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GBGB Appoints Sir Philip Davies as its New Chair

Published

7 months ago

August 1, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has appointed Sir Philip Davies as its New Chair.

Sir Philip, who is also Chair of Star Sports, will take up post on 1st September 2025. Sir Philip served as MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire between 2005 and 2024 during which time he sat on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee as well as the Panel of Chairs.

Commenting on the appointment, outgoing Chair Jeremy Cooper, said: “Throughout the appointment process, Sir Philip showed himself to be a fervent supporter of licensed greyhound racing. He demonstrated a strong understanding of our sport and is clear on its future direction. I know that this appointment will be welcomed across the licensed racing community and I wish Sir Philip all the very best as he begins his tenure.

“As I conclude my time as Chair, I would like to thank the entire industry for their support during the last seven years. In particular, I would like to both thank and congratulate the GBGB Board for their ongoing commitment and support of many beneficial initiatives that we have introduced. Licensed greyhound racing is a superb sport and I am very proud to have overseen the significant progress that has been achieved around welfare. Thanks to the Greyhound Commitment and our long-term welfare strategy, animal welfare has been placed at the very heart of the sport and our greyhounds now receive higher standards of care and attention than ever before. This has only been possible as a result of the combined efforts of the greyhound community and I would like to acknowledge the part everyone throughout the sport has played in driving up standards right across the sport.”

Commenting on his appointment, Sir Philip Davies said: “I am honoured to have been appointed Chair of GBGB. Licensed greyhound racing is a fantastic sport which has held an important place in the fabric of our country for almost a century. Greyhound and horseracing have been an integral part of my life since my childhood when my mother ran a betting shop in Doncaster. As such, I know just how important greyhound racing is to local communities and what an important contribution it makes – both economically and socially.

“The sport has a very bright future ahead and I would like to thank the GBGB Board for putting their faith in me. I look forward to working with tracks, owners, trainers and our wider stakeholders as we safeguard the future of our sport and ensure it thrives for many years to come.

“Thank you to Jeremy Cooper for his leadership and stewardship over the past seven years. Thanks to his drive and ambition, welfare standards are greater than ever and, importantly, improving still.”

GBGB has also announced that Mark Bird will remain as Chief Executive for a further two years. Mark had previously announced his intention to step down but has been invited by the Board to remain as CEO to support Sir Philip and the Board which has recently welcomed Tony Brealey as Owner Practitioner Director as well as Dave Baldwin, Katie Bennison and Kim Sanzone.

Mark Bird said: “This is an important and exciting time for GBGB and licensed racing and it is vital that there is as much stability and continuity as possible within the organisation. Our sport faces a number of opportunities as well as challenges and, with Sir Philip at the helm, I believe we are very well placed to take advantage of these opportunities and address the challenges head on.

“I look forward to working with Sir Philip as we take the sport forward. Securing long-term, sustainable funding from the betting industry remains a priority and I am confident that under Sir Philip’s leadership we can make significant progress together.”

Sir Philip Davies added: “I am very pleased that Mark has agreed to remain at GBGB. He is much respected across the sport and by our many stakeholders in Government and the betting industry. I look forward to working with Mark as we continue the work he and the rest of the Board have begun.”

The post GBGB Appoints Sir Philip Davies as its New Chair appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Bagelmania Backroom Comedy night lineup announced for Thursday, Feb. 26

Published

2 days ago

February 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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The iconic Jewish delicatessen Siegel’s Bagelmania has announced the comedic line up that will leave guests “laughing their bagels off” at the next Bagelmania Backroom Comedy night on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Hosted monthly by Las Vegas-based and nationally touring comedian couple Noah Gardenswartz and Ester Steinberg, the event Thursday night will welcome Chris Clarke as the headliner along with acclaimed comics Kristeen Von Hagen, Gabe Quire and Lauren Rochelle.

Clarke, known as a high-energy and imaginative comedian, now tours the country with veteran comedian Rob Schneider. He also has amassed more than 40 million views on his popular YouTube channel “Csnacks,” where he tastes food and snacks from the front seat of his car. His hilarious and unique way of describing different flavors led to national commercials for Checkers and Rally’s, a one-hour special on the Cooking Channel titled Baby Got Snack, and an appearance as a food critic judge on Beat Bobby Flay.

Siegel’s Bagelmania will offer a special Backroom Comedy menu of its signature delicatessen cuisine as well as a full bar so guests can enjoy great comedy, dinner, and drinks in a unique, relaxed setting.

The Bagelmania Backroom is open to attendees 18 and older. Doors open for drinks and dinner at 7 p.m. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets for Bagelmania Backroom are on sale for $20 online at https://siegelsbagelmania.com/backroomcomedy/ and will be sold at the door while supply lasts.

The post Bagelmania Backroom Comedy night lineup announced for Thursday, Feb. 26 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Latest News

ACR Poker OSS XL Returns With $50M GTD

Published

2 days ago

February 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

ACR Poker has officially announced the return of its flagship Online Super Series (OSS) XL, running from March 1 to March 23, 2026, with a massive $50 million in guaranteed prize pools.

Following the success of its recent Dual Venom tournaments, which paid out more than $11 million, ACR Poker is once again delivering high-value online tournament action designed for players of all skill levels and bankroll sizes.

Three Main Events With $5 Million Guaranteed

The headline events of OSS XL include three major Main Events launching March 15:

$2,650 buy-in – $2 million guaranteed
$1,050 buy-in – $2 million guaranteed
$215 buy-in – $1 million guaranteed

These marquee tournaments anchor the series, offering players high-stakes competition alongside accessible mid- and low-stakes opportunities.

Phil’s Thrill XXL and Multi-Flight Action

Kicking off the series on March 1 is Phil’s Thrill XXL, featuring a $1.5 million guarantee and a $10,300 buy-in. Players can qualify for as little as $95 through ACR’s Road to the Big One promotion.

The schedule also includes a $630 buy-in Multi-Flight Event with $1.5 million guaranteed, with Day 1 flights beginning March 1 and Day 2 set for March 23.

For bounty hunters, OSS XL offers five Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight tournaments, including:

Three $500,000 guaranteed events ($109 buy-in)
A $150,000 guaranteed event ($33 buy-in)
A $100,000 guaranteed event ($5.50 buy-in)

These tournaments provide dynamic prize opportunities and strong value across all buy-in tiers.

$65,000 Leaderboard Contest

To enhance engagement, ACR Poker’s Leaderboard Contest returns with $65,000 in cash and tournament tickets across three buy-in tiers:

High Stakes: $15,000 top prize
Mid Stakes: $7,500 top prize
Low Stakes: $4,000 top prize

According to ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker, OSS XL stands out for its inclusive structure, substantial guarantees and daily leaderboard incentives that reward consistent participation.

With $50 million guaranteed and a broad mix of Main Events, Mystery Bounties and multi-flight tournaments, OSS XL reinforces ACR Poker’s position as a major force in the global online poker tournament landscape.

The post ACR Poker OSS XL Returns With $50M GTD appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

affiliate management system

Alanbase and Gamblers Connect announce new partnership

Published

2 days ago

February 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Gamblers Connect, the award-winning iGaming media and affiliate platform, has announced a new strategic partnership with Alanbase, a cloud-based SaaS “constructor” built to power advanced affiliate programme development.

The collaboration strengthens Gamblers Connect’s B2B Providers section, a curated hub designed to connect iGaming professionals with trusted, high-performance industry solutions. By integrating Alanbase into its ecosystem, Gamblers Connect enhances access to cutting-edge affiliate management technology tailored to competitive iGaming markets.

A Customizable SaaS Solution for iGaming Affiliates

Alanbase differentiates itself through its fully customizable SaaS architecture. Unlike traditional affiliate software, Alanbase allows operators to build dashboards, performance indicators and statistical tables using their own formulas. This “constructor” model ensures the platform adapts to each business workflow — not the other way around.

The cloud-based system also delivers high-speed data refresh capabilities, enabling operators to monitor player activity in near real time. This performance advantage provides deeper analytical insight and supports faster decision-making in fast-moving iGaming environments.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, highlighted that the partnership aligns with the platform’s mission to feature transparent, value-driven B2B providers. By adding Alanbase to its verified partner network, Gamblers Connect reinforces its commitment to showcasing tools that improve affiliate program scalability, operational efficiency and measurable growth.

Expanding the iGaming B2B Ecosystem

The partnership reflects growing demand for flexible affiliate SaaS platforms that prioritize customization, automation and performance tracking. As competition intensifies across global iGaming markets, data-driven affiliate management solutions are becoming a critical component of operator success.

With Alanbase now featured within Gamblers Connect’s B2B Providers hub, industry professionals gain streamlined access to enterprise-grade affiliate infrastructure designed for scalability and precision.

The post Alanbase and Gamblers Connect announce new partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.