AUTHOR: Jerry "Jet" Whittaker
TITLE: Betshop Joins Microgaming Poker Network 
DATE: 7:46 AM
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BODY:
Microgaming, the online casino &amp; poker software provider has signed Betshop<br>to its Microgaming Poker Network. Betshop, a subsidiary of Leisure &amp; Gaming<br>plc, is widely regarded as one of Europe&#39;s fastest growing online betting<br>companies. The announcement follows hot on the heels of a number of new sign<br>ups to the Microgaming Poker Network at the start of 2007. Targeted<br>primarily at emerging European markets, the company operates Betshop.com, a<br>pan-European online gaming service, as well as a land-based franchise<br>network of betting outlets, including Betshop Italia with over 1000<br>franchised licensed betting outlets throughout Italy. Betshop has operations<br>in the UK, Italy, Romania, Cyprus and Greece. The move to the Microgaming<br>Poker Network provides Betshop with one of the industry&#39;s most reliable<br>platforms along with instant player liquidity. Gabriel Chaleplis, Group<br>Managing Director, Betshop says, &quot;We are delighted that Betshop.com is<br>joining the Microgaming Poker Network. Adding poker to our offering is in<br>line with our strategy of adding new products to our rapidly growing online<br>site and franchise network and follows our launch of scratch cards in our<br>Betshop Italia network at the beginning of February. Our focus on emerging<br>markets has given us a rapidly growing base of customers, who are hungry for<br>new products. Although poker is a mature product in Western Europe and the<br>US, many of our users are yet to be exposed to it.&quot; Roger Raatgever, CEO<br>Microgaming adds, &quot;Betshop is undoubtedly one of Europe&#39;s success stories<br>and we are delighted it has joined our increasingly successful poker<br>network. There has been much talk of developing new markets over the last<br>year, although much of it has focused on Asia, yet we have a wealth of<br>emerging markets on our doorstep. As broadband penetration increases across<br>Europe, it will be those companies who are already tapping the potential<br>that will benefit. We look forward to welcoming greater numbers of players<br>to the network from these emerging European markets.&quot;
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