Skybet chooses Orbis Openbet Systems for online poker

Fresh from installing its Openbet online gambling system at the Australian Internet casino Lasseters, which entailed testing by the Western Australian government, Orbis Openbet has announced that it has been chosen to power the new Skybet online and interactive television poker operation.

Using the OpenBet Poker solution, Sky Bet can heighten its liquidity with the unique ability to direct players into a unified poker environment via two completely different platforms - the web and iTV. The package includes a full games module with multi-table and multi-play tournaments capability.

The Sky Poker launch included a web-based portal, as well as a dedicated Sky channel 846. This live channel features televised tournaments combining Internet players with those accessing interactively through their remote control.

Offering a no-download Flash-based web solution, OpenBet Poker features cutting edge graphics and animations with a sophisticated player interface, real and demo play modes, as well as customer log in across multiple platforms.

Richard Flint, Managing Director of Sky Bet, said "We chose to work with Orbis because they were able to offer us a poker solution that was flexible and adaptable enough to work across all technology platforms, initially Internet, iTV and live broadcast TV. Orbis also offered us an easy way for customers to transfer money into and out of the poker room from the sportsbook, as well as a single database view for customer analysis. We also felt confident that Orbis could meet the high regulatory and compliance standards that Sky requires. We have been extremely pleased with the growth in liquidity in our poker room in the weeks since launch."

Orbis OpenBet presents seven distinct but compatible software modules that include Sportsbook, Casino, Rake Games, Fixed Odds Games, Exchange, Retail and Marketing. Established in 1996, Orbis Technology Ltd is an NDS company. Each of Orbis' customer agreements includes an undertaking from the customer that its gaming operations that use Orbis' software will not involve players in the United States or any other jurisdiction where such gaming operations are prohibited by law.