Vera&John bid the UK farewell amidst corporate buyouts and rebranding. What causes a thriving brand to leave a strong market? And is it good or bad news for their customers?
UK fans of the Vera&John and InterCasino brands will have to bid a fond farewell to these online casinos as soon as 3 September 2019.
Members of the casinos received a statement from the JPJ Group which simply read:
“We’ve had some good times, haven’t we? Unfortunately, even good things must come to an end, and the time has come for us to say goodbye. As of Tuesday 3rd September, we will no longer be operating in the UK, and access to your account will be blocked.”
To say player reactions to this abrupt farewell have been mixed is an understatement. Players create relationships with brands, some even get superstitious about which casino to play at what point in the month and this kind of seemingly unfounded exit from a thriving market tends to raise questions.
Why Exit The UK Market?
Not all smart business decisions may appear so to those not privy to the inner workings of a company like the London-listed JPJ Group. In this case, rather than being due to a problem the decision to exit the UK market with the two aforementioned brands is to create the space to allow them to laser focus on Jackpotjoy as their UK facing brand.
They have also assigned additional resources to expand their European market presence with Vera&John. JPJ Groups interim revenue reports showed a 14% increase in revenue, worth £21 million, thanks to the European market share growth by Vera&John. This is a trend they hope to continue through the end of 2019 into 2020!
Gamesys Integration Looms Large
Another reported reason for this refocusing of energies and resources is the ongoing integration of JPJ Holdings and Gamesys Limited. The enlarged group will operate as Gamesys Group Plc and present a gambling entertainment group with a wide range of powerful UK and European brands.
This £490 million investment will see such instantly recognisable brands as Virgin Games, Virgin Casino, Monopoly Casino, and Heart Bingo officially become part of the larger group. With their well-established UK presence, it is safe to assume they will add their weight to the company’s UK customer acquisition and retention efforts.
Updating investors, JPJ Group Executive Chairman Neil Goulden said:
“On 13 June 2019, we announced our intention to acquire Gamesys which represents a transformational step in the Group’s growth and one which will provide significant benefits for shareholders, employees and customers." ... "Our customers will also now have an even greater choice of major brands and different games, creating a truly leading UK and international operator."
With this in mind the decision to refocus Vera&John and InterCasino on the European markets, where each has a proven track record of success, appears to the right one.
Video slots have improved since the days of the three-reel slot games, with a greater number of paylines and ways to win, and superb features all designed to keep you playing. Knowing how these work can guide you to maximise your potential profits.
Kate Gavrilenko of Platipus Gaming explains how slot mathematical models are built, balancing RTP, volatility, probabilities, payouts and bonus features for successful games.
Let’s look at three exclusive welcome bonuses available to online players through GamblersPick. Grab any of the following exclusive promotions and start playing at trusted, reviewed online casinos with generous offers available regularly.
Casinos
Games
Jackpots
