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British Bookmakers Set to Make Record Contribution for Rights to Show Horse Racing
British bookmakers are on track to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.
The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.
In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.
But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.
The combined increase for media rights costs is now expected to rise by 16.7% between 2022 and 2024.
The figures are based on data supplied by the Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, then adjusted to include smaller operators, who must also pay for media rights.
Michael Dugher, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said: “BGC members are already making a record contribution to horse racing and these figures show that is only going to increase.
“This comes despite a reduction in betting turnover on racing in the last five years and a worrying decline in participation in horse race betting overall.
“Horse racing remains a hugely important, world-leading sport, enjoyed by millions of fans and like the betting industry it continues to support large numbers of jobs.
“I know racing is trying to modernise and reach out to new fans, while also trying to bounce back from the Covid pandemic and deal with some difficult economic headwinds, plus deal with the hit on its funding caused by the Government. The betting industry is dealing with many of the same pressures on our revenues and costs.
“The BGC and our members remain fully committed to working together with the leadership of the sport, including the BHA and others, to ensure a better future for racing. But the fact that we are making a record and growing contribution to the sport cannot be ignored.”
The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.
These figures showed an increase on previous estimates for the regulated sector’s contribution, which had placed it at around £350m a year.
In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships, which helps secure vital terrestrial coverage of the sport and raise revenue for print newspaper titles.
As well as the increased costs for media rights, levy payments are projected to be £99m in 2022/2023, according to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
This record investment also enabled horse racing to use some of these revenues to deliver record prize money of £179.3m in 2022.
Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.
However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.
Meanwhile football overtook horse racing betting around the same time between 2017/2018.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.
The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.
Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.
The regulated betting industry fully supports this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise horse racing so it can realise its full commercial potential.
The BGC is also working closely with the government on the proposed reforms from the White Paper to ensure those who enjoy betting can continue to do so without unnecessary intrusion, while introducing improved safeguards for the minority who struggle.
Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.
The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.
In April DCMS unveiled the Government’s new White Paper on gambling reform, including a number of key measures the BGC had campaigned for.
Those included a new mandatory Ombudsman for the regulated sector, enhanced spending checks online and a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment to tackle gambling related harm and problem gambling.
Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
Meanwhile the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online is growing in the UK, with the numbers betting on these sites doubling in recent years, and the amount staked in the billions.
Soft2Bet has won two major honours at the EGR B2B Awards 2026. The igaming company took home titles for Innovation in Mobile and Innovation in Casino Software.
The awards recognise Soft2Bet’s ability to turn product development into practical growth tools for operators, from native mobile apps and platform migration to MEGA and back-office control. Its technology is shaped by local market needs, partner strategy and strict compliance standards, helping operators launch securely, adapt quickly and grow in competitive markets.
The Innovation in Casino Software award highlights Soft2Bet’s casino platform, back-office tools and MEGA, its Motivational Engineering Gaming Application. The platform brings casino, sportsbook, CRM, CMS, KYC, payments, risk, promotions and player engagement into a single operating setup, giving operators greater control and reducing the need to manage multiple suppliers.
MEGA adds gamification engines to casino and sportsbook journeys through missions, challenges, rewards, segmentation and player progression. For operators, this supports stronger retention, higher LTV and clearer commercial performance. Recent network performance figures show 190% year-on-year Casino Games GGR growth, 173% year-on-year Sportsbook GGR growth, more than 200 million game rounds processed each day and 99.99% platform uptime.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “Recognition from EGR is a strong endorsement of the product development our teams are delivering across mobile, casino software and gamification. Operators want technology that helps them compete, retain players and improve performance without adding unnecessary complexity. These awards support that direction and give us added momentum as we bring MEGA and our platform to more partners.”
The Innovation in Mobile award highlights Soft2Bet’s native app delivery and mobile-first design. Its edge-optimised mobile architecture supports fast load times, stable gameplay, simple one-thumb navigation, haptic feedback, adjustable text sizes and voice-enabled navigation.
Recent mobile work across Betinia and Swiper shows how Soft2Bet creates distinct app journeys for different brands and markets. Betinia reached No. 1 in Sweden and Denmark, and QuickCasino Sweden recorded a 30% improvement in conversion following an App Store Product Page test.
Soft2Bet’s two wins at the EGR B2B Awards 2026 add further recognition to 10 years of building iGaming technology for operators. The company continues to expand its B2B turnkey offering for operators seeking platform migration, native mobile apps and support for new market launches.
Each project is shaped around local player behaviour, partner strategy and strict compliance standards, helping operators enter markets securely and reduce operational complexity. MEGA, Soft2Bet’s API-based gamification product for casino and sportsbook, adds missions, rewards, segmentation and player progression, supporting stronger engagement, retention, LTV and long-term commercial performance.
The post Soft2Bet Wins in Two Categories at the EGR B2B Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Feel the intensity of the stadium lights and the thrill of split-second decisions with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition, a high-energy crash game from Amusnet where football excitement and rising multipliers collide. Inspired by legendary football icon Hristo Stoichkov, this adrenaline-fuelled experience places players right at the heart of the action, where instinct, timing and courage define every round.
From kickoff, the tension builds fast. Players place their wager and watch as the multiplier begins climbing higher and higher, increasing with every passing second. The challenge is simple but intense: cash out before the multiplier crashes. Wait too long, and the opportunity disappears in an instant.
Adding a strategic twist to the gameplay, the 50% Cash Out feature allows players to secure half of their progress mid-round while leaving the rest in play. It creates a dynamic balance between cautious play and daring ambition, turning every decision into a defining moment on the virtual pitch.
Driven by a Provably Fair algorithm, every round delivers transparent gameplay and unpredictable excitement, ensuring that each multiplier rise feels authentic and engaging. Combined with energetic visuals, football-inspired design and the unmistakable presence of the football legend Hristo Stoichkov himself, the game captures the emotion and pressure of a decisive match moment.
Fast-paced, competitive and packed with atmosphere, Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition transforms every round into a battle of nerves where football spirit meets high-voltage crash action. The whistle has blown, the crowd is roaring and the next legendary moment is only seconds away.
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The game starts with a multiplier set at 1x and rises gradually and can go up to a max coefficient of 1,000,000. Multiplier can potentially crash at 1x, ending the game round.
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Players can cash out 50% of their bet during the game round and continue playing with the remaining 50%.
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Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.
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The post Amusnet Brings Football Passion to New Heights with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Fennica Gaming, a leading provider of innovative lottery entertainment, announced the successful launch of its first interactive games with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg, a trusted state lottery serving millions of players in southwest Germany. The collaboration marks for Fennica a significant step in bringing a modern and player‑centric experience to the German lottery market while maintaining the highest regulatory standards.
The rollout of the interactive game takes Lotto Baden‑Württemberg’s digital product portfolio to the next level. Until now, Lotto Baden‑Württemberg has successfully offered digital versions of its popular instant products; with Fennica Gaming, the portfolio now expands to include engaging content designed to meet today’s players’ preferences.
“We are happy moving forward with our strategic market expansion. This partnership adds another major German lottery to Fennica Gaming’s growing European footprint. We have had good connections with Lotto Baden-Württemberg for a long time and now it led to this mutually desired outcome,” said Joni Hovi, SVP Customers & Marketing at Fennica Gaming.
The cooperation was characterised by close alignment and efficient joint execution between teams. Fennica Gaming’s flexible architecture enabled a straightforward rapid technical onboarding, enabling Lotto Baden‑Württemberg to broaden its portfolio quickly and responsibly.
“With this cooperation, we are strengthening our digital portfolio and laying the foundation for continuous development across all platforms. Our top priority is to ensure that our offerings meet the highest standards of player protection, transparency, and regulatory compliance. In Fennica Gaming, we have found a strong partner who meets both our own requirements and those of our customers, enabling us to provide a secure and reliable gaming experience for the long term,” said Daniel Fischer, Product Manager Instants at Lotto Baden‑Württemberg.
“We’re proud to partner with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg, a highly respected and innovative German lottery. Together we’ll deliver a modern, entertaining player experience with rapid time‑to‑market, compliant operations, and simple integration. We are welcoming the Lotto Baden-Württemberg’s approach to meet the players there where they are,” said Marcus Bischoff, Sales Director Europe at Fennica Gaming.
The post Fennica Gaming Goes Live in Germany with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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