Soccer up first
Intralot and its subsidiary in Malta, Maltco Lotteries, have launched U*BET Virtual Sports, fixed-odds virtual sports matches that take place in intervals of five minutes.
The games feature real teams and leagues, using a random number generator and complex algorithms used to determine the outcomes. To make the simulations even more realistic, U*Bet utilizes historical data in its calculations.
Intralot aims to complement the existing sports betting portfolio from U*BET that is available through the retail network of Maltco Lotteries. Inspired Entertainment is a collaborator for the gaming content.
Intralot announced the release via Twitter:
The two companies also recently launched E*SOCCER, offering betting on FIFA 20 esports soccer leagues. When there was a lack of real sporting events on which to bet during the pandemic, many sportsbooks put an emphasis on esports and virtual sports offerings.
Response to the deal
Maltco Lotteries CEO Vasileios Kasiotakis said this new launch is a key part of offering a diversified and entertaining portfolio of sports betting products. Maltco Lotteries is the leading provider of sports betting in Malta, as well as the operator of the National lottery.
premium games specifically suited to the local market”
Intralot Group CEO Dr Chris Dimitriadis said: “Malta has always been a very important market for INTRALOT and that’s why we are excited to offer a broader game selection with the introduction of premium games specifically suited to the local market.”
Expanding its presence
Intralot was founded in Athens, Greece in 1992 and has gone on to develop a presence in 44 different jurisdictions. It is a lottery operator and vendor, as well as a provider of sports betting products and interactive games. One of its main areas of focus is the United States, where it provides services for 12 state lotteries. It is also now involved in the sports betting sectors in some states.
In 2019, Intralot was controversially awarded the sole contract to offer online sports betting in Washington, DC. Intralot was already the district’s lottery operator; there was no competitive bidding process for the sports betting contract and there were allegations of backroom dealings.
The company has also recently helped launch a sports betting product in Montana called Sports Bet Montana, another situation where there was no competitive bidding process. Other states where the company has a presence include Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Vermont, and Wyoming.