Swedish gaming and betting operator Betsson reported its strongest ever quarter this morning. Revenues were up 69% to SEK321m (£26.5m) compared to SEK189.8m (£15.6m) over the same period last year, operating profits more than doubled to SEK92m (£7.6m), from SEK43.5m (£3.6m) in 2007. Quarterly pre-tax profits rose to SEK93.6m (£7.7m) from SEK45.2m (£3.7m) last year. Full-year revenues rose 60% to SEK1bn (£82.3m), compared with SEK649m (£53.4m) in 2007. Operating profits increased 46% to SEK276.6m (£22.7m), from SEK190m (£15.6m)in 2007, annual pre-tax profits rose to SEK280m (323m) compared with SEK192.7m (£15.8m) last year. Betsson has SEK373.2m (£30.7m) cash reserves and no debt or liabilities. More on this later.

Digital marketing agency Home has launched Crestbay, a gift-lead CRM and loyalty solution service. Home has worked with operators such as Victor Chandler and Blue Square and has added Chris North, formerly of Inside Gaming, to its management team.  

Director Nick Jackson said: “Over the past 10 years we have been developing CRM campaigns and sourcing branded merchandise and prizes in the sector so it made sense to put together a combined offering.”

Asian-focused gaming platform provider Entertasia has completed a full range of independent testing of its Live Dealer Interactive Gaming System (IGS) as part of its plans to expand its business into the “west”. Technical Systems Testing completed the evaluation of the Live Dealer IGS in January and certified its use within the jurisdiction of United Kingdom, as regulated by the Gambling Commission. Entertaisa plans to operate in the UK in 2009 and further extend into other locations in Europe by 2011.