Ainsworth Game Technology has just reached an agreement with Kerry Packer's PBL Gaming to develop exclusive games for a Vanuatu-based cyber casino.
The recent introduction of the Online Gaming Act, banning Australian-based online casinos, blocked PBL's plans to create an Internet version of Melbourne's Crown Casino, so it moved its cyber operation off-shore.
It has now joined the growing number of Australian-owned online gambling establishments that have been set up in Vanuatu and launched www.crowngames.com from there on January 3.
Ainsworth Game Technology CEO Jim O'Mahony said the deal with PBL would allow Ainsworth to enter the international market and the company planned to provide a variety of games that would be exclusive to crowngames.com.
Ironically the Internet gaming legislation will work in Ainsworth's favour.
O'Mahony said the PBL agreement would allow the company to expand its range of games but would not conflict with its existing customer base because the legislation prevented Internet gaming for Australian residents.
Meanwhile, PBL Gaming reports a 'pleasing' initial response to the crowngames site.
Chief executive of the Vanuatu operation Andrew MacDonald said that since the site's launch the response had been encouraging and the next stage was to further develop and expand the range of table games and slots available on the site.
Ainsworth, which listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in December following the launch of its Ambassador gaming machine, will initially develop a limited number of games but will increase the output once the first of them have been integrated into the site.
