LONDON (AFX) - PartyGaming PLC, the world's biggest internet gaming group, agreed to buy a smaller Scandinavian rival for 14.5 mln usd and simultaneously announced further changes to arrangements with so-called 'skins' in an effort to boost revenues.
In a statement the company said it has agreed to buy the business, assets, player database and intellectual property of Multipoker, including the Multipoker brand and the MultiPoker.com site.
MultiPoker is a leading online poker company in Scandinavia with more than 255,000 registered players.
PartyGaming went on to say it was changing its relationship with three of its four 'skins' partners -- MultiPoker, IntertopsPoker and Coral EurobetPoker.
The company last month said it was moving its PartyPoker.com brand and all of its players to a newly integrated operating platform.
It is looking to reduce its reliance on skins, companies which drive gamblers to certain gaming platforms in return for a fee.
PartyGaming's purchase of Multipoker comes amid a wave of consolidation of the fast-growing, but highly fragmented, online gaming industry.
It last month made a preliminary approach to buy fellow internet-based gaming group Empire Online PLC.
