GIBRALTAR, May 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

- 888 Teams up With Television Giant Endemol to Provide the ItalianGaming Market With Access to a Large Variety of Quality Gaming Offerings.

888.com (http://www.888.com/) has concluded an agreement with Endemol(owned by Goldman Sachs, Mediacinco and Cyrte), the largest TV productioncompany in Italy. The joint venture between these two titans of entertainmentwill merge their respective strengths, for the benefit of the Italian gamingpublic. This is 888's first large-scale consumer launch into the Italianmarket.

According to the terms of the agreement, 888 will co-invest alongsideEndemol in the lucrative Italian market. As the world's premier online gaming(http://www.888.com/) company, 888.com will provide a plethora of excitinggames that will enjoy exclusive use of Endemol's brands. These include Dealor No Deal , Big Brother and more. Endemol is a large multinationalcorporation comprising some 80 companies across 26 countries.

The agreement will become fully enacted when the Italian authoritiesprovide the green light on gaming regulations for casino gaming. This isexpected to be in the latter half of 2010. 888 will benefit greatly fromEndemol's popular brands, entrenched position and large market share. Plus888s gaming expertise will allow Endemol to tap ever deeper into the boominggaming sector.

888 CEO, Gigi Levy, said: "Strategic partnerships are the cornerstone ofsuccessful business enterprise. 888.com is a major global force in the gamingrealm and a partnership with Italian television colossus Endemol is a big winfor everyone. We look forward to a successful relationship by employing ourgaming experience and Endemol's brands, for the benefit of the Italian gamingmarket." Similar sentiments have been echoed by Paolo Bassetti, the Presidentand CEO of Endemol Italy.

About 888.com

888.com is the World's No.1 online casino. It has millions of membersworldwide who enjoy its casino, bingo and poker rooms and receive an onlinegaming experience like no other. Founded in 1997 - 888.com this yearcelebrates its 13th anniversary - by pioneers of the online gaming industry,888.com has developed a strong brand grown by cutting-edge marketing throughoffline sponsorships, poker events, online collaborations and continualupgrading of its flagship online products; 888.com Casino, Bingo and Poker.888.com's goal is to provide quality entertainment to people who enjoygambling, by giving them the opportunity to do so in a safe, fun, fair,regulated and secure environment. Its clients are its assets and itcontinually makes every effort to establish customer satisfaction by buildingrelationships via service, honesty, advice and trust - with every member.

888.com operates under a license granted by the Government of Gibraltarfor the purposes of operating an online casino and poker room. 888.com hasadopted the code of conduct of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), of whichit is a member. 888.com is operated by Cassava Enterprises (Gibraltar) Ltd. Aregistered company incorporated and located in Gibraltar (companyregistration number 83961). The company has other offices around the worldand employs over 750 employees. 888.com can be used in 22 different languagesin 176 countries worldwide. A leading force in the gaming industry since1997, 888.com continually strives to be the No.1 site. It was a foundingmember of eCOGRA, an independent standards authority for the industrycommitted to protecting online players around the world.

It continually donates to UK and global charities and is working evenharder on its CSR messages as well as promoting eCOGRA and providing aninternational framework of best operational and player practice requirementsenforced through inspections, reviews and continuous monitoring by globalaudit companies. 888.com recently announced its first acquisition; the bingobusiness and assets from Globalcom. 888's bingo brand - 888ladies - hasbecome a brand leader within a very short time, winning awards and deliveringa strong community. Further to the new site offerings and followingsignificant technological investment, 888.com has recently embarked in to newon-land ventures; partnering with key brands to deliver specificpropositions. Its first partnership, announced late 2006, is an innovativecooperation with Rileys snooker and pool clubs for which 888.com uses itsonline poker capabilities to power www.rileyspoker.com. 888.com has alsorecently launched mobile, in-flight, and in-hotel casino where customers canaccess their favourite games, not only from their computers but from mobilephones and televisions too.

888.com has been named EGaming Awards Online Casino three times in thelast four years, and won 2008 Best Online Operator Award, as well as beingnamed Best Online Casino at the UK Gambling Awards, and Best Betting andGaming and Operator of the Year at the 2008 Leisure Awards. 888.com alsolanded the 2008 Gambling Online Magazine Top Casino award and its internalmagazine, Eight, won the prestigious Most Effective Membership title at the2008 APA Effectiveness Awards. Offline activity sits side by side the onlinebusiness, complimenting 888.com's position as the leading authority in gamingentertainment. 888.com is the main sponsor of Sevilla FC and sponsors ShaneWarne from the world of cricket. 888's B2B division, Dragonfish, is a leadingprovider of Total Gaming and Payment Services to the online entertainmentindustry. 888 is a member of the FTSE 250 index on the London Stock Exchange

About Endemol

Endemol is a global leader in entertainment programming and the largestindependent television and digital production company in the world.

Endemol comprises a global network of more than 80 companies in 26countries and employs about 6,500 people.

Each year the company produces content and partners with more than 400broadcasters and cross media platforms worldwide. Endemol is also one of thelargest independent distributors of formats and finished programming in theworld. The company has a growing library of over 2,000 formats and more than22,000 hours of content across genres including entertainment, reality TV,game shows, animation, comedy, drama, docu-dramas, features and feature films.

Endemol's credits include international blockbusters formats such as BigBrother, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, 1 vs. 100, StarAcademy and Wipeout. Its growing drama portfolio includes worldwide hits suchas Home and Away, Rush, McLeod's Daughters; Wire in the Blood, Secret Diaryof a Call Girl, Robin Hood and Nini. Endemol is also behind a wide range ofmulti-media sports content including football, cricket, rugby and motorracing.

Endemol is owned by Goldman Sachs, Mediacinco and Cyrte, which acquiredthe company in May 2007.

For further information, please contact Ann-Marie Wilkinson at+44(0)20-792-02344 or newscom@888.com

SOURCE 888.com