SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Major gaming group INTRALOT and Bit8, a global innovator in online customer relationship management, have celebrated their Strategic Alliance hosting a reception at Hilton Malta in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malta, Hon. Dr. Joseph Muscat. The event was honoured by the presence of governmental officials, prominent members of the Maltese business community and media representatives.
Taking the floor, Muscat stated: “The strategic alliance of INTRALOT and Bit8 set the example for other sectors of the Maltese economy. We are very satisfied to see innovative Maltese companies with clear vision becoming an international leader in its field and attract global investors. Both investors and consumers need a regulated environment and Malta is making great strides towards this direction.”
The cooperation of INTRALOT and Bit8 started in February of 2015 when they announced their strategic cooperation. In July 2015, INTRALOT acquired a 35% stake in Bit8 with a call option to raise its participation up to 60%. The two companies cooperate closely for the exclusive, joint development in the international online platform market, in order to provide INTRALOT’s global customer base with unparalleled Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Player Account Management (PAM) services and innovative gaming platform solutions.
Antonios Kerastaris, INTRALOT Group CEO, commented: “We are delighted to ratify INTRALOT’s strategic alliance with Bit8 in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malta, Hon. Dr. Joseph Muscat. The combination of Bit8’s innovative and flexible technology with INTRALOT’s global footprint, operational expertise and jointly developed cutting-edge products will provide our customers with a world of new and exciting gaming experiences.”
Kerastaris underlined INTRALOT’s long-term presence in Malta, noting: “We have invested in the Maltese market since 2004 when our subsidiary, MALTCO Lotteries, was granted the first licence to operate the National Lottery. All these years we have become part of the country’s economic growth, creating employment, generating revenues for the state, fostering cooperation with local stakeholders and supporting the Maltese community.”
Bit8 CEO Angelo Dalli added: “The global alliance between Bit8 and INTRALOT enables us to widen our reach on a global level, taking us closer to reaching our goal of becoming the world’s best gaming platform.
“The alliance also gives Bit8 additional resources to provide services to both online and land based gaming operators, enhance our service levels and professional services, while allowing us to invest more in our human resources and in our award winning Bit8 platform and our innovative artificial intelligence technology and solutions.”
Joseph Cuschieri, Executive Chairman at the Malta Gaming Authority, stated: “I am sure that this strategic alliance between INTRALOT and Bit8 brings more value to the new shareholders but also to the gaming industry in general where irrespective of size and history, innovation is a must. The same is true for Malta and as we embark on the road to regulate for innovation – to develop and employ innovative regulatory approaches that provide for the MGA to intervene only in as much as necessary, based on evidence of potential and actual risks to integrity and players.
“While there is a new dynamism in technological development and innovation to enhance player retention, for us it is equally, if not more important, that player protection remains our number one objective. We are aware that such new technologies also capture more player data that can be useful to develop more intelligent player protection mechanisms.”
