It seems that Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is getting into the online gambling market.  The software developer CryptoLogic Limited announced this week that they have signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Kurastica to distribute its Internet casino software in the country and the commonwealth.  This is the first time an agreement of this sort has been made with Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union.

The multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement authorizes Kurastica to distribute the online gambling software throughout Russia and the CIS.  The number of channels will be available to players during the first quarter of 2009.  CryptoLogic’s goal is to expand to new markets tailored to specific needs of the players, says Brian Hadfield, the president and CEO of the company.  They want to expand into new markets and be the premiere online software company around the globe and with their innovative plans to introduce more games to the online world, they are well on the way to doing it.

"With a deep-rooted gaming culture, vast population and fast-growing Internet economy, the CIS is a very promising market. And with a seasoned local partner, CryptoLogic will bring players a truly exceptional entertainment experience,” Hadfield stated.  The Russian company Kurastica is a spinoff of a major international operating company.  They have experience in the gaming marketplace and already run businesses in the CIS.

"This breakthrough into the CIS is another clear demonstration of our success in adapting CryptoLogic's software for different customers, different players and different markets," added Justin Thouin, the vice president of CryptoLogic's product management and business development division.   

CryptoLogic is one of the most comprehensive casino suite software developers on the Internet today.  They offer players and sites over 200 casino games and poker sites and were voted Gambling Online Magazine’s Top Casino Software award for the third consecutive year.  They also made a strategic investment in Mahjong Time, which is a Mahjong software provider and turnkey solution for business in Asia.

According the Hadfield, Mahjong is an ancient game with a long history in China and a following of over 600 million players worldwide.  The company is interested in taking all of the most popular games and pastimes and developing an online entertainment network for everyone to enjoy.  They are working with partners in Asia to accomplish this.  Says Hadfield, “An investment in online Mahjong fits perfectly with our innovation strategy - and our continuing strategy to bring our platform to Asia."