Gambling platform Betable, which allows developers to incorporate real-money gambling into their games (in markets where online gambling is legal) without themselves having to obtain a gambling license, has announced it’s signed up games developers Slingo, Digital Chocolate and Murka Games to its platform — currently in private beta. The news follows hot on the heels of a Betable-powered version of the iOS game Big Fish Casino launching in the UK.
Slingo CEO Rich Roberts said the move will allow it to offer real-money gambling to its more than 30 million users outside the U.S. who have played Slingo on Facebook. “Most notably, 20 percent of the players who have interacted with Slingo have wagered around the brand, and Betable will enable us to maximize that dynamic,” he noted in a statement.
Murka Games said it plans to incorporate real-money gambling into its casino-style Slots Journey title, as well as other current titles and future games releases.
Betable unveiled its real-money gambling platform — which consists of an API allowing developers to integrate real-money play into new or existing games — back in July. It describes itself as “Facebook Connect meets Paypal.” Developers who sign up build their games and add 20 lines of codes to have Betable handle all the real-money aspects of their game, including compliance, fraud prevention, identity checks, wagering and gambling results. Game players then need to authenticate with Betable — signing up, depositing money, etc. — before they can participate in real-money play.
Betable says it’s currently “hand picking” developers for its private beta but will be “opening up in the near future” — albeit there is no word on exact dates yet.
While developers who use Betable can be based anywhere in the world, the company only accepts wagers from players who are in markets where online gambling isn’t explicitly illegal. This means the U.S. is out of bounds. Betable is keen to stress the social gaming market outside the U.S. is still “huge.” And an impressive roster of investors clearly agree with it.
The company has amassed a long chain of backers since being founded in 2011. Investors include firms Bullpen Capital, CrunchFund, FF Angel LLC, Greylock Discovery Fund, Morado Ventures, Start Fund/DST, Tekton Ventures, True Ventures, Venture51 and individual investors Marc Abramowitz, Scott Belsky, Reece Duca, Bjorn Evers, Auren Hoffman, Sean Knapp, Andrew Kofman, Howard Lindzon, Chris Larsen, Heather Sue Mercer, Yuri Milner, Dave Morin, Matt Ocko, Gil Penchina, Joshua Schachter, Arjun Sethi, Josh Spear, John Suliman, David Tisch, and Ray Tonsing.