Home » OCW News » February 2010 » Ladbrokes Forms SA Online Betting Joint Venture

Ladbrokes Forms SA Online Betting Joint Venture

Date published: 18 February 2010

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Ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Ladbrokes, one of the UK's largest land and online betting and gambling operations, has formed a joint venture with KaiRo International Group, a leading land and online casino marketing company which operates throughout Africa.

When Ladbrokes recognized the potential of the South African online gambling market, it entered into a 60/40 joint venture with KaiRo to gain a foothold in the African nation. In fact, the joint venture is already in the process of applying for a gambling license from South Africa's Western Cape Province.

If granted, the license will allow Ladbrokes to advertise its new online betting service in South Africa via national television, print, radio and the internet. And not only will the campaign introduce Ladbrokes to South African online gambling fans, but no doubt give the firm additional international exposure.

'We look forward to the launch of Ladbrokes.co.za as a licensed and regulated service in South Africa,' said Ladbrokes CEO, Christopher Bell. 'This is a great opportunity to capitalise on a developing market.' Subject to the license, Ladbrokes.co.za is expected to go live ahead of the World Cup in June.

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Also thrilled at the joint venture and opportunities in South Africa is KaiRo International Group MD, Mustafa Koç, 'The directors of KaiRo are very proud to have signed the agreement with Ladbrokes and are looking forward to bringing one the world's top betting brands into the South African market.'

But Ladbrokes foray into the largely untapped South African online gambling market is not ground-breaking by any means. For instance, fellow UK land and online betting giant, Victor Chandler, has already applied for and been granted a license from the Western Cape Gambling and Betting Board.

And 888 Holdings, one of the world's biggest and most successful online gambling operations, has a presence in South Africa's online gambling sector through its Dragonfish subsidiary as a result of a partnership signed last year with Tsogo Sun Gaming, a top South African hotel and entertainment group.