http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ba1010d6-c0af-11dc-b0b7-0000779fd2ac.html

888 in tie-up with Entertasia

By Roger Blitz

Published: January 12 2008 02:00 | Last updated: January 12 2008 02:00

888 has signed a deal with Entertasia, a gaming operator based in the Philippines, to develop new products for the online gambling company in its Asian market.

Entertasia will allow 888 to provide live casino and an Asian-focused sportsbook.

888, which owns the Casino-on-Net and Pacific Poker brands, will launch the new products across Asia in different languages in the first quarter.

Neither party disclosed the size of the deal.

888's revenues from the Asia Pacific region grew from 7 per cent of the total in 2006 to 8 per cent last year.

Gig Levy, chief executive, said he expected the partnership to deliver significant growth.

"We have been providing the very best in-class online gaming and excellent customer service for Asian customers at 888 for 10 years now", he said.

"We are always looking to extend new innovative services to our customers and increasing our presence in Asia is one of our key strategic goals."

Shares in 888 eased 1p to 142p. Roger Blitz