bwin Interactive Entertainment AG, formerly known as Betandwin, is an Austrian online betting brand acquired by Entain PLC. The group ๐ operated under international and regional licences in countries like Gibraltar, the Amerindian reserve of Kahnawake (Canada), and Belize; and Germany, ๐ Italy, Mexico, Croatia, Austria, France,[2] and the United Kingdom in Europe. Bwin offered sports betting, poker, casino games, and soft ๐ and skill games, with most revenue coming from poker and sports betting. bwin had over 20 million registered customers in ๐ more than 25 core markets. Competence centres were located in Vienna, Stockholm, and Gibraltar.[3]
The company provided services for its subsidiaries ๐ such as marketing, finance, and administration, corporate communications, controlling, and IT services. All operational activities were managed by licensed subsidiaries. ๐ It was listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange from March 2000 until the company's merger with PartyGaming plc in March ๐ 2011, forming Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment. That company was purchased by GVC Holdings in February 2024; GVC continues to use bwin ๐ as a brand.
History [ edit ]
Beginning with 12 employees in its founding in 1997, bwin was formerly known as "betandwin" ๐ until 2006. The company launched its first online gambling site in 1998, focusing on the growing sports betting market. One ๐ of the most important developments in the company's history was the launch of its live betting product, developed in-house, allowing ๐ players to place bets on sporting events while the actual event was taking place. The firm's initial public offering at ๐ the Austrian Stock Exchange took place in March 2000.
Betandwin acquired Simon Bold (Gibraltar) in June 2001 and changed its name ๐ to bwin International Ltd. This relocation to Gibraltar was done to keep up with the company's main competitors, who had ๐ already moved to the British Overseas Territory.