Latest News
BHA Board appoints Julie Harrington as new Chief Executive

The BHA Board has chosen the Chief Executive of British Cycling, Julie Harrington, to be the new head of British horseracing’s governing body and regulator.
She will take over the post at the beginning of 2021 after nearly 4 years leading British Cycling, which has more than 160,000 grassroots members and is responsible for the elite team preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Julie Harrington is a former member of the BHA Board and was a senior executive with Northern Racing for 8 years, including a spell as Managing Director of Uttoxeter. She is one of the most experienced leaders in sport, with a strong background in consumer, operational and regulatory roles, and a clear understanding of the financial challenges facing participants.
As the Operations Director for the FA, she was responsible for Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park, the FA training facility. Her early career was with Whitbread Inns as Regional Marketing Director and then with British Airways as Retail Sector Director. She has been responsible for managing British Cycling’s relationship with HSBC UK, its leading sponsor and partner.
As Chief Executive of British Cycling, she has dealt with some significant regulatory challenges. The role has also involved engagement with UK Sport and Sport England over elite funding and growing participation, achieving its target for more than two million cyclists by 2020. It works closely with the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport and the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales through their national cycling bodies.
BHA Chair, Annamarie Phelps, commented:
“I am delighted that Julie is coming back to the BHA and to racing and the Board and I are looking forward to working closely with her. This is a vital leadership role for the organisation and British racing. Julie’s hands-on knowledge of horseracing, coupled with her governance and business experience, make her the ideal person to carry on with the task of restoring sustainable prosperity after the COVID crisis. We’ve got the right person, for the right job, at the right time.”
Julie Harrington said:
“I’m so excited to be coming home to racing and playing my part helping this great sport to achieve a prosperity from which everyone benefits. I know how important collaboration across racing has been over the past few months and I look forward to working with colleagues from all parts of the sport.
“The BHA and its team of dedicated officials do a great job in keeping racing safe, clean and fair. I am proud to take on this leadership role in such a well-regulated sport, which enriches the lives of horses and people, and has a special place at the centre of national life and our rural communities.”
Julie Harrington will join the BHA on January 4th after completing her notice period at British Cycling. Nick Rust continues to lead the BHA as it works with industry bodies on resumption and recovery. A revised industry plan is due to be published shortly.
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Africa
Playân GO announces landmark South African partnership with Hollywoodbets

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Playân GO, the worldâs leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a new operator partnership in South Africa with Hollywoodbets.
The legendary games studio went live in South Africa in 2024, and this newly announced partnership will see classic Playân GO titles such as Fire Joker, Rise of Olympus 100 and Boat Bonanza now available to Hollywoodbets players in South Africa.
Playân GO enjoyed a landmark year in 2024, expanding its reach globally, and recently announced the launch of two brand new slots mechanics, Blitzways⢠and Crashbackâ˘.
Stuart Trigwell, Director of Business Development at Playân GO, commented âSouth Africa is a market of increasing significance in iGaming globally, and weâre very pleased to have gained such a strong foothold in the country with this partnership.
âThe Hollywoodbets brand is synonymous with iGaming in South Africa, and this partnership reflects the commitment of both Playân GO and Hollywoodbets to deliver the best casino gaming experience possible to players in the region. Weâre excited for the opportunities that will come from this partnership, and we look forward to many years of success together.â
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets added âWeâre looking forward to welcoming Playân GOâs legendary games portfolio to our platform, and we know our players are just as excited as we are. Weâre committed to being the number one operator in South Africa, and partnering with Playân GO is a significant step forward on that journey.â
The post Playân GO announces landmark South African partnership with Hollywoodbets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
When 5 Votes Make All the Difference: A Special Moment at the GamingTECH CEE Awards

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At this yearâs GamingTECH CEE Awards, we witnessed something rareâand pretty remarkableâin the âBest iGaming CEO in CEEâ category.
With 214 total votes cast across 9 nominees, two names clearly rose to the top, standing apart from a highly competitive field:
- Vlastimil Venclik, CEO at Oddin.gg
- Dario JurÄiÄ, CEO at NSoft
But hereâs where it gets interesting: the difference between them? Just 5 votes.
Thatâs rightâafter weeks of online voting and a live secret ballot from summit participants, the final count came down to a 5-vote margin. In a category filled with respected leaders, innovators, and visionaries, two CEOs clearly resonated with the industry in a big way.
And while only one person can technically take home the winnerâs trophy, this razor-thin result was too significant to ignore. So, for the first time in the history of the GamingTECH CEE Awards, we decided to introduce something new:
- An Honorary Runner-Up Trophy for âBest iGaming CEO in CEEâ awarded to Dario JurÄiÄ, CEO of NSoft.
Why This Matters
The intent behind this decision is simple: When excellence is nearly indistinguishable, it deserves to be recognized.
Dario JurÄiÄ has played a vital role in expanding NSoftâs influence, strengthening its presence in new markets, and leading with a people-first approach in a rapidly evolving sector. His visibility, leadership, and impact were clearly acknowledged by the voting communityâand with just a handful of votes separating him from the top spot, it felt only right to shine a spotlight on that achievement.
A Testament to a Vibrant Industry
The closeness of this race also speaks volumes about the caliber of leadership weâre seeing in the Central and Eastern European iGaming space. With companies like Oddin.gg and NSoft pushing boundaries in their respective verticals, the region continues to establish itself as a dynamic force in the global gaming landscape.
We congratulate Vlastimil Venclik on his well-earned win, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation and applause to Dario JurÄiÄ for standing out in such a competitive field.
Sometimes, even second place can tell a powerful storyâand this year, it certainly did.
The post When 5 Votes Make All the Difference: A Special Moment at the GamingTECH CEE Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
April Foolâs Day
No fooling! The All-Inclusive Hotel Room Package is back for summer stays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino

Tomorrow might be April Foolâs Day but this is no joke, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is bringing back Las Vegasâ only all-inclusive hotel room package starting at $125 per person per night.
The Plaza introduced its all-inclusive hotel room package last summer. It was so well received by guests that the iconic downtown Las Vegas property is bringing it back and extending it for all of June, July and August.
âAt a time when tourists are concerned about increasing costs in Las Vegas, including resort fees and paying to park, we wanted to give our guests a more affordable summer vacation option by again offering our all-inclusive hotel room package,â said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino.
The Plazaâ all-inclusive hotel room package waives all resort fees, but guests will still have free access to the fitness center, self-parking, and rooftop pool. It also includes bottomless drinks from the Omaha Bar and Sports Book Bar on the casino floor as well as breakfast and dinner from various dining outlets, and more.
The Plazaâs all-inclusive hotel room package is available for booking beginning today. Rooms must be booked online by Aug. 29 for a stay June 1 through Aug. 30.
The post No fooling! The All-Inclusive Hotel Room Package is back for summer stays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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