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World Pool returns to UK and Ireland with launch of £50,000 jockeys’ charity prize
World Pool, the largest globally commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will make its UK seasonal bow at Newmarket Racecourse on Saturday 4 May, where a brand new £50,000 initiative is being launched for jockeys.
For the first time the opening two Classics of the UK Flat season will both be World Pool events, with the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday 5 May becoming a new World Pool race this year and joining the 2000 Guineas run the day before.
Guineas weekend will also see the start of a new World Pool initiative, the World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship, where jockeys will compete to accumulate points across World Pool fixtures in the UK & Ireland.
For the winning jockey of every World Pool race in the UK and Ireland, points will be awarded based on the World Pool win dividend. The concept of this point system offers a level playing field for all jockeys, from leaders to rising stars, and their chances of winning are dictated by the public as reflected by their World Pool odds.
Beginning with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, the competition will conclude on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 19 October, with the winner receiving £50,000 to be donated to a charity of their choice.
A further new addition to the World Pool calendar this year will be the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday 26 May. The Tattersalls Gold Cup, run on the same day, will also be a World Pool race for the first time, with prize money increased from €450,000 in 2023 to €500,000 this year.
Following the successful introduction of World Pool Moment of the Year in 2022 in Great Britain and Ireland, this will continue in 2024 covering all full World Pool meetings and will reward stable staff with cash prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong for four people in 2025 to the overall winner.
One World Pool Moment of the Day will be selected at each full World Pool meeting with the winning groom receiving HK$40,000 (or equivalent – £4,000 in the UK and €4,000 in Ireland).
Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “It’s fantastic to be returning to the UK and Ireland with an extended World Pool fixture list this year now featuring the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, and we look forward to making these historic fillies’ Classics available to customers from around the world.
“In addition to the popular World Moment of the Day initiative, we’re excited to announce the new World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship, which will provide a different dimension and further competition to World Pool racedays right up until QIPCO British Champions Day in October.
“It’s a unique competition, with a jockey’s points being determined by World Pool win dividends, and a great initiative as there’s £50,000 up for grabs for the leading rider to donate to a charity of their choice. We are committed to giving money back to racing and good causes, and this seemed the perfect way to do that.”
Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “It’s always an exciting time of year as the Flat season gets underway and we’re delighted that both the UK’s first Classics are World Pool events. City Of Troy has the potential to be a global superstar and we look forward to his seasonal reappearance being watched and bet on by 28 countries who play into the UK’s first World Pool event of 2024.
“Racing fans in the UK and Ireland will be able to access the huge global pools at tote.co.uk, on the Tote App and at racecourses which means excellent value is on offer, while the sport benefits from this increasingly important revenue stream.”
Martin Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the media interests of The Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York Racecourses, said: “RMG looks forward to another exciting World Pool season in UK and Ireland, and will continue to work closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote and our racecourses to grow both the sport’s revenues and global appeal.”
Amy Starkey, Managing Director, Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and thank them for their support as we deliver three exciting World Pool days across the QIPCO Guineas Festival and the Betfred Derby Festival.
“For the first time in the UK, we have worked alongside World Pool to host a nine-race card on QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day. This will include the first Classic of the season, whilst we are also delighted to feature the following day’s three-year-old Classic Fillies’ race, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, as a World Pool race for the first time.
“World Pool enables strong reinvestment back into British racing and working alongside them to secure these additional races is an important step as we continue to strengthen links with Hong Kong, engage more fans with British racing and strive to grow our sport.”
Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of the Curragh Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with World Pool in 2024 with the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup on 26 May and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby meeting on 30 June included in the programme.
“We had a very positive first experience with World Pool last year and look forward to building on it this year, bringing our racing to a wider audience. Irish horses have enjoyed great success internationally in recent years and we are delighted to be showcasing our best races through World Pool.
“Inclusion in World Pool has enabled us to increase prizemoney at the Curragh in 2024 and we look forward to developing this relationship further in the future.”
Upcoming UK and Irish World Pool events in first half of 2024:
May
Saturday 4: 2000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (F)
Sunday 5: 1000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (S)
Saturday 18: Lockinge Stakes Day – Newbury Racecourse (P)
Sunday 26: Irish 1000 Guineas Day – Curragh Racecourse (P)
June
Saturday 1: Derby Stakes Day – Epsom Racecourse (F)
Tuesday 18: Queen Anne Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Wednesday 19: Prince of Wales’s Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Thursday 20: Gold Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Friday 21: Commonwealth Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Saturday 22: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)
Sunday 30: Irish Derby Day – Curragh Racecourse (F)
*F: Full meeting – World Pool coverage on all races in the relevant meeting
P: Part meeting – World Pool coverage only on selected races in the relevant meeting
S: Single race – World Pool coverage only on this race in the relevant meeting
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Veikkaus, Finland’s National Lottery Operator, Selects Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for the iLottery and iGaming sector, as its CRM Marketing Solution
Veikkaus will leverage Optimove across all products and channels to maximize lottery, casino, and sports betting player lifetime value through personalized and relevant marketing campaigns, and meeting the highest standards of Responsible Gaming
Veikkaus, Finland’s national lottery operator, has selected Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for the iLottery and iGaming sector, as its CRM Marketing solution to elevate player experiences, loyalty, and lifetime value. Veikkaus operates all gambling activities in Finland, offering a diverse range of games across three main categories: Lottery, Casino, and Sports Betting.
Optimove, the only CRM Marketing Solution approved as an official European Lotteries Association Associate Member, is the #1 CRM Marketing solution used by digital lottery operators across the globe. The company empowers digital lottery operators – such as Sisal, Scientific Games, Connecticut Lottery, Kentucky Lottery, Pennsylvania Lottery, Maryland Lottery, La Tinka, and more – to achieve growth through their existing players. Optimove is used by 56% of iGaming operators in EGR’s Power 50 Ranking 2024, including bet365, Kindred Group, Lottomatica, and Entain.
Veikkaus gains the following key capabilities:
- Advanced marketing AI capabilities: Providing AI-driven Insights, Creation, and Orchestration for better player understanding, streamlining of content creation, and campaign optimization for enhanced personalized experiences across player touchpoints.
- Enriched customer profiles: Unifying all historical, predictive, and real-time customer data from sources such as CRM, service clouds, and data warehouses via Optimove to create a comprehensive single customer view.
- Multichannel personalization and orchestration: Orchestrating hundreds of campaigns seamlessly across email, mobile, and web channels to deliver personalized customer communications across any channel.
- A continuous optimization loop: Measuring the incremental uplift of each campaign, journey, and strategy with productized experimentation tools to continuously optimize CRM Marketing performance.
- Adherence to meet or exceed Responsible Gambling Standards: As a global CRM Marketing platform, Optimove meets the highest standards of Responsible Gambling worldwide.
Additionally, Veikkaus will leverage Optimove’s Digital Experience Platform (DXP), Opti-X, to deliver personalized, dynamic content and product recommendations across multiple touchpoints, enhancing player satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
Optimove’s data-driven approach will help Veikkaus fine-tune jackpot sensitivity and optimize the generosity of bonuses and promotions. Predictive models will support Responsible Gambling by anticipating player behavior. Furthermore, Veikkaus will receive ongoing support from Optimove’s Strategic Services team, ensuring tailored, data-driven marketing and monetization strategies to maximize business results.
“This partnership with Optimove marks a significant step forward in driving our growth and Responsible Gaming initiatives. Optimove’s track record and industry experience are unparalleled in CRM marketing,” said Saara Pekkonen, VP of Marketing at Veikkaus. “Optimove’s proven ability to deliver personalized, data-driven player engagement at scale will be central to our continued drive to elevate our marketing strategy and execution. Optimove’s AI-powered capabilities enable us to offer players more relevant and engaging experiences, increasing satisfaction, loyalty, and maximizing player lifetime value.”
“Veikkaus has an incredible legacy in delivering engaging and Responsible Gaming experiences to the people of Finland,” said Pete Miles, Director of Sales at Optimove. “We’re honored to partner with them to enhance player engagement through tailored, data-driven marketing strategies. Optimove will enable Veikkaus to personalize every touchpoint, increasing player loyalty and satisfaction while ensuring Responsible Gambling practices remain at the forefront. Working in partnership with the Veikkaus team, we’ll provide data and insights that help Optimove continually lead the CRM marketing space with other WLA Members.”
The post Veikkaus, Finland’s National Lottery Operator, Selects Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for the iLottery and iGaming sector, as its CRM Marketing Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Leading distributor further enhances its high-quality offering with new games from rising-star of live casino and slots developer
QTech Games, the leading game distributor for emerging markets, has confirmed its latest premium provider partnership with Live88, allowing its platform customers to access the supplier’s wide-ranging live-casino portfolio.
Live88 is a fast-growing provider of customisable live-dealer games – such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat, imbuing traditional classics with real-time gameplay and added social features. LatAm-facing favourites like Betsul, JKBet and Arena Brasil have also recently been launched, introducing a new live casino vertical to engage new players and offering operators a broader cutting-edge for innovation across the ever-evolving landscape of emerging markets.
In a short period, Live88 has quickly established itself a trusted provider in the sector, with a number of unique tables recently added to its wide portfolio. The thriving live-dealer domain continues to go from strength to strength with a truly global fanbase – and Live88’s hit titles (e.g. Royal Riches Roulette, showcasing fresh takes and industry-first collectible features in our first gameshow) are now riding on the back of the fastest-growing distributor for all growth territories. QTech Games’ platform boasts the broadest gaming suite around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.
Incorporating this ever-evolving production line emphasizes QTech Games’ diverse range of gaming options, providing a definitive one-stop shop, QTech ONE™, which has fast-become the “go-to” solution for worldwide operators across developing territories.
James Corrie, Head of Live Games and RNG at Live88, said: “Whether it’s custom-branded tables with dedicated live dealers in a range of different languages, or Live88 tables decked out to match any casino brand, we will equip QTech Games’ legion of partners with full flexibility and the highest-quality games.
“Live casino is a hugely popular product worldwide and our offering is taking this vertical to the next level, encouraging players to bond together and enhance each other’s experience on a truly social journey. This agreement naturally broadens Live88’s geographic footprint, targeting emerging markets from Asia and Eastern Europe to Africa and Latin America, and uncovering new revenue streams.”
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We look forward to monitoring how these games perform across a range of untested markets which, in most cases, represent new territory for Live88.
“Thanks to a blend of classic appeal and modern social features, Live88 stands out as a breakthrough innovator for the live-dealer experience and a real revenue-driver revenue for digital casinos by offering their players a fresh-yet-familiar gaming journey. Ingenuity and creativity are central pillars of what we do, and we are pleased to have found a partner that shares these tenets. We can’t wait to deliver Live88’s games to our operator partners via the dominant platform for emerging markets.”
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Tom Horn Gaming, an igaming software solutions supplier, is introducing 27 Crystal Fruits, the latest instalment in their beloved Crystal Fruits series.
Packed with fresh twists, this classic slot game brings a vibrant new energy to the fruit machine genre. Players can look forward to the exhilarating Infinite 27 Wild Respin, powered by the supplier’s innovative proprietary feature, QuickX and a thrilling Bonus Buy option, making every spin a chance for massive rewards.
Experience the Infinite 27 Wild Respin
Set across a 3×3 grid, 27 Crystal Fruits offers players 5 winlines in the base game, which transform into 27 criss-cross paylines when the Infinite 27 Wild Respin is triggered. This feature activates whenever a 27 WILD symbol lands on any of the reels, launching a respin where winning combinations explode to make way for new symbols and more chances to win. With each respin, the win multiplier begins at x2 and increases up to x4, keeping the excitement alive. Respins continue until no further wins are achieved.
Amplify the Action with QuickX
For players eager to dive right into the action, 27 Crystal Fruits offers the QuickX feature, allowing them to select their desired multiplier and instantly enter the respin mode. Players can choose a multiplier from x2 to x4, ensuring that the rewards match the thrill. This feature is available through the Bonus Buy option, where players can purchase a guaranteed respin with their chosen multiplier, ensuring high-octane gameplay from the start.
A Game for All Adventurers
27 Crystal Fruits is designed to appeal to both new and experienced players, offering medium volatility with an RTP of 95.07%. The game’s simple yet dynamic mechanics, coupled with its colourful visuals and crisp animations, create a highly engaging gaming experience, blending nostalgia with features attractive for contemporary gamers.
Katarina Slaninova, Head of Marketing at Tom Horn Gaming, said: “27 Crystal Fruits is a fresh take on a classic theme. We’ve retained the familiar elements that our players love but added new dimensions with features like the Infinite 27 Wild Respin and QuickX. It’s fast-paced, engaging, and offers great winning potential – a perfect addition to our Crystal Fruits series.”
With its modern twists on a beloved format, 27 Crystal Fruits is set to become another fan favourite in Tom Horn Gaming’s impressive portfolio. Whether you’re looking to relive the charm of traditional fruit slots or dive into the innovative features of Infinite 27 Wild Respin and QuickX, this game promises non-stop action and rewards.
The game will be available worldwide from 17 October.
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