Latest News

French star Sarrazin completes Veloce Racing driver line-up

Published

5 years ago

January 21, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Versatile French legend joins W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick for Season One
Sarrazin aiming to add Extreme E success to impressive career CV
Cross-country specialist Lance Woolridge appointed reserve and development driver

Veloce Racing has completed its driver line-up for the inaugural season of Extreme E, after signing successful French all-rounder Stéphane Sarrazin to partner reigning W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick. In support of this duo, South African cross-country and off-road specialist Lance Woolridge joins the team as reserve and development driver.

Sarrazin has enjoyed a long and diverse career in the sport, and arrives at Veloce boasting an impressive résumé. Whilst perhaps best-known for his sportscar racing exploits – with six podium finishes in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, two Le Mans Series titles and multiple victories in the FIA World Endurance Championship to his name – he has a far more versatile CV than many of his Extreme E rivals, which should serve him well in the pioneering new electric off-road racing series.

In 1999, Sarrazin contested the Brazilian Grand Prix and continued to carry out Formula 1 testing duties until the end of 2002. Four seasons in the FIA Formula E Championship yielded three rostrum visits and 21 points finishes, while in 2011 and 2012, he tested his mettle in Australia’s V8 Supercars Championship.

Since 2004, the Gard native has also made successful appearances in the FIA World Rally Championship, increasingly honing his off-road expertise. From 22 starts at the highest level, he has achieved ten points-scoring results – highlighted by a brace of fourth places – and in both Germany and France in 2005, he finished just one position behind Subaru World Rally Team stablemate and 2003 World Champion Petter Solberg.

Sarrazin’s first international rallying triumph came on the 2014 Tour de Corse – the finale of that year’s FIA European Rally Championship season – and from three Monte-Carlo Rally outings as part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, he has never finished lower than fourth, with a podium to his credit in 2009. That experience makes him well-equipped indeed to deal with the variety of surfaces and conditions competitors are likely to encounter in Extreme E.

Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing, said:

“I am delighted to have agreed terms with Veloce Racing to contest the first season of Extreme E. This is a hugely appealing new series that has already attracted a lot of international attention – and all before the racing has even begun! As a driver, the concept is tremendously exciting and motivating – both on a competitive and personal level – and the challenge will be like no other.

“I’ve driven a lot of different types of car during my career, but the ODYSSEY 21 really is something special and it’s going to generate some incredible action. When we went testing together, it did not take me long to ‘click’ with the Veloce Racing guys – like me, they arrive in Extreme E with a lot of experience from different disciplines in the sport, and that can only be to our advantage over the forthcoming campaign. I can’t wait to go racing!”

Sarrazin and Chadwick will be supported throughout the forthcoming campaign by Lance Woolridge, who has established a fearsome reputation for his off-road endurance skills in his home country.

Born into a motorsport family – his father Neil Woolridge is a multiple cross-country champion on both two wheels and four, and tackled the iconic Dakar Rally in 1998 and 1999 – Woolridge already has 12 seasons of competition under his belt at the age of just 29. Not only that, but he has been breaking records every step of the way, including becoming the youngest driver in South African history to win a national championship cross-country event.

One of the leading protagonists in the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS), he secured consecutive Class T championship crowns in 2018 and 2019.

Lance Woolridge, Reserve and Development Driver, Veloce Racing, said:

“I’m thrilled to be joining Veloce Racing as reserve and development driver. Having tested the ODYSSEY 21 a couple of times now, I can vouch for the fact that it is a seriously impressive piece of kit and I’m confident that my background in cross-country rallying and with similar vehicles will enable me to offer valuable feedback to Stéphane, Jamie and the engineering crew. I’m looking forward to playing a key role behind-the-scenes to help give the whole Veloce Racing team the best possible chance of success.”

The 2021 Extreme E season will travel to five remote locations around the world, all of them damaged by climate change, as the series aims to shine a spotlight upon global environmental issues. The action will begin in AlUla, Saudi Arabia (3-4 April) before moving on to Dakar, Senegal (29-30 May), Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August), Para, Brazil (23-24 October) and Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

Ian Davies, Team Manager, Veloce Racing, said:

“We are delighted to announce Stéphane as our male driver for the first season of Extreme E and to confirm Lance’s reserve and development role within the team. Both of them tested with us at MotorLand Aragón last month, and to be honest, they gave us a real headache in terms of who to choose. Since we didn’t want to lose either, in the end, we decided to sign them both.

“Both Stéphane and Lance worked extremely well with Jamie and Veloce’s engineering team at the test, and their different skillsets and experience complemented each other perfectly. Stéphane is very much an all-rounder – a master of endurance racing but also clearly extremely adept in sprint and off-road competition – while Lance is well-accustomed to vehicles like the ODYSSEY 21 from his cross-country racing and has a very well-developed mechanical understanding.

“Both guys were quick out-of-the-box in Spain, and we believe both will bring a great deal to Veloce Racing as we aim to hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia. We are confident that with Jamie and Stéphane driving and Lance working hard behind-the-scenes, we have a very strong team indeed.”

gross gaming revenue

Groupe Partouche Publishes its Consolidated Turnover for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026

Published

14 minutes ago

March 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

groupe-partouche-publishes-its-consolidated-turnover-for-the-first-quarter-of-fiscal-year-2026

Groupe Partouche has published its consolidated turnover for the 1st quarter of fiscal year 2026 (November 2025 to January 2026).

The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) totalled €189.0M at 2026 1st quarter compared to €182.9M a year earlier, up by +3.4%.

In France, the 1st quarter 2026 GGR increased by +2.2 % to €166.4M compared to €162.8M a year earlier, driven by all forms of gaming: +0.5 % for slot machines, +3.1 % for non-electronic table games and +11.8 % for electronic forms of gaming.

Abroad, the GGR is up +12.3 % compared to the 2025 1st quarter, at €22.6M, compared to €20.1M in N-1. The GGR of Swiss online games continues to grow reaching €8.1M (+23.6% over one year).

At a constant scope of consolidation, excluding the acquisition of Casino Partouche Cannes 50 Croisette that took place on 28th February 2025 together with the opening of Casino Cotonou (Benin) on 28th January 2025, GGR increased by 1.1 % at €185.0M (compared to €182.9M in 1st quarter 2025).

In total, after levies, Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) increases by +3.2 % to €105.5M in 1st quarter of 2026 (compared to €102.2M in Q1 2025).

The 1st quarter 2026 turnover reached a satisfactory increase of + 3.5 % over the year, reaching €130.8M compared to €126.4M a year earlier. This includes casinos turnover for €122.1M (+3.8 %), hotels for €6.4M (-1.4 %) and other activities for €2.3M (+1.7 %).

Furthermore, the city of Berck-sur-Mer has taken possession of the casino building, in the context of ongoing asset-protection litigation.

At the Annual General Meeting to approve the financial accounts for 2025 fiscal year, to be held on Wednesday 25th March at 10:00 a.m., shareholders will be able to vote on the distribution of a dividend of 12,033,793 € (i.e. €1.25 per share). Said dividend will be paid no later than 31st July 2026.

The post Groupe Partouche Publishes its Consolidated Turnover for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

CULT.

Pragmatic Play Earns a Spot in Cult’s Inner Circle

Published

14 minutes ago

March 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

pragmatic-play-earns-a-spot-in-cult’s-inner-circle

Pragmatic Play, a top content provider for the iGaming sector, has launched CULT., allowing players to discover winnings of up to 10,000x via potent multiplier wilds.

Loyal adherents congregate around their wise leader on the 5×4 grid, where aligning five symbols on a payline can yield base game victories of up to 20x, and multiplier wilds reaching 100x can enhance winnings.

Obtaining 3-5 all-seeing eye scatter symbols activates the bonus game, granting an initial 10-20 free spins. In this feature, multiplier wilds that help create winning combinations are accumulated into a total multiplier, enhancing all following wins that involve a multiplier wild.

In certain markets, unique wagers allow players to personalize their gaming experience, with a 5x Ante Bet enhancing the chances of triggering free spins and a 10x Super Spin ensuring a multiplier wild on each spin.

Two bonus purchases offer instant access to either Free Spins or Super Free Spins, with the latter enhancing the probability of landing a multiplier wild on each spin.

CULT. indicates a fresh thematic shift for Pragmatic Play’s premium collection, succeeding the recent launch of the mining-themed slot Rolling in Treasures and the arcade game Spire+.

Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “There is a growing appetite for more unconventional themes in iGaming. CULT. leans into that trend with a bold theme and exciting gameplay, delivering special bets, multiplier wilds, and 10,000x win potential for the initiated.”

The post Pragmatic Play Earns a Spot in Cult’s Inner Circle appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETBY

BETBY Expands E-Sim Portfolio with Three Industry-First Titles: eHockey, eMMA and eTeqball

Published

14 minutes ago

March 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

betby-expands-e-sim-portfolio-with-three-industry-first-titles:-ehockey,-emma-and-eteqball

Tier 1 sportsbook supplier BETBY has expanded its proprietary esports feed, Betby.Games, with the launch of three industry-first e-sim titles: eHockey, eMMA and eTeqball. The new releases further strengthen BETBY’s high-frequency betting content portfolio, introducing new sports verticals while continuing to deliver fast-paced, always-on content designed to maximise engagement for operators and players worldwide.

Each of the new titles debuts as a first-of-its-kind esports simulation in the betting industry, reinforcing BETBY’s reputation as a pioneer in developing original betting content.

eHockey launches with four tournaments representing the NHL’s divisions: Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, and Pacific. Each match follows a format of three periods lasting three minutes each, delivering uninterrupted action with no stoppages. Designed to replicate the intensity of real hockey, the title offers 15+ betting markets and is expected to generate over 11,000 matches per month, ensuring a constant flow of high-frequency betting opportunities. Arriving just ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs next month, the new title allows hockey fans to stay immersed in the sport 24/7, extending engagement beyond real-world fixtures.

eMMA introduces a fast-paced combat sports experience featuring two tournaments: UFC Legends and UFC Women Legends, where some of the sport’s most iconic fighters face off in simulated matchups. By bringing together well-known names from MMA history, the title creates an instantly familiar environment for fans and bettors alike. The format focuses on quick fights, with each matchup consisting of a single round lasting around one to two minutes on average. Events begin every five minutes, ensuring continuous action throughout the day. Betting markets focus on the fight winner, creating a simple yet highly engaging wagering experience. Combined, the two tournaments are expected to deliver around 15,000 events per month.

Completing the trio is eTeqball, which introduces a brand-new sport to the Betby.Games portfolio. Combining elements of football and table tennis, the rapidly growing discipline brings a unique dynamic to esports simulations. The title launches with the TQX Cup Hungary – Double Mixed tournament, generating around 1800 matches per month. Each match consists of two games played up to 12 points, with over 20 betting markets available.

Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Innovation & R&D at BETBY, said: “Creating original content has always been at the core of the Betby.Games vision. With Hockey, MMA, and Teqball, we’re introducing three industry-first titles that further diversify our portfolio and bring new experiences to esports betting. Each of these games offers fast gameplay, clear betting mechanics, and a constant stream of events, helping operators keep players engaged 24/7.”

The post BETBY Expands E-Sim Portfolio with Three Industry-First Titles: eHockey, eMMA and eTeqball appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.