Despite revenue drop, group cherishes big plans
According to recent announcements from the UK betting group The Weather Lottery, it has some serious plans to improve its offering by introducing new betting products, including a sportsbook.
Even though it noted an 8-percent revenue drop in its last financial year ending in July 2010, the group which signed a series of online gambling deals with British football clubs under its FCBetz brand last year, remains focused on expansion, especially in the online gambling sector.
The Weather Lottery initially dealt with lottery management, but then last year decided to enlarge its offering with online gambling, casino and poker. In December 2010, the AIM-listed company announced a deal with in-stadium betting provider BD Sport Limited which envisages exposure boost for its soccer-themed FC Lotto lottery and FCBetz.com online brands.
The company stated that the deal will see BD Sport provide a full-service in-stadium betting program fronted by the FCBetz.com brand that will 'complement the already well established lottery business and new online sportsbook platform', with BD Sport 'supporting existing and future' football club partnerships signed by The Weather Lottery.
“The Weather Lottery offers a lottery product tailored to the football market in addition to the gaming package, which we think makes it uniquely attractive to football clubs,” said Tony Warwick, managing director for BD Sport.
It was added that WTL will also be able to deploy BD Sport's 'sponsorship and marketing expertise' in order to 'position, negotiate and deliver key partnerships for FCBetz.com and FC Lotto'.
On the other side, The Weather Lottery Chairman Tim Razzall commented: “This is a significant enhancement to our marketing strategy and we are delighted to be aligned with BD Sport as we continue our program of growth and penetration into this marketplace,” adding that
the Board had decided to introduce a range of new gaming products for both existing and new customers, , including Casino, Slots and On-line Poker.
In Lord Razzall's opinion, the progress made so far is 'very encouraging,' and there are currently eight clubs signed up to take gaming and lottery products offered by The Weather Lottery whether through the FC Lotto brand or the new gaming brand, again created for the football sector, "FC Betz".
Last year, WTL found itself without CEO, as the previous head Keith Milhench left the company, leaving the group to find an adequate replacement, which it is still trying to do.
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