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Racing Post and SIS cancel 2020 Betting Shop Manager of the Year

Racing Post and SIS have cancelled this year’s Betting Shop Manager of the Year competition due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the retail bookmaking industry. The event, the nomination and judging process for which was due to begin last week, normally runs throughout the summer with 48 candidates whittled down to a final eight with the winner crowned at an awards ceremony in November.
Due to the current shutdown, all non-essential shops, including high street betting outlets, across Britain and Ireland are currently closed.
Both Racing Post and SIS, who have sponsored the event for over 30 years, have furloughed large numbers of employees as a consequence of the lack of racing and sport around the world. The shutdown has resulted in Racing Post temporarily stopping the publication of the industry’s daily newspaper.
Sandra Gilmartin was named 2019 Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year last November, giving Paddy Power their first success in the competition. Sandra will continue her ambassadorial role throughout 2020 in the absence of a new winner.
Explaining the cancellation and the uncertainty the industry faces, Racing Post Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Alan Byrne said: “It is hugely disappointing that we have to cancel this year’s Betting Shop Manager of the Year. However, our first thought is the safety of those involved. With the current restrictions in place, including betting shop closures, it is simply not feasible to run a competition that also involves shop visits and one-to-one interviews.
Byrne continued: “When the various government measures are lifted, the first focus of retail bookmakers will be on the health and wellbeing of staff and customers alike. It is important that we all work together to ensure everyone in our industry is safe, and then we can begin to get all our businesses back to their best. Once we come out the other side of this pandemic, we will be in a better place to celebrate the people who are the backbone of the retail bookmaking industry.”
Echoing Alan Byrnes words, SIS Chief Executive, Richard Ames said: “The opportunity to help stage the competition and annual awards is one of the highlights for everybody here – it is particularly disappointing not to be able to look forward to that this year.
“Of course, we all hope our staff, customers and friends can safely emerge from this challenge and I know there will be huge enthusiasm to resume Betting Shop Manager of the Year come 2021. That will indeed be something to look forward to.”
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GR8 Tech Hits the Road with New “Bet It Drives” Podcast—First Guest: Alex Pratt

iGaming just got a new ride. Bet It Drives, GR8 Tech’s new podcast, takes the industry’s most interesting voices out of the studio and into the fast lane. Hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, CSO, each episode is filmed entirely in a moving car, with cameras rolling and London as the backdrop.
No predictable Q&As: Bet It Drives pairs high-energy visuals with relaxed, unscripted dialogue. Shot by the award-winning crew behind campaigns for global brands, the format blends high-energy visuals with the kind of candid moments you only get when people are truly relaxed.
“Bet It Drives was born from a simple idea—great conversations happen when people feel at ease,” said Yevhen Krazhan. “Driving through London strips away the formality, lets personalities shine, and captures the pace and unpredictability that define the iGaming industry.”
The premiere kicks off with Alex Pratt, Group Managing Director of Clarion Gaming, who oversees a portfolio of leading B2B events and media brands, including ICE, iGB Affiliate, and iGaming Business. With over two decades in the iGaming industry, Pratt has been instrumental in shaping its evolution and is recognized for his insights into emerging markets, technological advancements, and fostering community within the gaming sector.
During the ride, Alex opened up about:
- ICE vs. iGB Live—which is his personal favorite, and why.
- Organizing world-class iGaming events and how major decisions like moving ICE to Barcelona come together behind the scenes.
- Partnering with big tech and how such collaborations shape the future of iGaming.
- Advice for startups attending conferences.
- Alex’s Spotify playlist and the tracks that keep him going.
- The most jaw-dropping booths he’s ever seen on the exhibition floor.
- Which panels or attendees would he ban for the greater good of the industry.
- Memorable after-parties—the kind you don’t forget, even if you wish you could.
“Alex really showed us what is happening on the front and the back of high-end igaming events,” said Krazhan. “From the strategic calls that shape entire conferences to the wild stories that never make the press, this episode is a perfect mix of insider knowledge, candid moments, and the kind of energy that makes you wish the ride was longer.”
With upcoming guests including Stephen Crystal, Rohini Sardana, and Helen Walton, Bet It Drives is set to deliver brilliant storytelling, unscripted moments, and a visual style unlike anything else in iGaming media.
Access Episode 1 with Alex Pratt on YouTube or Spotify—and buckle up.
The post GR8 Tech Hits the Road with New “Bet It Drives” Podcast—First Guest: Alex Pratt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Embrace the Mayhem with BGaming’s Joker vs Joker

Rapidly expanding content provider pits two Jokers against one another in the all-new Joker vs Joker slot
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming invites players to enter a multiverse of mayhem in the Joker vs Joker slot. This daring new title puts a spin on the classic Joker theme by leaning into the popular multiverse trend and pitting two Jokers against one another.
Joker vs Joker combines a nostalgic 1950s comic book aesthetic with modern and innovative slot mechanics to create a unique gaming experience. The slot is a prime example of BGaming’s publishing efforts — the result of collaboration with the Golden Goat Gaming studio, bringing a completely original creative vision to life.
In the game, two different Jokers battle it out for supremacy on the reels thanks to the innovative Versus feature. Players are tasked with spinning the reels and landing wins of up to 7,500x their stake. Of course, the Jokers have several tricks up their sleeves to help players along the way, awarding mystery multipliers as a result of their fights. The game comes loaded with an exciting Free Spins feature where VS symbols appear every spin, as well as the increased possibility of triggering the Multiplier Wild showdowns with the No Joke Spin mode.
Joker vs Joker serves up a robust math model, featuring medium-volatility gameplay and the strong RTP of 95.50%. Players can also skip the queue and trigger the Free Spins bonus by using the game’s Buy Bonus feature.
Nikita Zavadsky, Custom Games Product Owner at BGaming, said: “Multiversal action is everywhere you look these days, and we decided to get the online slot world in on the action.
Joker vs Joker has allowed our team to express ourselves creatively and put a new spin on the iconic Joker theme. We are also very proud of the game’s retro visuals and design, and are delighted to have worked alongside Golden Goat Gaming in developing the slot.”
The post Embrace the Mayhem with BGaming’s Joker vs Joker appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Swintt forms new partnership with popular Austrian platform win2day

Sought-after software provider teams up with leading online casino brand to share Select, Premium and Elysium Studios titles with players in the Austrian market
Innovative software provider, Swintt, has announced it has formed a new partnership with leading online casino brand, win2day, that will see its exciting catalogue of Select, Premium and Elysium Studios content officially launch in the regulated Austrian market.
Under the terms of the deal, win2day will both select and certify the games themselves, providing the platform with access to a dynamic collection of slots that feature their own distinct themes, signature mechanics and unique features that cannot be found with any other software provider.
As the country’s most popular online gambling platform, win2day already boasts a vast selection of slots, casino games and sports betting options, but this impressive line-up will now be further enhanced by Swintt’s portfolio, which is designed to cater to players of all tastes and preferences.
With Premium titles replicating the look and feel of classic land-based slot machines, Select content introducing fresh and innovative bonus rounds and Elysium Studios slots providing a visually striking, mobile-first experience, there’s sure to be something for all win2day customers.
Once the aforementioned selection and certification process has been completed, all new Swintt content will be rolled out on the platform in the coming weeks, enabling the provider to raise its profile among Austrian players while also helping win2day cement its position as a market leader.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “The fact that win2day boasts one of country’s largest and most diverse player bases makes our new partnership the perfect entry point for Swintt into the regulated Austrian market – and we’re really excited about getting started.”
“Swintt’s goal has always been to provide truly localised content that can appeal to as wide an audience as possible, granting win2day access to our full suite of Select, Premium and Elysium Studios titles will ensure the site is able to hand-pick the perfect options for its customers, further increasing the quality of its line-up while introducing our slots to new players.”
The post Swintt forms new partnership with popular Austrian platform win2day appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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