The group will feature major software releases for its bingo, poker, casino and minigames products.

“We’re looking forward to introducing our new interactive gaming division to the i-gaming industry,” said Atul Bali, CEO of G2. “We are already providing interactive gaming products to some of our European and South American lottery customers and, with the combined resources of our interactive gaming acquisitions and GTech’s global market leadership of the lottery industry, we will be leading the convergence of the igaming and lottery industries.”

“We’re really excited to be showcasing our products as a group in Copenhagen,” said Dominic Mansour, head of Bingo operations. “EiG marks the debut of our Games Studio, our internal innovation and game creation centre. It brings together founding members from Dynamite Idea and Boss Media to ensure the highest level of creativity and new concepts and is responsible for creating ideas from scratch into innovative market leading games.”

An addition of seven new minigames and slot games (Hot Pursuit, Luxor Temple, Rockin´ Fruits, Irish Magic, Hells Bells, Burning Ocean, Spot of Luck) have been added to the already extensive GTech G2 games portfolio.

“Operators are finding that minigames, or side games, provide an excellent additional revenue stream,” said Simon Caddy, founder of Dynamite Idea and now Head of G2’s Games Studio creative think tank which will be launched during EiG in Copenhagen. “As part of GTech G2 now, we have more resources to develop new games and more operators have access to them.”

G2 will present a major update to its bingo software at EiG as well as the launch of the Games Studio and the latest casino software update which integrates tournaments with the Gaming Management System.

“We are very much looking forward to launching our dynamic portfolio,” said Mery Blomqvist, Head of Marketing and PR at GTech G2. “And we’re really looking forward to socializing with our VIPs at our Executive Gala party which this year will be held on site at Tivoli Gardens.”

The brand will form the core of the development of an entirely new, Bodog-branded poker network headed up as CEO by Patrik Selin, a respected European industry veteran and former CEO of the Ongame poker network.

Selin said this week that Bodog Network intends to change the game, and brings an entirely fresh approach to the network ecosystem, including a much-anticipated and unique solution to the rakeback challenge, which will be presented at EiG Copenhagen this week.

“I intend to build one of the largest and most reputable poker networks in the world”, commented Selin. “We are building a model that is founded on security and integrity, and Bodog Network partners will never need to disclose or put their customer databases at risk. The initial discussions I’ve had regarding potential candidate partners have been overwhelmingly positive. “

Bodog Network has also secured binding commitments from all three Bodog online gaming brand licensees – Bodog Europe, the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group and Haydock Entertainment in Asia – to be the Bodog Network’s initial network licensees.

Selin added, “Obviously, it made sense for me to lock in the deals with the Bodog brand licensees first, as this provides an immediate liquidity base. However, as the network comes online in 2010, we will naturally be extending the network to non-“Bodog”-branded operators. Those discussions are already underway.”

Calvin Ayre, the founder of the BodogBrand.com licensing enterprise remarked: “I am extremely excited about this new licensee of BodogBrand.com. Bodog Network is the first B2B enterprise to license the brand and the fit simply couldn’t be better. Patrik Selin’s very detailed business plan and proposal were very compelling, and after building Ongame into a network powerhouse under his leadership, his abilities and credibility are unquestionable.”

Bodog Network intends to secure an EU gaming license to be able to attract and fully service EU-facing poker operators.

Besting the field was 24-year-old Copenhagen journalist Johannes Jorgensen who was victorious in the PartyPoker.com and Ace Magazine sponsored Poker in the Sky, which took place high above the ancient city’s Town Hall, surrounded by Copenhagen and the spires of the city.

“The fact that the game was high up in the sky certainly added a different element to my play,” said Jorgensen. “I’m not at all scared of heights and am a fan of bungee jumping so I targeted players who I thought were keen to get down as quick as possible with aggressive play! In addition, I targeted those who I deduced had less experience. I think there were better players than me on the platform but I kept out of their way as much as possible. The strategy worked.”

The 22 poker players were hoisted 50 metres in the air by a crane at City Hall Square in Copenhagen as crowds gathered. One onlooker amongst the crowd was poker commentator Jesse May: “The idea of a game 50 metres up was spectacular and it was brilliant how the crowds gathered below.”

Players qualified through a special online promotion at Party Poker and took part, as did members of Party Poker.com’s exclusive VIP club, the Palladium Lounge.

Bwin has confirmed that the purchase price is nearer Euro 115 million in shares and cash, but that the expensive acquisition will make Bwin the biggest online poker mover and shaker in the deregulated Italian market, reports the Reuters business news service.

Bwin agreed to buy 56 percent of Gioco for 2.3 million new Bwin shares, worth Euros 65 million at last Friday’s closing price. It will buy the rest for up to Euros 50 million in cash, Euro 5 million of which will be dependant on Gioco reaching 2009 earnings targets.

The new shares issued for the purchase represent 7 percent of Bwin’s outstanding capital.

Gioco had earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Euros 9.2 million in the first half of 2009, which, if annualised, gives it a valuation of around 6 times this year’s EBITDA.

The deal is subject to Bwin supervisory board approval and is expected to close by early October 2009.

Gioco CEO Carlo Gualandri will join Bwin’s management team and will develop all of Bwin’s Italian business in the future.

Gioco is currently the biggest online poker brand in Italy with a market share of around 20 percent, while Bwin has around 6 to 7 percent, according to analysts.

Company spokesmen anticipate having the sites active by the end of October 2009. The launches will not involve duplication or overlap of marketing effort, as the targeted regions presently fall outside the principal markets of the Mangas group; the objective is to secure increased market share for the group the spokesmen revealed.

The company has also announced the recruitment of former PokerStars professional ace Isabelle Mercier as its new poker ambassador, an indication of the firm’s determination to up its online poker effort.

“We are very strong on betting, but poker is not the strongest part of our offering,” said a spokesman. “The signing of Isabelle Mercier means we will be putting in place a strategy to develop and improve our offering, but this will not be put into action for a few months yet. It is part of our overall project to enhance our poker platform.”

Driving the new project for Cake as a newly hired vice president is the experienced former Tain executive, Robert Savio

Present indications are that Gutshot’s pilot offering will be up and running by the end of next (October 2009) month.