gambling domain names Archives

Gambling.com’s mystery buyer revealed as KAX Media

The mystery buyer behind the highly coveted domain name gambling.com which was purchased in late April 2011 from Media Corp for $2.5 million is no longer a mystery.

Now, just a week after the news was announced, eGaming Review has identified the buyer. According to eGR, KAX Media is the new owner.

Chief Executive of KAX Media, Charles Gillespie, was quoted in the story saying: “It’s a classic private equity buyout where new management comes in and implements an aggressive growth strategy. KAX has an affiliate software platform that was purpose built to run this exact kind of site so the overlap with our current business and technology platform is nearly one to one.”

It doesn’t look like the sale of gambling.com, which sold for a fraction of the $20 million price tag that Media Corp acquired it for, is going to be make any domain sales charts in 2011, since the sale involved more than just the domain name.

As eGR writes, “Gillespie said KAX would now look to grow the portal business sold by Media Corp last week…”

[Hat tip goes to Eric Bianci of CalvinAyre.com]

On Wednesday, Calvin Ayre’s Bodog issued a press release. The company is looking for feedback on its Slots.com web site which recently launched into beta.

“In this early launch period, Slots.com, is seeking feedback and giving customers the chance to be part of the growth plan by shaping the future of the site. The initial slots offering will see significant additions over the months as Slots.com reacts to the directives of its players,” reads the opening of the release.

Shortly after the press release went online, Jamie Hinks a writer for Calvin Ayre’s Tablog posted a story that talks more about the domain, and less about the website, entitled: Slots.com needs you!

“For a site that generates 35.1million hits on Google for “Slots” it’s little wonder that the amount paid was the most in 2010 and one of the top ten ever. Only second to Casino.com, Slots.com’s European Head of Marketing, Charlie Goodenough, believes that Slots.com is the best gaming domain in the world, better than even Poker.com because there are no strong brands in the space.”

Gambling domain names are an exciting space. As I wrote earlier in the week, the deal for gambling.com is expected to complete in the second quarter, and Calvin Ayre has been rumored to be a possible buyer. Also, later today, Governor Chris Christie is expected to make a decision on New Jersey’s internet gambling bill.

UPDATE: Governor Chris Christie has conditionally vetoed the bill. Hope isn’t lost though, as Bill Beaty reports over at CalvinAyre.com.