Partypoker launches dedicated Windows app

Native application features new gesture-based gameplay and portrait orientatio

 Partypoker has strengthened its mobile product offering with the launch of a dedicated Windows app featuring new gesture-based gameplay and portrait orientation. [private]

The app also includes a new quick-play lobby where players select their game criteria and are seated automatically, and offers Omaha games for the first time.

Tom Waters, acting director of games at bwin.party, told eGR Mobile Intelligence the gesture-based controls made it easier to carry out common actions, with placing a bet, calling or folding all being done with a single finger swipe.

“The new portrait view allows a player to easily access these controls through the use of one hand making the game very easy to play,” Waters said.

The app is only available in the UK while bwin.party analyses player feedback, but Waters said the intention was to roll it out in other markets and on other operating systems in the near future.

“We are seeking the feedback of our players before deciding whether to roll these, or similar, changes to the iOS and Android applications,” he said.

The app launch comes shortly after partypoker implemented major changes to its poker ecology in a bid to attract more casual players and drive growth.

“We are extremely pleased with the response from our players since the recent ecology changes were introduced,” Waters said.

“We are seeing positive trends across a number of our core KPIs which we believe are, in part, attributable to an improved poker ecology,” he added.

GVC Holding’s £1.2bn acquisition of bwin.party is set to complete early next month, but Waters said the takeover would have little impact on the strategy for partypoker.

“Whilst we have not concluded plans for poker post-merger, the integration of GVC brands onto the bwin.party poker platform will clearly bring increased liquidity, thereby benefiting all brands sharing the dotcom liquidity pool,” he said.

“At this time, we don’t anticipate the merger leading to any changes in strategy for partypoker,” Waters added.