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British Racing Receives £21.5M from UK Government’s Sport Winter Survival Package
British racing’s leaders and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) have announced the details of HBLB’s agreed deployment of £21.5 million of loan funding secured from the Government’s Sport Winter Survival Package (SWSP), with racecourses and participants set to benefit as the sport continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
British racing has been impacted by well over £400m in lost racecourse revenues since the start of the pandemic and a reduction of over £65 million paid out as prize money to participants in 2020 (41% reduction). The sport continues to be significantly affected by the limited number of spectators allowed.
The money is being lent by Government to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) rather than to any constituent body of Racing as a consequence of the sport’s particular governance structure and the HBLB’s role in providing central funding to the costs of race-day regulation, equine welfare and industry training. The loan will need to be repaid from future Levy returns.
The SWSP was launched by the UK Government in late 2020 with the stated aim of supporting “the immediate future of major spectator sports” that have suffered revenue losses as a result of the absence of spectators. British racing developed its expenditure proposal to the HBLB with the Government’s overarching objective in mind.
£7.5m support to aid British racing’s international competitiveness
£7.5m will be utilised to enhance prize money for the 12 months from July 2021, in such a way as to support engagement levels and maximise the retention of horse numbers in 2021 and beyond. The allocations will be split approximately 60% to Flat racing and 40% to Jumps, in line with the composition of the fixture list and the HBLB’s historic funding split, and will be targeted to support the upper tiers of racing and developmental races.
Support of Novice and Maiden races
The following Novice and Maiden races will receive additional support in the form of fixed grants to top-up prize-money, worth over £3.5 million:
On the Flat, Classes 3, 4 and 5;
Over Jumps, Classes 3 and 4
Support for such races is designed to ensure the benefit to participants is felt as widely as possible, with amounts for each determined by race type and class, with the payments added on top of the minimum value.
Support for Black Type races
Minimum values of Black Type races will not be changed but additional funding will be provided to races run above the minimum value, with every £1 of prize money offered above that amount unlocking an additional £1 of matched funding, up to a maximum amount determined by race class. These races will be:
On the Flat, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed Races;
Over Jumps, Grade 1 and Grade 2 races, including for Novices
The additional funding from racecourses to unlock these matched amounts could deliver an extra £2.5m of prize money on top of the £7.5m allocated, ensuring the extra funds are used to deliver the largest possible increase in the prize-money values of Black Type races.
Support for racecourses
Racecourses have suffered financially not only as a result of the original lockdown but the subsequent absence of spectators and so, with a view to supporting their immediate future, the plans will see a further £7.5m deployed to support the raceday integrity costs incurred at those fixtures. This will be in addition to the existing support provided by the HBLB for the regulatory and integrity costs of fixtures.
The current raceday services grant from the HBLB to racecourses of £12,571 per fixture partly covers the BHA fixture fee of £15,341. In addition, racecourses incur other raceday integrity-related costs totalling approximately £10,000 per fixture at Flat meetings and £6000 at Jumps meetings.
Under the plans for the SWSP loan, an additional payment of £5000 will be added to the raceday services grant from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Minister for Gambling and Lotteries John Whittingdale said: “Horse racing is part of our national life. We have stepped in to provide £21.5 million as part of the Sports Survival Package, to help get the sport back on track, secure its future and retain its place on the world stage.”
Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the BHA, said: “British racing is grateful for this vital support from the Sport Winter Survival Package. We much appreciate the assistance of the Levy Board in agreeing to take on the loan and work with racing to agree how the money is best used and distribute using existing funding processes.
“Plans for the deployment of these funds have been designed to target the areas where we have seen a decline in horses in training and provide confidence in the future to our investors.
“Britain is rightly proud of its unique and world-leading racing heritage. But it is clear that with competition around the globe increasing, this is not sufficient to attract the best in the world to be trained and raced here. Ensuring that prize-money is competitive helps ensure that Britain has the best horses, which benefits everybody who loves the sport.
“It is also important that we recognise the contribution and sacrifices made by trainers and jockeys, and the loyalty of their owners, that have combined to keep racing going during the pandemic.
“Vital to the overall success of British racing are our unique racecourses, whose staff have also worked so hard since racing resumed to ensure we remain compliant with Covid rules and guidelines. Supporting their financial recovery is an important part of this plan and will help to ensure our races retain their place as being at the forefront of the global racing scene.”
David Armstrong, Chief Executive of the Racecourse Association (RCA), said: “Racing and racecourses in particular are very grateful to Government for this vital funding boost for the sport in very difficult times. I would also like to thank Sport England for their tireless advice and support in helping us unlock this funding. We are especially grateful to the Levy Board for stepping in and helping us overcome some of the structural challenges we faced in accessing the SWSP – yet another example of their support during the pandemic.
“Racecourses continue to incur significant integrity costs in putting on Racing on a daily basis and this additional support will be very beneficial at such a sensitive time and during the recovery phase over the next 12 months.”
Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), said: “The Sports Winter Package loan will provide a much-needed enhancement to prize-money levels as British Racing, along with other major sports, recovers from the impact of COVID-19. It is well noted that owners spend in excess of £30m a month on training fees to ensure that the race programme is fulfilled, along with jockeys riding fees of around £15m per year. We are grateful to have been able to resume behind closed doors for much of the pandemic, albeit for much-reduced prize-money levels, the impact of which has been felt by owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and breeders.
“The resilience of owners is such that overall, horses in training numbers are higher than they have been at any time over the past five years. However, it must be recognised that British Racing does have a problem with the number of two-year-olds entering training. It is a concern that the numbers are down on previous years with domestic and international owners choosing to have their horses trained in overseas jurisdictions because of the higher levels of prize-money on offer.
“Prize-money, and its equitable distribution across the participants, is critical to the retention and future growth of owners and the number of horses in training, which in turn will determine British Racing’s standing amongst overseas racing jurisdictions. We are therefore grateful to Government for providing British Racing with much needed and very welcome financial support.”
Paul Darling, Chairman of the HBLB, said: “HBLB is pleased to announce that it has accepted a ten-year loan of £21.5 million from the Government’s Sport Winter Survival Package. This is in keeping with our desire to provide over and above support to the sport in this exceptionally difficult time.
“HBLB’s involvement came about after Racing indicated that there were structural difficulties with Racing taking up the Government’s support and that it considered HBLB the most appropriate vehicle to do so, which would benefit the whole of the sport and that this secondary model was essential if the package was to help the wider industry.
“HBLB then invited Racing’s suggestions as to how the money should be spent in accordance with HBLB’s statutory duties. The Board considered the proposals and sought detailed reassurance from Racing that the money would be properly and appropriately distributed. The Board accepted Racing’s joint submission and assurances.
“The Board had very much in mind that this money is a loan from Government and not a grant. The discussions involved consideration and agreement of how the money being spent is to be repaid. It is critical that the wider sport fully understands that the effect of this arrangement is that the amount of Levy available to spend in future years will be reduced.
“Over the ten-year repayment period, with repayments required in years three to ten, the loan will carry an interest charge of £2.6m. The total repayments of around £24m will be made out of future Levy years’ receipts over that period through a top-slicing of the Board’s allocations to prize-money and raceday services as the first calls on grant expenditure.”
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RankRadar Launches “Operator’s Top Games” – Empowering Game Providers to Track and Compare Competitor Performance
RankRadar, the innovative game tracking and analytics platform for game providers, has launched a powerful new feature: Operator’s Top Games.
This new functionality enables game providers, their product teams, and account managers to gain deeper market insights by tracking and comparing the top-performing games of competitors across all monitored operators.
With this addition, game providers gain clear visibility into the competitive landscape. They can now track which competitor games are performing best across all monitored operators, stay ahead of market trends and shifts in player demand, and identify performance gaps as well as emerging opportunities. These insights enable providers to plan smarter release and marketing strategies — all backed by real-time data.
RankRadar Co-Founder & CEO Gjorgje Ristikj commented: “Operator’s Top Games was built to help RankRadar clients make faster, more informed decisions and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape. Whether analysing competitors, monitoring market changes, or improving their own game positioning — this new feature gives teams the visibility and intelligence they need to drive success.”
The post RankRadar Launches “Operator’s Top Games” – Empowering Game Providers to Track and Compare Competitor Performance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SBC Summit 2025 introduces a Latin America & Brazil track, further aligning its conference strategy with the global nature of the event, which is set to welcome 30,000 attendees from around the world this September.
The track will form part of the Global Markets stage, which was introduced this year alongside the Emerging Markets stage to spotlight some of the industry’s hottest regions as well as those that deserve early attention from industry stakeholders.
The decision to include a dedicated track builds on the remarkable 126% surge in Latin American attendance in 2024, reinforcing the event’s position as the go-to destination for professionals seeking to engage with and understand this rapidly evolving region.
Held on Tuesday, 16 September at Lisbon’s Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), the track will deliver five expert-led sessions exploring some of the region’s most pressing issues, from Brazil’s evolving post-regulation landscape to Peru’s tax reforms and Mexico’s regulatory direction.
Delegates will gain exclusive insights from the industry leaders driving growth across Latin America. These experts will share how they’ve built market presence through strategic local partnerships, culturally relevant marketing, and a clear understanding of regulatory complexity, offering essential knowledge for any company looking to succeed in these high-potential markets.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Latin America represents not just one of the most dynamic regions in global gaming, but also one of the most nuanced.
“Our programme gets to the heart of the challenges businesses face in Latin America and Brazil, whether it’s navigating local rules, understanding cultural differences, or keeping pace with shifting tax policies and digital trends. If you want to grow in this region, these sessions offer insights you can’t miss.”
The track will open with the LATAM Leaders: Latin America First – the Home-grown Operators Reinventing the Game, which will unite industry heavyweights Zeno Ossko (CEO, Betwarrior) and Sebastian Salazar (Founder, EstelarBet) as they discuss how regional operators are outmaneuvering international brands by creating locally-tailored innovations that resonate with Latin American audiences.
The Brazil Leaders Panel: The Bubble That Just Won’t Burst – Looking Back at the Launch of Sports Betting will explore Brazil’s post-regulation landscape and why operators must tailor strategies to local contexts. Regional experts Andreas Bardun (CEO, KTO Group), Alex Fonseca (CEO, Superbet Brazil), Almir Silva (CEO – Brazil, BetMGM) and panel moderator Neil Montgomery (Founding Partner, Montgomery Sociedade de Advogados), will discuss how partnerships with local providers and gaming influencers are key to long-term success in Brazil.
The session Peru and the Impact of ISC: All Eyes on the Andes will examine what Peru’s new tax measures will mean for operators in the region. Experts Xabier Maribona (CEO, RETABet Group), Alejandro Rivero (CEO, Estelarbet), Gonzalo Perez (CEO, Apuesta Total), and Gonzalo Rosell (CEO, La Tinka) will tackle the implications of the new Selective Consumption Tax (ISC) and what it could mean for growth, compliance, and the pace of market development.
Another key session centres on the Mexican market. In Mexico: Reaching Market Maturity, or More to Go?, industry leaders George Athanasopoulos (CEO, Novibet), JD Duarte (CEO, Betcris), Ohad Narkis (CEO, PlayUZU), Dr Miguel Angel Ochoa (President, AIEJA), Aviv Sher (CEO, Codere), and Yono Sidi (CEO, Winpot.mx) will examine the country’s stalled regulatory progress and whether an ongoing lack of clarity is creating the conditions for black market activity to thrive.
The track will also feature the panel Casino in Latin America: from Land-Based to Mobile, where regulatory leaders will examine the evolving legislative frameworks driving the region’s digital gaming transition.
Beyond the Latin America and Brazil spotlight on day one, the Global Markets track will also feature in-depth sessions on Western Europe and North America, rounding off this dedicated summit stream.
Complementing this, a separate Emerging Markets stage will focus on key regions including Africa, Eurasia & the Middle East, and Asia, reinforcing SBC’s commitment to providing comprehensive insights into the markets shaping the global gambling landscape.
The post SBC Summit 2025 Adds Latin America & Brazil Track appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Latin America, or LATAM, is quickly rising on the global radar as a hot new playground for online casinos. A lively mixture of tech-hungry young people, wider Internet access every month, and rules that are slowly but steadily growing friendlier to gaming makes the region a tempting patch of soil for operators eager to plant their brand. Unlike older markets that are already crowded and tightening the regulatory screws, LATAM still feels fresh and open, letting companies chase fast gains by leaning on bold ideas, local flavors, and mobile-first thinking.
Why LATAM Is a Key Growth Market for Online Gambling
A few key trends are stacking the deck in favor of LATAM casinos. First, smartphones have practically become a third arm for many residents. The GSMA Mobile Economy report for 2023 says more than 73 percent of the region now carries a smartphone, and that share keeps climbing. Such broad pocket-sized connectivity lets gaming sites reach players, even in remote towns, without the extra cost of shops or kiosks.
Second, LATAM’s population is much younger than Europe or North America. Millennials and Gen Z together make up a huge slice of the online betting crowd. Because these generations live, shop, and play through apps, they slide into digital payments and gamified screens with little friction, exactly the kind of audience casinos dream about.
Third, even though rules still differ from nation to nation, the general trend is toward looser, friendlier legislation. Brazil, for example, just passed a law covering fixed-odds sports betting and other online games, a clear sign that officials want licensed, taxable sites.
For LATAM players who prefer local touches, a one-stop hub such as Ingamble proves useful. The service directs users to casinos in their language, accepts their usual payment methods, and meets local laws, building the trust and ease that a young market needs.
How Cultural Differences Shape Casino Preferences
Grasping what people like in each country is critical to success, and LATAM shows that well. Its mix of cultures, customs, and histories means a blanket offer will disappoint in most places. In Mexico, for instance, community bingo nights and brightly themed slots still rule the floor, echoing deep traditions. Developers win by weaving folkloric images, regional music, and familiar tales into those games.
Brazilians, by contrast, look for platforms that merge casino fun with sports betting heat. Because football is almost a second religion, sites that serve live odds alongside a spinning wheel or table gain a clear and lasting advantage.
Localizing a product goes well beyond swapping English words for Spanish or Portuguese. It means building every step of the user journey around local holidays, favorite sports, and even the colors people associate with luck. When a digital service reflects the rhythm of daily life in a country, users stay longer and come back more often.
LATAM’s payments landscape is fragmented, so every casino must meet players where they are. Many customers are underbanked or lean on alternative tools, which makes integrating local methods essential rather than optional. Accepting Brazil’s PIX or the classic boleto bancario has moved from a bonus feature to a bare minimum.
Across the region, Argentina’s Mercado Pago rules wallets while Colombia’s Mercado Pago leads transfers through PSE. If these gateways are missing, carts are abandoned and trust disappears.
Currency support matters just as much. Enabling deposits and withdrawals in pesos or reales spares players conversion fees, and signals the operator treats them like a local. Casinos that add instant payouts and clear fee structures speed up service and earn a valuable edge.
Mobile Dominance: Data-Light Designs Win
Smartphones drive almost all online traffic across LATAM, so any brand that ignores them is courting failure. Yet mobile success goes beyond fitting a website on a small screen; it means building services that run smoothly on flaky networks and budget handsets.
Enter Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), a lightweight layer that gives casino players app-like speed without the hassle of Big Store downloads. Pair that with smart tricks: images that shrink on command, offline pockets so play never halts, and a no-frills layout that cuts data costs for users counting every megabyte.
Market leaders also roll out lite skins, peeling off heavy animations and endless scripts in favor of bare-bones speed and rock-solid uptime. Research shows delays of even a second can send players packing, turning lean design from a tech choice into a profit-or-loss showdown.
Localization Beyond Language: Bonuses and UI
Translation may get the words right, but it rarely captures what a player actually feels. Rewards, loyalty plans, and promos need to mirror local rhythms or they fade into the noise. A Holy Week rebate or a Festas Juninas gift card, for example, speaks straight to a Brazilian wallet and makes gaming personal.
User interfaces should always respect the tastes of the region. Across most LATAM markets, bold colors and lively animations win users more reliably than soft, stripped-back looks. Themes that borrow from local myths, beloved athletes, or street parties hit harder and draw stronger emotional ties.
Clear, honest talk about bonuses – especially wagering rules – matters just as much. LATAM players often arrive wary and quick to abandon sites that hide or twist the fine print. Simple, plain-language promises and fair play keep satisfaction high and churn low.
LATAM Regulation: Fragmented Today, Unified Tomorrow?
The legal landscape across LATAM still looks like a patchwork quilt, with every nation moving at its own rhythm. After years of debate, Brazil has at last laid down the first stones for an official iGaming market. Rules passed in 2023 set out licensing, tax rates and ad norms, marking a huge step for the region.
Colombia stays ahead, having greenlit online gambling in 2016 and handing out more than twenty operators’ licences since then. Its clear framework shows how steady oversight can tempt first-class global brands while still shielding everyday players.
Yet nations such as Venezuela and Bolivia remain at the back, relying on vague or years-old laws. So, firms chasing regional growth move quickly, launching under Curacao or MGA permits and promising to shift to local licenses once the rules firm up.
This patchwork of regulations calls for clear-eyed planning. Online casinos must link arms with lawyers and compliance pros who can steer them through local quirks, keep them out of gray markets, and support lasting operations.
LATAM’s online casino field is tricky but lucrative. Brands that respect local culture, invest in thorough localization, and build mobile-first sites stand a strong chance. As rules continue to modernize and user appetite grows, happy young audiences and friendly smartphone stacks regions shine as a fresh frontier for global iGaming.
The post The LATAM Online Casino Market: Where Innovation Meets Localization appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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