Industry News

Sandy’s Racing & Gaming Celebrates Grand Opening

Published

2 years ago

October 30, 2023

sandy’s-racing-&-gaming-celebrates-grand-opening

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear helped open the doors Thursday at Sandy’s Racing & Gaming – a $75 million entertainment facility in Eastern Kentucky that creates nearly 250 new jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenues.

With nearly 700 historical horse racing games, two performance stages and a BetMGM Race & Sportsbook, the 75,000 square-foot facility is unlike anything else in the area.

“Last year, we promised to bring a first-class facility to Boyd County,” said Larry Lucas, Chairman of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, which is making the investment together with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “Today, we can say – promises made, promises kept.”

The project will also include Kentucky’s only quarter horse racetrack and an equestrian center, located on 182 acres behind Sandy’s. While track construction is officially set to begin in early 2024, Thursday’s festivities included a ceremonial blast, leveling some of the hills at the track site. The first races are set to happen there in 2025, marking continued growth for Kentucky’s thriving horse racing industry.

“Sandy’s Racing & Gaming is bringing top-tier racing, gaming and entertainment to Northeastern Kentucky, along with hundreds of new jobs for the people who call Boyd County and the surrounding region home. Congratulations to Revolutionary Racing and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for creating this exciting destination,” Gov. Beshear said.

Last summer, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission awarded the state’s ninth and final horse racing license to Revolutionary Racing Kentucky. Construction began in April and was led by Lexington’s D.W. Wilburn Construction and the Tri-State Building Trades. More than 300 local union workers were employed throughout the project and 90% of all materials and supplies were made in the US.

Amenities include a 5200 square-foot sportsbook, which features dozens of leather recliners and three cinema-sized screens. Daily entertainment will take place on two stages, which include dueling pianos, as well as local and national performers. Country star and Boyd County native Cole Chaney starred as the opening-night headliner, while last year’s “American Idol” winner Noah Thompson delivered a surprise performance.

A craft-focused kitchen offers multiple dining options, with all meat locally sourced from AW Meat House in Argillite. Menu highlights include the Big Sandy Burger, flatbreads, root beer floats made with The Peddler in Huntington, West Virginia and Sandy’s Ale – a craft beer made by Mikerphone Brewing in Illinois, which is only available at Sandy’s.

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Blask data: lottery drives 78% of France’s gambling search demand

Published

8 minutes ago

April 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

blask-data:-lottery-drives-78%-of-france’s-gambling-search-demand

New category-level analysis breaks down non-branded iGaming demand by vertical across France, Brazil, India, Italy and Switzerland.

Blask says lottery-related queries account for around 78% of total gambling search demand in France, outweighing online casino (~10%) and live dealer, betting and poker (each ~4%). The company positions the data as evidence that sports betting is not the primary driver of gambling demand in every market.

Blask said the figures come from non-branded search data and are part of a new category-level analysis feature designed to break down demand across verticals and subcategories within each market. The tool is intended to help operators compare player intent across jurisdictions, including “lottery in France, football betting in Brazil, or culturally driven formats in India.”

Outside France, Blask’s data shows Brazil is more betting-led, with online betting at ~52% of demand, which the company attributes largely to football. Lottery represents ~25%, fantasy sports ~11%, while casino (~6%) and live dealer (~2%) remain smaller segments.

India is described as more evenly distributed, with lottery at ~35% and live dealer at ~29%, and online casino, betting and fantasy each at roughly 10%. In Europe, Italy’s demand is reported as seasonally influenced by football, with fantasy sports leading at ~37%, while Switzerland is presented as casino-first, with online casino at ~38%.

Across the markets analysed, Blask said two themes recur: older categories often remain the biggest, and regulation heavily shapes demand. Where certain verticals are restricted, the company said interest tends to shift into adjacent or offshore segments rather than disappearing.

The post Blask data: lottery drives 78% of France’s gambling search demand appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continent 8 Technologies

Continent 8 appoints Cris Kuehl as Chief Data, Information & AI Officer

Published

5 days ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

continent-8-appoints-cris-kuehl-as-chief-data,-information-&-ai-officer

Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of managed IT solutions for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, has appointed Cris Kuehl as its Chief Data, Information & AI Officer.

Cris brings over 20 years of expertise in AI, analytics, and data strategy, with senior roles including VP of Artificial Intelligence & Data Science at Akkodis and Global Head, CX Analytics & AI at Foundever. His career focuses on helping regulated organisations adopt secure, scalable, and practical AI capabilities.

At Continent 8, Cris will oversee the company’s global data, AI, and information strategy, driving innovation in analytics, automation, cybersecurity, and customer-centric intelligence. He will also shape AI-enabled product development, champion responsible AI practices, and strengthen data governance for the iGaming, tribal, and enterprise sectors.

Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder of Continent 8, said:
“Cris’ expertise across data, AI, and regulated environments is a perfect fit for our organisation. His leadership will help us provide secure, high-performance solutions that deliver measurable value to customers.”

Cris Kuehl added:
“I’m thrilled to join Continent 8 at such a pivotal moment. AI is transforming how organisations operate, collaborate, and protect their data. Continent 8 is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation in the iGaming and online sports betting sector, and I’m excited to drive the next chapter of innovation.”

The post Continent 8 appoints Cris Kuehl as Chief Data, Information & AI Officer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

iGaming

PRAGMATIC PLAY BRINGS LEGENDARY SLOTS IP TO LIVE CASINO WITH GATES OF OLYMPUS ROULETTE

Published

5 days ago

April 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

pragmatic-play-brings-legendary-slots-ip-to-live-casino-with-gates-of-olympus-roulette

Pragmatic Play, a leading iGaming content supplier, has launched Gates of Olympus Roulette, a live casino experience that merges classic roulette with thrilling slot-action, delivering a game show truly fit for the gods.

Set in a temple-inspired studio with a marble-encased roulette wheel at its centre, the game immerses players in a Grecian fantasy world, complete with striking visuals, dramatic sounds, and charismatic presenters.

Each spin offers the chance to hit a Bonus Number and up to seven Lucky Numbers, carrying multipliers of 50x–250x to boost straight-up bets. The Super Booster feature further amplifies wins by multiplying the Bonus and selected Lucky Numbers 2x–10x, enabling potential payouts of up to 2,500x in the base game and 10,000x in the bonus round.

Landing the Bonus Number triggers the Gates of Olympus bonus game, where Zeus presides over a 6×5 slots grid. Starting with 15 spins, players win whenever 8–12+ matching symbols appear anywhere on the reels. Multipliers up to 500x can strike randomly on any spin or tumble, and three or more scatters award five additional spins.

Following the success of Sweet Bonanza CandyLand, which brought the iconic Sweet Bonanza slot to live casino audiences, Gates of Olympus Roulette underscores Pragmatic Play’s expertise in transforming beloved slot IPs into cross-vertical live experiences. The launch complements recent game show hits like Money Time and Mega Roulette 3000.

Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said:
“Gates of Olympus Roulette is a spectacular addition to our portfolio, bringing one of our most celebrated IPs into the live casino spotlight. The epic studio design, dynamic roulette-slot fusion, and immersive Grecian theme showcase Pragmatic Play’s commitment to creating truly standout player experiences.”

The post PRAGMATIC PLAY BRINGS LEGENDARY SLOTS IP TO LIVE CASINO WITH GATES OF OLYMPUS ROULETTE appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.