchers, with a reverse process also available to make cash withdrawals. Ukash vouchers, which are available at more than 50,000 sale points in the UK, feature a unique 19-digit code that can be used to make deposits on the Betfair website. Betfair customers can access the Ukash service via a desktop or various mobile devices. Ian Chuter, group operations…

iGaming Business – Online gambling company Betfair has launched what it claims is the first betting exchange product in the Italian gambling market. The launch comes after the conclusion of an extensive testing process with national regulator Agenzie delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) and information and communications technology administrator Società Generale d’Informatica (SOGEI). Betfair said the Italian exchange would operate with “ring-fenced” national liquidity and taxed at a rate of 20% on commission. The new service will join Betfair’s current sportsbook, poker and casino products on the betfair.it website. Breon Corcoran, chief executive officer of Betfair, said: “We are…

iGaming Business – Online gambling company Betfair has agreed a two-year deal with the Chester Race Company to become the official Wi-Fi and digital gaming partner of UK horseracing venue Chester Racecourse. The agreement, which covers the 2014 and 2015 seasons, will also include Chester Race Company’s nearby Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse. The ‘Always on Campaign’ partnership will be powered by Wi-Fi from UK telecommunications provider O2. Chester Racecourse successfully trialled O2 Wi-Fi during the 2013 horseracing season and has now opted to push ahead with the Betfair deal. In addition to the Wi-Fi agreement, Betfair will also sponsor four races at the…

iGaming Business – Online gambling company Betfair has joined forces with Income Access, a provider of technology and affiliate iGaming management solutions, to launch the Betfair Casino affiliate programme in the US state of New Jersey. The new affiliate programme will complement Betfair Casino’s online slots, poker and table game products that were launched in the state in November 2013. Betfair and Income Access will now work together to help affiliates benefit from these products and supply them with experience on how to best promote and drive traffic in the regulated New Jersey online gaming market. In addition, Betfair said…

iGaming Business – Casino operator Crown Resorts is set to increase its stake in online betting exchange Betfair’s Australian operations from 50% to 100%, according to Fairfax Media. Betfair operates in Australia as a joint venture between Crown and Betfair, but the report said that the latter is keen to offload its Australian stake because the venture has been far less profitable than it had hoped. Crown chairman James Packer is reportedly keen to complete a buy-out as the deal would secure 100% control of the company’s Tasmanian bookmaking licence. Crown and Betfair declined to comment, but such an agreement…

iGaming Business – Online gambling company Betfair has named Paul Cutter as its chief technology officer in what will be the third time the firm has appointed someone new to the role in the space of just five years. According to the CIO.co.uk website, Cutter previously served as director of software engineering at UK pay-television broadcast BSkyB for more than five years. In his new role, Cutter will now be based at Betfair’s Hammersmith headquarters in west London, where he will inherit about 700 IT staff members. Cutter will assume the role from Tony McAllister, a former IT executive at…