Launch of Stride Together - new B2B division

26 May 2017

Stride Gaming plc

("Stride Gaming", the "Company", or "the Group")

Launch of Stride Together - Stride Gaming's new B2B division

Joint Venture with Aspers, gaming operators

Stride Gaming plc (AIM: STR), the online soft gaming operator, today announces the launch of its new B2B division, Stride Together, which will see the Company licence its proprietary platform to gaming operators, media partners and retailers in the UK and globally, to enable them to create an online presence for their customers and to enter the omni-channel gaming space.

Stride Gaming is also delighted to announce that it has established its first Stride Together Joint Venture ("JV") with a leading gaming operator in the UK, Aspers Group Limited ("Aspers"). Aspers online business is targeted to launch in Q4 2017.

The Board's intention is to grow Stride Together into a high margin business unit that will provide Stride Gaming not only with a B2B vertical, but also with a springboard to penetrate new and non-bingo verticals both within UK markets and overseas territories. The medium and long-term goals are to have a pool of strategic partners leveraging off the Company's proprietary platform. Stride Together will also target media groups and gaming operators seeking extra revenue streams through soft gaming content. The Company will tailor its product to meet its clients' brands to facilitate the uniqueness of the gaming experience both operationally and technically. Clients of Stride Together will have access to the Stride Together platform and capacity to monetise its database.

Stride Gaming's management team has a proven track record in B2B gaming with Eitan Boyd, CEO and Darren Sims, COO having previously set up the Globalcom platform (now the Dragonfish platform) which provided software solutions for the likes of foxybingo.com, and was sold to 888 Holdings Plc for USD $42 million in 2007.

Commenting Eitan Boyd, CEO of Stride Gaming said:

"In launching Stride Together, we have created a vehicle to licence our proprietary platform to enable gaming operators, media groups and retailers to capitalise on their databases and establish an online presence. Stride Together now provides Stride Gaming with the structure to expand into new verticals and territories and adds another exciting revenue stream to the Group. We will be highly selective with whom we partner with and will look to work with established gaming operators, media partners and retailers both in the UK and overseas.

"We are delighted to have launched our first Stride Together JV with Aspers. We see a great deal of value in their brand and we look forward to working closely with the Aspers management team to leverage Stride Gaming's proprietary platform to help them create a significant online presence.

"We also remain focused on the existing organic growth of the business and look forward to updating shareholders on our trading in due course."

Damian Aspinall, Chairman of Aspers Group said:

"We are delighted to be partnering with Stride Gaming. As a company, it is widely recognised as a leading platform provider to the online gaming industry, utilising the best technology and services to enhance the players' experience. Working with Stride Gaming means that Aspers will be able to offer its millions of customers the same entertaining experience wherever they choose to play. 

"We are committed to converging our online and offline business streams to maximise player enjoyment which will build Aspers into a national online brand. Whether players visit one of our casinos or play on a mobile or other digital device on the go or at home, they will all be able to enjoy the same essential Aspers experience."

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About Stride Gaming plc:

Stride Gaming is a leading online gaming operator in the soft gaming verticals of online bingo and following the acquisition of InfiApps in July 2015, it also operates in the global social gaming market. The Company operates a multi-branded strategy, and uses its own proprietary and purchased software to provide online bingo and slot gaming for its players, and a social gaming mobile application. Stride Gaming's real money offering is presently focused on the UK market, is licensed and only operates from the regulated jurisdictions of the UK and Alderney. The Company's players' reach is international in the mobile social gaming market with a focus on the North American market. Following the acquisitions of 8Ball, Netboost Media and the Tarco Assets, the online bingo businesses acquired in August 2016 for up to £70.2 million, Stride Gaming has 105 brands and a 10% share of the UK online bingo market, making it the fourth largest online bingo operator in the UK.

Further information on the Group is available at: www.stridegaming.com

About Aspers Group Limited

Winners of the European Casino Operator and Responsible Gaming Operator of the year at the prestigious International Gaming Awards, The Aspers Group is one of the fastest growing gaming companies in the UK having grown annual revenue to over £100m in a very short period of time. Since opening their first Casino in Newcastle during October 2005, Aspers Group has steadily grown its portfolio of impressive quality entertainment venues. They now operate a further 3 successful casinos in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Stratford Westfield City, London and have exciting and ambitious expansion plans in both Bournemouth and Southampton. 

Aspers Westfield Stratford City, London opened in 2011 as a large license casino and was the first 'Super Casino' of its kind in the UK with 150 slot machines, a Bingo offering and the largest Poker Room in the country. The venue continues to break industry records as the busiest casino in the UK.

Aspers' venues are known for their superior product and service proposition, prime locations and vibrant atmosphere. Each site operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offers a stunning variety of live table gaming, slot machines and electronic touch bets, restaurants and live entertainment.

At every Aspers location, Aspers Group has set up the Community Action for Responsible Gaming (CARG) programme. This initiative is unique to Aspers Group. CARG is a voluntary, not-for-profit group that seeks to constructively address problem gambling issues in the community through a working partnership between local community-based interest groups. Aspers Group won 'Socially Responsible Operator of the Year' for the second time at the prestigious International Gaming Awards in February 2017. 

Further information on the Group is available at: www.aspers.co.uk