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How Horse Race Betting Has Galloped Into The Online Era

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2024

how-horse-race-betting-has-galloped-into-the-online-era

Reading Time: 4 minutes

With the popularity of horse race betting steadily on the rise as the sport spreads to new markets and platforms, we sat down with BETBAZAR’s Chief Operating Officer, Max Sevostianov, to discuss everything sportsbook operators should know before they attempt to tap into this emerging online trend.

Despite horse racing being one of the world’s oldest and most historied forms of betting, wagering on the sport is virtually unrecognisable today even when compared to just a few decades ago.

Rapid advances in betting technology and data analytics, increased internet and smartphone penetration and a wider availability of horse racing events all over the globe have all undoubtedly changed the face of the sport – and this has in turn dramatically altered the ways in which online betting operators have had to market their horse racing product to attract and retain customers.

Indeed, you don’t have to cast your mind back all that far to recall a time when horse racing meets were largely confined to the U.K., Ireland and a handful of marquee events in the U.S.A. These days, however, the sport has become an essential part of the betting landscape in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Japan, presenting new challenges and opportunities for operators.

The impact of horse racing’s growing popularity in the U.A.E. and east Asia is two-fold – not only has greater event choice and frequency reduced betting downtime for customers all over the world and created a more consistent revenue stream for operators, but it has also significantly diversified the audience they target and changed how they communicate from market-to-market.

Having these new countries in the horse racing picture means that a blanket way of promoting the sport is no longer a viable option. Instead, operators should be monitoring the customer data they have in each market very closely to try and identify ways in which they can tailor their offering so that it caters to local tastes. This could, for example, involve creating targeted promotions that tie in with local holidays and specific regional events or partnering with race providers and other associated businesses in the market that can enhance brand awareness and bettor engagement.

Of course, the data operators have on each market should also inform whether or not horse race betting is a viable product to push in the first place. Though – as outlined previously – the popularity of the sport is increasing globally, horse race betting is still a very region-specific vertical and needs an existing audience and infrastructure that operators can target. Potential customers need at least some prior understanding of the sport and the betting product that caters for it, so successfully penetrating a market where horse racing isn’t popular is very unlikely.

The change in the number of countries that host horse racing events, however, pales in comparison to the impact technological innovation has had when it comes to betting on the sport. Again, you don’t have to think back very far to remember a time where the two main ways that customers bet on horse racing were either at the track or at their local high street bookmaker and the only data they had at their disposal was the form guides in publications like Racing Post!

These days, it’s a totally different story. Ever-increasing levels of internet penetration across the globe coupled with wider smartphone adoption has meant that customers can now access and bet on races no matter where they are in the world. While this has alleviated the need to travel to retail betting locations and driven more revenue to online wagering platforms instead, so too has it increased the importance of live streaming to a point that it’s now basically a must-have feature.

As online operators have picked up more and more of the traffic that had previously flown to retail betting locations, the onus on them to provide a similarly engaging experience has also increased. Thankfully for them, technology has now advanced to a point where they’re able to reliably stream races from virtually any track on the planet directly to computers or smartphones, with this effectively opening the door to events that bettors may otherwise never have witnessed.

Of course, one of the keys to providing this level of coverage is operators having the necessary partnerships in place with the rights holders in each market that they operate in, as not only does this provide access to all the races they want to feature, but also to the official data that comes with them. Given that we live in an information age where having access to fast and reliable data is an absolute cornerstone when it comes to making informed betting decisions, the fact that online operators can provide this in greater depth than their offline counterparts is very important.

By collating all the relevant information about how certain horses, jockeys and stables have performed on specific tracks in the past and making this available to customers in real time, operators can enhance the betting experience for both horse racing experts and newcomers to the sport alike. For precisely this reason, BETBAZAR has chosen the most accurate and advanced horse racing product for its marketplace in order to give customers access to detailed statistics from truly trustworthy providers – with this information in turn being used to power all manner of useful graphics and widgets for an even more dynamic user experience.

While these geographical and technological factors both mean that the popularity of horse race betting is likely to increase in the coming years, both will count for nought if the industry doesn’t continue to behave in a responsible and sustainable manner. Luckily, these days virtually every aspect of horse racing is totally regulated and necessary steps have been taken to improve horse welfare and other ethical concerns; all of which is vital to the long-term sustainability of the sport.

Alongside this operators must continue to promote responsible gaming practices in all markets that they service and provide further education and insight to both their clients and customers. In doing so, not only will they build trust within the horse racing community and cement the integrity of their product, but they’ll also set themselves up for more success as the sector grows.

About Betbazar
Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is building a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with buyers to accelerate growth powered by best-in-class products.

Website: https://betbazar.com/en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betbazar

The post How Horse Race Betting Has Galloped Into The Online Era appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

AI Casino Recommender

Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

meridianbet-doubles-down-on-belgium:-new-casino-license-unlocks-e455m-market-segment

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: This is a classic “Cross-Sell” play. Meridianbet has already spent seven years building a sports betting database in Belgium. By securing this B+ license, they can now monetize those same users with higher-margin casino products (slots, table games) without needing to acquire new traffic from scratch. With the Belgian casino sector growing at 20% year-over-year, this is a significant revenue unlock for the GMGI portfolio.

The Full Story

Meridianbet, the sports betting and gaming operator owned by Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has successfully expanded its regulatory footprint in Europe by securing a B+ online gaming license in Belgium.

The new license (B+ 4016) authorizes the company to launch a comprehensive online casino platform—featuring slots, table games, and automated live games—starting in January 2026. This move significantly broadens the operator’s capabilities in the country, complementing its existing sports betting operations which have been active in the Belgian market for seven years.

Targeting the Largest Market Segment The strategic rationale behind the license is clear: Casino is now the dominant force in Belgian gambling. According to the Belgian Gaming Commission, the online casino vertical generated €455 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in 2023, representing a 20.2% year-over-year increase.

By entering this vertical, Meridianbet gains access to the largest and fastest-growing segment of a market that generated a total of €944.6 million last year.

Tech-First Entry Meridianbet plans to deploy its proprietary AI Casino Recommender technology for the Belgian launch. This system analyzes player behavior and preferences in real-time to deliver personalized game suggestions, a crucial differentiator in a highly concentrated market where just ten operators account for 94% of all online wagers.

Regulatory Context Belgium is known for having one of Europe’s strictest regulatory frameworks, characterized by rigorous compliance standards and player protection protocols. Securing this license validates Meridianbet’s operational standards and deepens its foothold in a “mature” market that is notoriously difficult for new entrants to penetrate.

The post Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

B2B Marketing

LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

linkdatamedia-drops-‘startup’-look-with-major-5th-anniversary-rebrand

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: In the iGaming affiliate space, the five-year mark is a critical survival threshold. Many media startups fade away before reaching it. LinkDataMedia’s decision to rebrand now is a classic “graduation” signal. By shedding their startup skin for a more corporate, “blue-chip” aesthetic (the stability-focused blue triangle), they are telling operators and partners that they are no longer just an affiliate project, but a stable infrastructure partner ready for larger commercial deals.

The Full Story

LinkDataMedia, the parent company behind the popular affiliate portal Gamblers Connect, has announced a comprehensive corporate rebrand to coincide with its fifth anniversary.

The overhaul includes a completely refreshed brand identity, a redesigned logo, and a fully revamped website, all of which are now live. The move is described by the company not as a mere cosmetic update, but as a strategic pivot designed to distance the business from its “startup roots” and reflect its current status as an established player in the competitive iGaming media landscape.

Visualizing Maturity The new visual language features a modernized blue triangular logo, a shape chosen to represent “stability and forward momentum.” The digital user experience has also been streamlined, offering partners a cleaner interface that aligns better with the company’s matured operational capabilities.

Management Commentary Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder and CEO of LinkDataMedia, commented on the significance of hitting the half-decade milestone in such a volatile industry:

“Surviving the first five years in business takes more than luck. It takes belief, resilience, and the right people around you. This milestone, and the rebrand, reflect exactly that.”

Implementation The new branding has already been deployed across the main corporate website and is currently being rolled out across LinkDataMedia’s social media channels and internal communication platforms. As the company enters its sixth year, the refreshed identity aims to set the stage for a new phase of expansion and innovation.

The post LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

B2B Gaming Event

Win Systems to Debut New ‘Gold Club Colors’ and WIGOS Upgrades at ICE Barcelona

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

win-systems-to-debut-new-‘gold-club-colors’-and-wigos-upgrades-at-ice-barcelona

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: As ICE makes its historic move to Barcelona, established tech providers like Win Systems are under pressure to bring their “A-game” to the larger venue. The focus here isn’t just on cabinets; it’s the ecosystem. By highlighting WIGOS (their CMS) alongside WIN PAY, Win Systems is positioning itself as an infrastructure partner, not just a hardware supplier. The debut of the Gold Club Colors roulette specifically targets the growing demand for visually customizable electronic table games (ETGs).

The Full Story

Win Systems, the global provider of technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, has confirmed its product roadmap for ICE Barcelona 2026, the sector’s most significant international event taking place from January 19 to 21.

Exhibiting at Stand 3M30 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the company will leverage the new venue to showcase a broad portfolio designed to cover the entire casino floor—from management systems to the gaming floor itself.

Systems and Fintech At the core of the showcase is WIGOS, the company’s flagship Casino Management System (CMS). WIGOS is widely recognized for connecting thousands of machines across multiple countries, and the Barcelona display will focus on advanced tools that streamline daily operations and optimize player retention.

Complementing the CMS, Win Systems will present WIN PAY, its secure transaction platform. As cashless and seamless payment solutions become standard requirements for operators, WIN PAY offers the necessary efficiency and security controls for modern gaming environments.

Hardware: Roulette and Slots On the hardware side, Win Systems is refreshing its electronic table game offering with the new Gold Club Colors electronic roulette. The Gold Club line has long been a staple in the company’s portfolio, known for its compact footprint and reliability; the “Colors” iteration promises to maximize visual impact on the floor.

Alongside the roulette, the company will display its latest slot hardware, including the Sublime and Rhapsody cabinets. These units are designed to house the company’s extensive game library, which has been adapted to suit diverse market profiles from Europe to Latin America.

Strategic Goals Win Systems aims to use the three-day event to reinforce its 30-year legacy in the industry. The company described its participation as a commitment to “continuous innovation,” inviting operators and regulators to explore how their integrated solutions can improve in-room performance.

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