Australia
Inspired’s Virtual Melbourne Cup Was A Success
The inaugural Lexus Melbourne Cup The Race of Dreams televised across Australia
Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva was the official winner of the inaugural “Lexus Melbourne The Race of Dreams” created by Inspired Entertainment, Inc. for the Victoria Racing Club (“VRC”). The thrilling virtual race pitted 24 past champions of the Cup against each other in a live broadcast across Australia on Network 10 ahead of the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Commemorating 160 years of Australia’s greatest race, Inspired’s ultra-realistic computer-simulated representation of the Cup pitted legendary Melbourne Cup winners head-to-head using a complex algorithm to decide the actual race result, answering the age-old question – who is the ultimate Cup champion? In her signature style, Makybe Diva came up from deep in the field to take the win over Phar Lap in the home straight.
“Melbourne Cup champions such as Phar Lap, Carbine, Makybe Diva, Saintly and Might and Power captured public attention, won our hearts and have all become legends in their own right. It is always uplifting to remember and celebrate those monumental achievements,” said VRC Chairman Amanda Elliott. “In my lifetime I have been fortunate enough to witness some incredible Cup victories, none more impressive than Makybe Diva winning her third Cup in 2005. Creating a virtual race to compare recent winners to those of the past was fascinating and has generated some robust and entertaining debate.”
As the pioneer of Virtual Sports, Inspired has re-created the action of the world’s most popular sports for more than a decade. Inspired has famously created virtual versions of the Cox Plate in Australia, Kentucky Derby in the U.S. and the Grand National in the UK. All of these events were broadcast on national television with millions of viewers, proving that Virtual Sports are realistic enough to take center stage.
“Our goal was to make the race look realistic and be exciting for all the Australian’s watching on television. It turned out to be an amazing race and a thrilling conclusion, coming down to the home straight,” said Steve Rogers, Inspired Chief Commercial Officer for Virtual Sports. “We’d like to thank VRC and its media partners for this opportunity to showcase our award-winning Virtual Sports and celebrate Australia’s racing history.”
Inspired’s Virtual Sports are popular worldwide, appealing to a wide variety of players through more than 40,000 retail channels and 100+ websites in 35 countries. Watch the “Lexus Melbourne The Race of Dreams” at https://vimeo.com/474927229. Trailers and demos of the latest Virtual Sports offerings are available at www.inseinc.com/virtuals/.
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Andrew Cardno
QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has launched its Data Community platform in Australia, bringing unified consumer intelligence to the rapidly expanding $13 trillion global Fun Economy. By connecting venues, retailers and destination districts into a single interoperable ecosystem, the platform enables real-time insights, personalised engagement and seamless digital-to-physical experiences.
The Data Community platform enables smarter staffing, stronger tenant collaboration and more personalised engagement, helping operators manage increasingly complex, high-traffic environments. The global “Fun Economy” — spanning leisure, hospitality, retail and entertainment — is valued at over $13 trillion, according to joint research from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Zero Labs.
Tony Toohey, Director of TT Management welcomed the platform’s availability in Australia: “The Australian market is increasingly focused on connected, experience-led destinations,” said Toohey.
“Operators here understand the importance of breaking down data silos and collaborating across venues and partners. QCI’s Data Community platform arrives at the right time, enabling a more coordinated and commercially intelligent approach to managing entertainment and hospitality environments.”
Andrew Cardno, Co-Founder and CTO of QCI, said: “Australia represents a sophisticated and forward-looking market for experience-driven destinations,” said Cardno.
“By bringing Data Community to the region, we are equipping operators with the tools to unify their data, understand guest journeys more deeply and curate experiences — not just transactions.”
QCI’s technology is deployed in more than 1000 sites globally, including over 300 casino resorts across North America, Australia and Europe. The company’s platform supports leading brands across gaming, hospitality and mixed-use entertainment districts, helping operators align marketing, operations and guest engagement within a single intelligence framework.
With the launch of Data Community in Australia, QCI continues to expand its role as the intelligence layer powering connected destinations across the evolving Fun Economy.
The post QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026
Liquor & Gaming NSW has published the Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28, setting a clear path for reducing harm, supporting responsible industry growth and meeting evolving community expectations. The Strategy outlines Hospitality and Racing’s vision, regulatory posture and strategic objectives.
It outlines three strategic objectives which will guide the work to support communities, individuals and the industry. The first is targeted harm reduction, using better data, education and engagement to focus on the areas where we can make the biggest difference.
The second is outcome‑focused, responsive regulation, by making use of streamlined, place‑based and community‑informed approaches that deliver meaningful, real-world outcomes.
Third is promoting modern tools, skilled teams and smart decisions, investing in its capability, improving how it uses data and supporting consistent decision making across hospitality and racing.
Regulatory Priorities 2026
Alongside the new strategy, Liquor & Gaming NSW has also issued its Regulatory Priorities 2026. This sets out where the department will be focusing its regulatory attention over course of the year. It provides transparency on Liquor & Gaming’s forward regulatory agenda and gives the industry the opportunity to proactively engage about the issues they are concerned about.
The post NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ACMA
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling sites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include:
Lucky Mate
Vegastars
Wombet
Cosmobet
Fortune Play
Fortunica
Rolletto
Velobet
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1518 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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