[Blondie]

Unibet to acquire Betchoice

Unibet (SBR rating B-) Sportsbook has signed an agreement to acquire Betchoice. Unibet will enter the regulated Australian betting market. Unibet's acquisition price is £13.6 million; the deal, which transfers 100% of Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd.'s shares, is said not to contain any liabilities. Completion of the deal is still subject to approval by the Northern Territory regular; this process is expected to be completed before the end of Q2 2012.

Unibet intends to completely rebrand Betchoice to Unibet following what they refer to as a "short transition period". Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnström spoke of the acquisition in an official company press release distributed this morning.

Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnström: “This strategic acquisition gives Unibet immediate access to the regulated Australian market, which is currently open to sports betting and horse racing. We intend to rebrand the business quickly to Unibet. Betchoice already has a strong offering and market position in horse racing and through Kambi, Unibet has the opportunity to enhance the quality and performance of Betchoice’s sports betting offering and so to deliver revenue growth and margin improvements... In addition to benefit from the already existing Australian product offering, the acquisition of Betchoice will provide Unibet with a platform to facilitate other gambling services and opportunities should market conditions continue to improve.”

SBR expects Unibet to refine its standards of enforcing house rules as they enter a regulated Australian market. Though Unibet is licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) of Malta; SBR has found that operators prefer Malta for its lax positions on player disputes and the ease of setting up shop. Unibet's operating procedure has until this point been to cut off communications with a player determined to be in violation of house rules, and has not been willing to fully satisfy SBR's inquiries in regards to player confiscations, such as in this sportsbook dispute reported in December of 2011.

SBR will attempt to revisit outstanding claims with Unibet, hoping that the company's recent good news will compel it to more satisfactorily address player disputes. | Read the full Unibet press release

[Hareeba!]

Just dreadful news for Aussie sports punters.

Betchoice is one of the very few remaining Aussie books where you can place any sort of decent sized bet and their odds are generally competitive. They also have a superior racing product for selected provincial meetings.

In my experience of playing the Euro books, Unibet was one of the fastest to limit me. I think it went down to just $2 within a week.

[brettels]

For your interest.....

http://www.intergameonline.com/i-gam...tralian-market

13.6 million GBP

[brettels]

Actually still in process of the purchase.

[brad89]

Betchoice is one of the very few remaining Aussie books where you can place any sort of decent sized bet

On sports?

[brettels]

what is classed as any sort of decent sized bet these days or to some individuals?

[Hareeba!]

On sports?

yes, at least in my experience
far better than Centrebet, Sportingbet, IAS and Sportsbet where I just can't get even $20 bets down any more

[Hareeba!]

what is classed as any sort of decent sized bet these days or to some individuals?

well, from my point of view, if they aren't prepared to lose at least $1000 on a bet they are a pathetic excuse

[brettels]

And limited at all the Uk books too right hareeba? usually players will experience a limiting at one but not another, just tells me that the books know something suspicious about a certain player. are you an arber? under investigation of fraud? who knows?

[pjesnik24]

And limited at all the Uk books too right hareeba? usually players will experience a limiting at one but not another, just tells me that the books know something suspicious about a certain player. are you an arber? under investigation of fraud? who knows?

LOL

[Hareeba!]

And limited at all the Uk books too right hareeba? usually players will experience a limiting at one but not another, just tells me that the books know something suspicious about a certain player. are you an arber? under investigation of fraud? who knows?

just tells me that you don't have much of a clue about it

I'm most certainly not an arber

most longer term players who have a clue have suffered the same fate at the hands of all the Euro bookies