racing-tv-secures-exclusive-british-rights-to-world’s-richest-horserace,-the-us$20-million-saudi-cup

Racing TV Secures Exclusive British Rights to World’s Richest Horserace, the US$20 Million Saudi Cup

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Racing TV is the only place to see the Saudi Cup in the United Kingdom

Racing TV has secured the exclusive British broadcast rights to the world’s richest horserace, the US$20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh tomorrow (Saturday, February 24).

The showpiece race, run over a distance of 1,800 metres at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, has attracted some of the finest thoroughbreds from around the globe.

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, the big American hope, White Abarrio, heads a strong 14-horse field but will face a stiff challenge from Japanese duo, 2023 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake.

The day itself boasts a combined prize fund of US$37.35 million and the card is enhanced by two Group 2 races and three Group 3 races for thoroughbreds as well as two Group 1 contests for purebred Arabians.

There is a strong British and Irish contingent and one of the highlights will be the US$2 million Howden Neom Turf at 4:10pm, in which Aidan O’Brien’s classy Luxembourg takes on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer, who won the prestigious Bahrain International Trophy in November.

The leading horseracing channel will broadcast the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia’s official World Feed programme, fronted by Racing TV presenters Nick Luck and Tom Stanley.

Saturday’s feature races are (all GMT): 3:25pm, 4:10pm, 4:50pm and Saudi Cup at 5:35pm. The final fields are here: Saudi Cup Saturday (jcsa.sa).

Racing TV is available on Sky 424, Virgin 536 (Britain) and 411 (Ireland), Apple TV and Vodafone (Ireland). For more, please visit www. RacingTV. com.

esports-to-beat-football?-softswiss-shares-sports-betting-trends-for-2024

Esports to Beat Football? SOFTSWISS Shares Sports Betting Trends for 2024

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Esports is raising its position among top sports by bets in 2023. The product team of the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, a top sports betting software provider, reflects on the past year.

 

Esports Unstoppable Rise

Over the past three years, the top three sports by bets remain unchanged, with football, tennis and basketball maintaining their leadership. In contrast, esports has demonstrated a consistent upward trend, progressing from the seventh position in 2021 to the fourth in 2023. Notably, Counter-Strike stands out, claiming the sixth position among the top ten disciplines by the number of bets.

Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, comments: “Considering the rise of esports, we guide our partners to focus on cyber disciplines, engaging audiences beyond traditional betting demographics. Highlighting the cybersports potential for operators, Newzoo’s report projects 640 million viewers by 2025.”

 

Mobiles Drive 92% of Operator GGR

Another notable trend in sports betting, which has remained unchanged for several years, is the consistent growth in bets made from mobile devices. According to the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, 80% of bets in 2023 were placed via mobile versus 70% in 2022 and 68% in 2021. This trend solidifies as players increasingly opt for mobile convenience, especially in live betting scenarios. More importantly, it was mobile devices that contributed 92% to the operators’ GGR.

Kamenetskyi adds: “Mobile betting is one of our main focuses in product development. We put much effort into improving our mobile application and mobile website. It is specifically important for locations facing challenges with internet connectivity and regions like LatAm and Africa where internet coverage is still growing.”

 

Casino Turnover Drops During Major Sports Events

The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team has repeatedly emphasised shifts in player behaviour around major sports events. Specifically, there was a 10–20% drop in online casino turnover, coinciding with the World Cup 2022. This highlights a dynamic wherein a significant portion of casino players redirect their focus towards sports betting based on seasonal patterns. Considering audience preferences, reinforcing casinos with sportsbooks is a logical step.

Kamenetskyi adds: “This pattern underscores the strategic imperative for iGaming stakeholders to recognise the synergistic relationship between casino ventures and sportsbooks. Combining these options not only enhances casino appeal but also maintains player engagement, especially during sports events. In this context, it is worth mentioning that the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is compatible with any casino platform on the market.”

Additionally, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team notes the strengthening of other trends like regulation and responsible gambling that have recently been highlighted in the iGaming Trends 2024 report by SOFTSWISS. The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team will be glad to discuss all learnings during the first SBC Summit Rio at the stand D360.

 

About SOFTSWISS 

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

the-largest-exhibition-of-the-gaming-industry-in-bulgaria-marks-its-15-year

The largest exhibition of the gaming industry in Bulgaria marks its 15 year

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The largest trade exhibition of the gaming industry for Central and Eastern Europe – BEGE, which takes place in Sofia, marks its 15th anniversary this year. The event will be held on November 27th and 28th at the Inter Expo Center, Sofia, and dozens of companies from Europe, the USA, and Asia have already announced their participation.

The day before the start of the exhibition, the traditional BEGE Awards will be handed out. The glamorous ceremony will take place on 26 November 2024 in a sophisticated setting with the participation of representatives from across the sector. The awards are presented to individuals and companies with significant contributions to the gaming and entertainment industry.

During the exhibition, the Eastern European conference of the gaming industry – EEGS will be held, again at the Inter Expo Center. It is a preferred platform for experts who have the opportunity to learn about regulatory changes, technological developments and the latest trends in the sector.

In 2023, dozens of exhibitors from three continents presented their latest products. “We are glad that hundreds of professionals and experts visited BEGE and our expectations for this year are to welcome even more people. For 15 years, the event has become one of the most influential exhibitions in Europe for the sector, gathering experts, professionals and companies from all over the world, covering all verticals of the online and offline segments of the industry,” explained Natalia Baevska, Project Manager of the exhibition.

BEGE provides an opportunity to make business contacts, present the latest products from the industry, which successfully applies the latest technological innovations, including artificial intelligence.

tundra-esports-announces-addition-of-ludwig-‘zai’-wahlberg-as-dota-2-general-manager-to-the-team

Tundra Esports Announces Addition of Ludwig ‘Zai’ Wahlberg as Dota 2 General Manager to the Team

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The veteran offlaner and captain will serve as the cornerstone for Tundra Esports’ Performance Management Team

Tundra Esports is delighted to announce the addition of Ludwig ‘Zai’ Wahlberg to its Dota 2 Performance Management Team, taking on the role of General Manager.

A household name in the competitive scene to both fans and peers alike, Wahlberg brings over tens years of experience, numerous championships and four top-three finishes at The International to the Tundra Esports tribe. Alongside his impressive tenures on some of the highest profile rosters in Dota’s history, he retains the impressive record of a 66.6% win rate across his 2,000+ game career; the highest of all pro Dota players*. For someone with such an intimate relationship with success in Dota 2, Wahlberg is expected to bring about a new level of excellence to the team’s management style and gameplay.

*With more than 200 pro matches played

Wahlberg’s addition further cements Tundra Esports’ commitment to growing and evolving its performance management team and the move marks a significant milestone for the organisation’s continued journey towards competitive success in the world of Dota 2.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Ludwig ‘Zai’ Wahlberg to Tundra Esports as the Dota 2 General Manager and support his journey into management after his illustrious playing career,” the co-founder and Esports Director for Tundra Esports, Anthony Graham, said. “We are doubling down on our approach to Dota and I don’t think there is a better person to lead our Dota operations going forward than Wahlberg.”

Wahlberg joins the already star-studded 2024 Tundra Esports Dota roster, consisting of:

1 – Ivan ‘Pure-‘ Moskalenko
2 – Topias ‘Topson’ Taavitsainen
3 – Ivan ‘MinD_ContRoL’ Ivanov
4 – Edgar ‘9Class’ Naltakian
5 – Matthew ‘Whitemon’ Filemon

“After an extensive break from the game, I’m very excited to be involved with Dota again but in a different capacity,” Wahlberg said. “I’m looking forward to stepping into a new role as General Manager for Tundra Esports and to use my previous experiences and insights as a player to manage and influence its Dota division.”

Fans will get to witness his impact on the team’s performance first-hand in its upcoming match against The International 12 champions Team Spirit this Sunday at DreamLeague Season 22.

riot-games-announces-valorant-esports-emea-partnership-with-unilumin

Riot Games Announces VALORANT Esports EMEA Partnership With Unilumin

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With the start of the 2024 competitive VALORANT Esports season now underway, we’re proud to announce our partnership with Unilumin, a world leading LED display solution provider!

Unilumin has been instrumental in helping us level up the fan experience at the all-new Riot Games Arena with their industry-leading LED display technology, of which 250 square meters will now feature across the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. We’re so excited to welcome them on board as an official supplier for VCT EMEA, VALORANT Game Changers EMEA, and VALORANT Ascension EMEA.

Unilumin’s screens will light up the stage at the Berlin arena – and their logo will feature across various VALORANT Esports EMEA broadcasts throughout 2024. They’ve supplied display solutions globally from Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium to the Mercedes-Benz Arena, a mere stone’s throw away from us at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. They’ve also worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment venues and global sports stadiums to illuminate events across the globe with grandstand, perimeter, and centerhung screens alongside scoreboards in major competition venues.

As we continue to level up the fan experience throughout 2024, we know Unilumin is the perfect partner to help us bring the most immersive experience and exciting atmosphere to the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, for our fans.

“Unilumin Sports is pleased to bring our solutions and technologies to the Riot Games Arena in Berlin and be a partner of VALORANT Esports in EMEA”, said Oscar Feng, the Global Director of Unilumin Sports. “We will use our well-designed products and fast response services to cooperate with Riot Games for their events and show the ultimate audio-visual experience to their fans.”

“After working with Unilumin for the refit of the Riot Games Arena, we’re delighted to welcome them as a supplier for our various VALORANT Esports EMEA events in 2024,” said Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports EMEA. “Unilumin has helped us enhance the fan experience for those watching from home and joining us on-site, and we can’t wait to use their display technology throughout the season.”

unearth-riches-and-mystery-in-endorphina’s-latest-slot-adventure:-book-of-conquistador!

Unearth Riches and Mystery in Endorphina’s Latest Slot Adventure: Book of Conquistador!

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Get ready for an exhilarating journey into the unknown with Endorphina’s newest slot game release: Book of Conquistador. This game promises to transport players to a world of undiscovered wonders and hidden treasures. The slot launches on January 18th, so stay tuned!

Book of Conquistador is not just any slot game – it’s an adventure packed into a 5-reel, 3-row, and 10-payline format. Designed to immerse players in a thrilling quest, this game takes you on an expedition to uncover secrets buried beneath ancient ruins.

In this gripping adventure slot, players follow a mystical map leading to forgotten treasures, hidden deep within lost temples. The legendary Book of Conquistador, serving as both a SCATTER and WILD, is your guide to untold riches. The reels are filled with symbols of ancient gold coins, golden masks, mysterious maps, exquisite necklaces, and valuable rings – all leading the way to the legendary lost ancient city.

The excitement intensifies with the appearance of 3 or more SCATTER symbols, which trigger 10 Free Games featuring a special expanding symbol. These Free Games maintain the same bets and lines as the initial game and can be retriggered, offering endless possibilities for big wins. The WILD symbol adds an extra layer of excitement, substituting for 9 regular symbols during Free Games, except for the special expanding symbols.

A unique twist awaits players at the beginning of the Free Games feature. A special expanding symbol is randomly selected and hidden inside the Book of Conquistador. When enough of these special symbols appear on the reels, they expand vertically, potentially leading to significant payouts.

For those who like to up the stakes, the Classic Risk Game offers a chance to double winnings up to 10 times. The Bonus Pop feature is also available, adding another layer of excitement to the gameplay.

Open the Book of Conquistador and let the adventure begin! Watch as fortunes unfold and mysteries unravel, one spin at a time.

casino-crypto-giant-bitline-partners-with-ciphertrace-for-enhanced-compliance-in-digital-asset-transactions

Casino Crypto Giant Bitline Partners with Ciphertrace for Enhanced Compliance in Digital Asset Transactions

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BitLine, the only industry provider for casino chip access directly from digital assets, announced a strategic partnership with Ciphertrace, a global leader in digital asset transaction monitoring known for its technology widely used by governments and law enforcement worldwide.

The collaboration follows recent developments in the digital assets industry, where regulatory actions and leadership changes have been observed. By integrating Ciphertrace, Bitline enhances its capabilities for real-time transaction monitoring and compliance with global regulatory standards. Ciphertrace automates the screening of incoming and outgoing transactions.

Bitline CEO and co-founder Richard Jones stated: “In the context of the Web3 industry today, competition is not just about bringing in a product that solves a problem, it is also about ensuring that we all stay way above the line when it comes to compliance and regulations. We are enthusiastic about this collaborative journey with Ciphertrace, reinforcing our commitment to security, compliance, and the seamless integration of innovative technologies into the digital asset landscape.”

Acquired by Mastercard in 2021, Ciphertrace is a global leader in digital asset transaction monitoring. Trusted by governments and law enforcement, Ciphertrace provides solutions for compliance, security, and risk management in the cryptocurrency space.

Bitline will implement Ciphertrace Traveler to support compliance with “Travel Rule” regulations and FATF recommendations, strengthening efforts against financial crimes. Bitline launched its service in 2023, facilitating direct access to cryptocurrency and digital asset liquidity in just minutes. The Bitline platform can be used in casinos around the world 24/7.

The latest addition of Ciphertrace’s risk threat detection tools underscores Bitline’s commitment to upholding the highest standards within Web3 compliance.

pagcor-says-188bet’s-return-to-the-philippines-a-huge-vote-of-confidence

PAGCor Says 188BET’s Return to the Philippines a Huge Vote of Confidence

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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCor) today said that it welcomes the decision of online gaming giant 1888BET to move its operations from the Isle of Man back to the Philippines.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for PAGCor, Alejandro H Tengco, said 188BET’s return ‘is a huge vote of confidence for the country as a regulatory haven and this is precisely what PAGCor is working hard at’.

“188BET’s move is a very positive response to our call for gaming investors to come to the Philippines,” Tengco said. “We would like to assure 188BET and other potential investors that PAGCor shall continue to be fair to everybody and that there will be a level playing field with a predictable and dependable regulatory framework.”

188BET announced its decision to move its operations to the Philippines earlier this week. The sports betting and casino company said that, effective March 19, its current operator, Cube Limited, will surrender its current Io MGSC licence in the Isle of Man and that 188BET will be operated by a new Philippines-based company, BestCommerce Corporation, which is licensed and regulated by PAGCor.

Tengco encouraged other investors to ride on the Philippine gaming industry’s growth momentum.

“Overall, the industry can expect sustained growth in the next five years with at least one integrated resort (IR) opening every year beginning this year in Quezon City to be followed by new IRs in Cebu, Clark and other equally strategic locations,” Tengco said.

He added that the industry can also expect PAGCor’s full decoupling from its casino operations within that time frame to become a purely regulatory entity dedicated to overseeing growth and attracting more investments.

“We shall also continue lowering our license fees and modernizing our systems to help realize our vision of making the Philippines the gold standard in gaming in the Asia-Pacific region,” Tengco said.

188BET used to hold office in Makati but it moved out of the country during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

888africa-announces-partnership-with-incentive-games-for-new-suite-of-crash-games

888AFRICA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH INCENTIVE GAMES FOR NEW SUITE OF CRASH-GAMES

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Leading online betting and gaming operator, 888AFRICA, announces partnership with acquisition and retention specialist Incentive Games to develop its innovative new suite of ‘Velocity’ crash games – Velocity Classic, Velocity Turbo and Velocity Free. The three games are set to launch in Q2 2024 in five countries.

The suite of bespoke games is tailored with precision by expert developers at Incentive Games to ensure seamless integration and to enhance player engagement – providing an exciting opportunity for new interactive content across 888AFRICA’s platform. Once live, the Incentive Labs team – a collective of R&D, data and AI specialists who are passionate about turning data into unique solutions – will work behind the scenes to analyse user touchpoints and further tailor the games using smart segmentation and AI-rewards.

John Gordon, CEO and co-founder of Incentive Games, said of the partnership: “I’m delighted to join forces with Christopher Coyne and his team again. 888AFRICA is one of the fastest-growing brands in the region, and we’re honoured to help fuel their expansion. Their new crash games are different to everything else in the market and are shifting the gears of innovation!”

Christopher Coyne, co-founder and CEO of 888AFRICA, said: “At 888AFRICA, we’re on a mission to bring high-quality, entertaining and unique betting and gaming experiences to players across Africa. These exciting and dynamic games will help us do exactly that, while differentiating our portfolio of titles. We look forward to working with John and the team to integrate Velocity onto our platform and introduce players to these exciting titles in the months ahead.”

Customers must be aged over 18 and verified by 888AFRICA.

university-esports-masters-announcement

UNIVERSITY Esports Masters Announcement

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UNIVERSITY Esports Masters (UE Masters) announces the launch of Season 2024, featuring competitive gaming tournaments for university students across Europe. The season includes tournaments in League of LegendsVALORANTRocket LeagueTeamfight Tactics, and Clash Royale.  

UNIVERSITY Esports Masters is the international competition for university students, where students from all over Europe compete for the title of European University Champion. The 2024 edition will be the 8th season of the competition, and will have a total prize pool of €14,000.  

More than just an esports competition

The main goals of UEMasters are to foster a sense of community among players across Europe, give them the opportunity to compete in high quality international tournaments and provide opportunities to the next generation to take esports further.

In addition to supporting players in a potential career as esports players, the event is an opportunity for many students to take paid organisation and broadcast roles – both on camera and behind the scenes. This presents the next generation of grassroots talent, not just players, with valuable chances to get their first professional experience in the burgeoning esports industry.

How can UK students qualify?

Open Tournaments

The single player games included in UEMasters – Teamfight Tactics and Clash Royale – are now open to students to sign up. To participate, students must be enrolled in universities registered with the associated national competitions (in the UK, this competition is UNIVERSITY Esports), and not be professional players.  

Registration is open until March 6th, and interested players can register via the following links:

Teamfight Tactics: https://uemasters.com/competition/tournament/university-esports-masters-2024-teamfight-tactics

The Teamfight Tactics competition will take place on March 9th and 10th, distributing a prize pool of €550 among its top players. The Clash Royale tournament will be held on March 16th and 17th, with a prize pool of €350 for the top players.

Team-Based Games

Teams will be formed from each country’s national qualifiers, allowing students to represent their country in the competition and vie for the European Champion title.

The teams representing Great Britain in League of LegendsVALORANT, and Rocket League  will be the winners of the Spring seasons of UNIVERSITY Esports, a competition organised in the UK by NUEL, and the British University Esports Championship, organised by NSE.

Teams from universities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are not able to qualify through UK competitions, but instead can qualify for UEM through the Ireland Collegiate Esports Series.

Rocket League

The dates for the Rocket League tournament are as follows: the Swiss Round will take place on May 4th and 5th, followed by the Playoffs and Final on May 11th and 12th. The prize pool for the top teams totals €2,100.

League of Legends and VALORANT

For the League of Legends competition, the Swiss Round is scheduled for April 20th and 21st, followed by the Playoffs on May 18th and 19th.