Former online gambling leaders join forces

Former Ladbrokes and Openbet directors, Ed Andrewes and Mick d’Ancona are reportedly on the final leg in readying their Locus Gaming online gambling consumer product, having secured an Isle of Man licence, with a January 2013 launch date on the immediate horizon.

Details on the product are sparse, but it is believed to focus on the mobile and tablet gambling sector, a view confirmed recently by Andrewes, who said:

“Even the most cursory glance at figures from the UK’s listed bookmakers shows that the mobile and tablet gaming market has exploded over the last few months to such an extent that the traditional website is increasingly being by-passed in favour of this channel; this is the market where Locus Gaming will focus its products.”

The main technical drive for the Locus Gaming comes from d’Ancona, who says: “The phone call has become almost a secondary use for mobile devices now, with leisure usage going through the roof… be that listening to music, watching films or, inevitably, gambling.

“Often this can be a more rewarding experience on touchscreen devices than on a desktop. Sitting on a train or in the back of a taxi is boring and we feel strongly that those with disposable income will enjoy our product for a bit of buzz.”

Latest numbers from internet gambling consultants, H2 Gaming Capital estimate the total gross win from mobile gaming across all gambling products to be circa GBP 2.29 billion in 2011, with every indication that this will grow to GBP 3.9 billion by 2015 .

The UK mobile market – excluding sports betting and lottery action – should grow from GBP 202 million in 2010 to GBP 488 million in 2015.