Game Account Network (GAN), the tech company controlled by members of the Smurfit family, has signed an agreement to develop a gaming website for a major US casino owned by the family of former US ambassador Dan Rooney.

GAN, which supplies software for both "simulated" online gaming such as non-cash poker games, as well as for real gambling in regulated markets, has teamed up with the Rooneys' Empire City casino at the Yonkers Raceway in New York.

Flotation
The company, which listed in the Aim market in a €90 million flotation in November, is also in talks with a number of multi-state casino operators in the US, where it has partnered with nine major casinos, including Foxwoods casino in Connecticut.

GAN yesterday announced its first set of annual results as a listed entity, with sales more than doubling to £12.3 million and pretax profits reaching £1.6 million. The company's backers also include Dermot Desmond and Andrew Black of Betfair.

Dermot Smurfit Jr, the company's chief executive, said yesterday users of its online simulated gaming services have an average spend of more than three times as much as gamers spend on social media sites such as Facebook. GAN's services are often delivered under another company's brand as "white label" services.

The company is also eyeing up expansion into the Asian market, and Mr Smurfit said it was at an “early stage” in talks with several potential partners. He added however the company’s focus remains on the US.