Launch of Social Gaming Platform

Innovative distribution arrangements with media partners

Sportech PLC ("Sportech"), the UK's leading football gaming business and owner of The New Football Pools, is pleased to announce the launch of its Social Gaming Platform to bring social networking functionality to leading fantasy football communities.  This is another significant step in the turnaround of Sportech and the modernisation of its core Football Pools business. 

In conjunction with the launch of the platform we have signed partnership agreements with three leading media groups, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Metro to make this new offering available to over 400,000 fantasy football players. The integration of Sportech's Social Gaming Platform is underpinned by a seamless joint sign-up process and in addition, for the Daily Telegraph's 200,000 players, provision of Sportech's e-wallet to receive and make payments.  The development represents a significant addition to Sportech's own technology portfolio.

The Social Gaming Platform has been developed with innovative product to bring best of breed social networking functionality to the fantasy football community. The offering includes a news feed, instant messaging and a "wall" enabling players to leave their friends' comments. In addition, and importantly for delivering a leading customer experience, the proposition enables our 3 media partners' 400,000 strong online fantasy football community to play Sportech's expanding range of online football prediction games without leaving their respective websites.

Further advertising and marketing initiatives, both online and in print, have been incorporated into these agreements to create an even stronger visible presence for The New Football Pools. Specifically in print for The Daily Telegraph, the newspaper's sport section will feature a dedicated weekly column incorporating Alan Hansen in his dual role as the Telegraph's face of fantasy football, one of the world's favourite and longest running fantasy football games, and a member of The New Football Pools 'Pools Pundits' team.

Ian Penrose, CEO of Sportech said 

"The launch of our Social Gaming Platform represents another landmark in the development of Sportech. The best of breed social networking functionality, combined with a simple sign up process, incorporating our e-wallet as appropriate, enables communities to have a rich football community experience, combined with the opportunity to play our enhanced range of football prediction games. 

We are delighted to have partnered the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Metro to bring such a cutting edge offering to these leading fantasy football communities in good time for the new football season.

The Football Pools was the original social gaming community game, where millions of players played the pools every week with tens of thousands of collectors visiting our customers. Many social communities have now moved online, and we have responded to this consumer trend to give new, existing and former pools players a brand new way to play."

- ends -

For further information

Sportech PLC

Ian Penrose, Chief Executive                                  020 7268 2400

Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial

David Rydell / Emma Kent / Rosanne Perry            020 7861 3232