German media giant ProSiebenSat.1 is to enter the country’s regulated betting market, launching a new brand powered by Betsson’s B2B solutions.
The business, which offers free-to-air channels such as ProSieben and Kabel Eins, has established a new subsidiary, Masterpiece Gaming, that sits within its commerce and ventures division.
It will roll out online sports betting under the JackOne brand, with the site powered by Betsson’s B2B sportsbook solution and player account management platform Techsson.
This will be supported by customer support, odds, risk management and a payment platform. The agreement is based on a performance-based product fee, that will run for two years with a renewal option included.
Betsson, which has previously signed a similar deal to power Claymore Group’s iBet brand in January last year, said the deal confirmed its status as a “global, in-demand supplier of B2B sportsbook and platform solutions”.
“This deal proves that we have a competitive sportsbook product that is attractive and in demand by the market,” Betsson chief executive Pontus Lindwall said. “Adding Masterpiece Gaming to our list of of B2B sportsbook solution partners confirms our ambition to be a strong supplier on the B2B sportsbook market as part of our growth strategy.
“We are proud that Masterpiece Gaming has chosen us as a supplier.”
Betsson secured an online sports betting licence from the Regional Council of Darmstadt in March this year, covering its Betsson, Betsafe, Casinowinner, Guts, Rizk Sport, Nordicbet and Schnellwetten brands.
Its new partner Masterpiece Gaming, meanwhile, aims to use it the launch of JackOne as a precursor to expanding into other regulated markets, leveraging ProSiebenStat’s media reach to build a strong customer base.
While the country’s sports betting market has been open for business since October last year, online slots and poker are currently subject to a transition period, that should end from 1 July, once the Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV) comes into effect.
That looks likely to be accompanied by a hefty 5.3% tax on slot and poker turnover, despite industry opposition, after it was voted through by the Bundestag Finance Committee earlier this week. A full vote in the parliament is likely to follow later this month, with industry sources describing its passage as a “formality”.
