By Contributing Author
Israel is a nation of entrepreneurs and the interest in various types of new Israel and the iGaming Industry
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Israel is a nation of entrepreneurs and the interest in various types of new endeavors has spilled over into the iGaming sector. Several iGaming companies are either based in Israel or were originally founded by Israelis who have catapulted to the top as industry pioneers.
Playtech
Tel-Aviv born Teddy Sagi is the billionaire responsible for the launch of Playtech in 1999. The company received its first casino license in 2001 and was listed on London’s Main Market in 2012. If you’ve ever gambled online, then chances are you are familiar with Playtech. As a software provider and game developer, its list of products and partnerships is long with currently over 90 online casino using the Playtech software.
Playtech products include, casino, mobile, sports, poker, bingo, lottery, social gaming, binary options and more. The popularity of live dealer games has grown and while one of the major providers of such games is Evolution Gaming, Playtech introduced its own competitive games geared for Asian and European markets. Games stream in HD to deliver a genuine live casino experience to players.
Popular online Video Slots include its Marvel Comics series, Marilyn Monroe, Pink Panther, Rocky, John Wayne, Cowboys and Aliens, Atlantis Queen, Banana Monkey, Baywatch, Beach Life, Cherry Love, Chinese Kitchen, Easter Surprise, Dr. Lovemore, Gladiator, Geisha Story and The Mummy to name a few. In addition to innovative themes and special features, some of its Slots also offer Progressive Jackpots (current jackpots total over 10 million dollars). The company has been able to deliver a variety of branded Slots to the online market as a result of its licensing agreements. It recently launched Ace Ventura Pet Detective based on the film starring Jim Carrey. Just last month, Playtech announced its deal with Warner Bros. for the development of a new range of games based on DC Comics.
In addition to the online market Playtech also caters to retail betting shops. Its subsidiary Videobet has created server-based gaming products for the retail market in both Italy and the UK. Both server-based gaming and casino management tools have been combined under Videobet EDGE and its units: EDGE Floor Management, EDGE Jackpot, EDGE Cashier, EDGE Player Tracking and EDGE Tournaments.
888 Holdings
888 Holdings is a well-known company within the online gambling market. It launched in 1997, founded by brothers Avi and Aaron Shaked also Shay and Ron Ben-Yitzhak of Israel, followed by Random Logic in 1998, a new company based in Tel-Aviv, created to provide 888 with a variety of services to including marketing and game development.
888 now reaches online gamblers in various regions and sectors including bingo, casino, poker and sports. The history is an extensive one and involves a trail of numerous subsidiaries contributing to its status as a competitive leader.
Its first online casino was Casino-on-Net in 1997 followed by Reef Club in 2002, its very own 888.com brand and first poker room, Pacific Poker. During the next several years, the company introduced a marketing company in London, received licensing approval in Gibraltar and became a founding member a eCOGRA, a third party certification company.
Business was booming until Black Friday in the US, which required the company to withdraw from the American market. Despite the loss of such a large region, 888 continued to thrive and entered the online bingo market for the first time with its acquisition of Globalcom in 2007 along with the introduction of Video Slots and other popular games like Blackjack and poker. This was also the year when its first white label agreements were signed. 888 began to offer a turnkey solution bingo, casino, poker and sportsbooks.
Cassava Enterprises and its award-winning Dragonfish software and solutions provider also fall under the 888 umbrella. The company is responsible for numerous brands including Wink Bingo, 888ladies, 888poker, 888games, Costa Bingo and many more plus it has secured many partnerships including the World Series of Poker.
888 has also entered into the Danish and Spanish markets with its desktop and mobile products and via an agreement with Caesars Entertainment, it has once again entered the American market.
Israel’s Online Gambling Regulations
Despite the gambling related companies introduced by Israeli owners, the pastime is not one that is deemed legal in Israel. While current laws do not necessarily address online play specifically, the local attorney general has put a stop to it. Citizens cannot play casino games; however, lottery, sports betting and horse racing wagers are permitted.
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