UK computer games developer On-Line Plc and recently floated offshore bookmaker Netbet Plc have announced a cross-marketing revenue-sharing deal for online content. On-Line will launch a web site, sportsportsport.com, to provide sporting information linked to events wagered upon on Netbet’s sportingbet.com site. Netbet will in turn offer On-Line information to its customers, to help their bets be informed. The two companies will share revenues created by customers of the sportsportsport.com site.
The deal marks London-based On-Line’s first venture into sports on the internet. The firm previously focused solely on developing online multi-player environments and budget CD-ROM games for the likes of Nintendo Co. On yesterday’s announcement, London Stock Exchange-listed On-Line’s share price jumped over 10% in the first two hours of trading. Netbet is listed on London’s Ofex unregulated ‘over-the-counter’ share-dealing facility. The firm is based in Alderney, Channel Islands, to avoid the UK’s gambling tax, and also offers its service via hotlinks from BSkyB Plc’s Skynow internet service provider portal.
