Optima Secures Licencing and Services Deal for GTECH’s MarginMaker™ Platform
The CEO of Optima, Jacob Curciel, disclosed that there are actually two significant elements to the agreement. One is for Optima to assume responsibility in providing licencing support and development services to a specific group of GTECH customers operating on the MarginMaker™ platform. The second is the intellectual property (IP) licence rights acquired by Optima, which gives the latter legal authority to sub-licence the MarginMaker™ technology to sports betting and gaming companies operating worldwide.
The Optima CEO expressed his confidence in the MarginMaker’s ability to deliver first-rate sports betting and gaming companies, since many of their customers already utilise the MarginMaker™ technology for their retail and online operations. His message conveyed that the company’s investment in the IP acquisition will strengthen Optima’s B2B offerings and that they will continue to invest on improvements that will see to the “platform’s development to its full potential”; as well as “keep it up-to-date with the latest industry and regulatory requirements.” Optima intends to support the GTECH product in designated markets to make certain that it will consistently deliver first class service and technology to existing and new sportsbetting and gaming partners.
GTECh VP for Interactive and Sports Betting Commercial, Paul Mear, explained that the deal would give existing MarginMaker™ users the assurance that they will continue to receive high-quality support services from Optima. According to Mr. Mear, the Optima collaboration will enable GTECH “to focus on implementing its next-generation sports betting platform for large-scale commercial and World Lottery Association customers.” He vouched the capability of Optima’s staff in carrying out the agreed support services by saying, they have “excellent experience with betting and gaming, is passionate about MarginMaker™ technology, and has demonstrated a commitment to excellence throughout this process.”
About the MarginMaker™
The MarginMaker™ is a platform that renders real time, transaction processing and provides risk management solutions in delivering an oganisation’s operational activities in all major delivery channels. The technology also supports all types of betting, such as retail, telephone and online betting including betting exchanges and those offered as e-games in multi-vendor game room environments. UK- and Belgrade-based Finsoft Ltd, a multifaceted company, developed the software for its main line of business, which is that of providing trading solutions for the sports betting industry.
In 2007, GTECH Italy, which was then known as Lottomatica S.p.A, acquired UK Finsoft and Belgrade Finsoft, the Serbian-based development subsidiary responsible for Finsoft’s sportsbetting operations. The acquisition agreement though, included retaining the Finsoft trade name.
The addition of Finsoft, including its unique MarginMaker™ to GTECH’s technological capabilities enabled the latter to deliver and integrate a turnkey sportsbetting solution to its existing and potential customers. At the time of acquisition, companies like BoyleSports, Chisholm Bookmakers and Singapore Pools already had their sports betting operations running on the MarginMaker™.
The GTECH brand was carried by Lottomatica’s wholly owned subsidiary GTECH Sports Betting Solutions Limited, since the Italian company’s initial involvement in the gaming industry was mainly in the commercial lottery business.
