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RPGTV to feature Ladbrokes Golden Jacket and Shelbourne Gold Cup

Published

5 years ago

January 25, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

RPGTV will take it first step into daytime racing transmission with coverage of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket following that up with evening coverage of the Shelbourne Gold Cup on Saturday 6th February.

The Ladbrokes Golden Jacket has been a Saturday morning staple at Crayford for over 30 years having first been staged at Harringay during the 1970s when it sporadically featured as a horse-racing substitute on ITV.

It is the most valuable off-course betting industry competition and, apart from a four-year flirtation with an evening final which ended in 2019, has had an iconic Saturday morning role since its inception.

As a result, RPGTV coverage has been restricted to the first round only in previous years but the whole competition will now be covered in its entirety on three consecutive Saturday mornings, February 6, 13 and 20. Trial stakes for the £17,500 Category One event begin over the 714m course this Saturday evening, live on RPGTV.

The Shelbourne Gold Cup, known as the Best Car Parks Gold Cup in 2021 for sponsorship purposes, was first staged in 1998 when won by the Denis Shanahan-trained Real Branch and quickly established itself as the leading early-year competition.

Run over the 525 yards course at Shelbourne Park, it is regarded as an ideal starting point for leading four-bend greyhounds and has been won by legendary names such as Paul Hennessy’s Late Late Show (2001) and the late Seamus Graham’s Mineola Farloe (2006). Hennessy is the competition’s leading trainer with seven victories, while Liam Dowling has won two of the last three renewals.

The 2017 staging was abandoned at the semi-final stage as the first high-profile victim of a dispute between the then Irish Greyhound Board and the Dublin Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association over the announcement of the closure of Harold’s Cross.

Kevan Moretti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GTV commented: –

“RPGTV powers on with a set of top class racing in the first week of its new High-definition transmission platform being launched, and there are further announcements still to come. Breaking into daytime racing coverage is another first and we look forward to our audience relishing RPGTV’s expanding schedule.

Following on from RPGTV’s coverage of the Irish Derby last year we are delighted to have racing back-on from Shelbourne Park featuring as a Saturday evening feature in the first week of our HD output.

Ger Dollard, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, said:

“I’m delighted that the Best Car Parks Gold Cup from Shelbourne Park is the first Irish greyhound racing competition to be featured live on RPGTV in 2021. It promises to be an excellent night of racing and we are delighted to be delivering live competitive greyhound racing from Ireland.”

Ian Smyth, Director of Racing for Crayford’s owners, Entain Group, said:

“We’re delighted that the extension of RPGTV’s coverage means we’ve been able to retain the traditional Saturday morning slot for the Golden Jacket.

Current circumstances mean betting shops will be unable to provide coverage this year, but this announcement ensures that a great and long-standing event remains accessible to all.

The staying division has thrown up some fantastic racing in the last 12 months and we’re sure to see some stars at Crayford in the build-up over the next two Saturday evenings and the following Saturday morning when the main event kicks off.”

RPGTV executive producer Clive Lawrence said:

“Saturday morning action from Crayford and Romford is expected to become a firm favourite with not just our regular viewers but perhaps also some new ones captivated by the action in their living rooms at breakfast, or maybe brunch, time.

The show will also welcome increased viewer interaction with a new weekly competition being introduced, while the other main sporting action of the day will also be featured.

Of the Shelbourne coverage, Lawrence added: “Our ambition is to bring the best quality racing from both sides of the Irish Sea and the first big night for Irish racing in 2021 is the final of the Best Car Parks Gold Cup from Shelbourne Park. Covid regulations permitting, we will have a reporter onsite for interviews.”

2026 Bacta Awards

Honouring excellence: Bacta Awards for standout contributors

Published

15 minutes ago

January 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

honouring-excellence:-bacta-awards-for-standout-contributors

Bacta utilized the platform offered by its premier EAG Expo to recognize three industry members who have excelled in their responsibilities. The 2026 Bacta Awards were awarded to Alan Claypole from Blueprint Operations (Supply Chain Champion), Alan Walker from Clacton Pier (Seaside Hero), and James Sturgess from Luxury Leisure (Community Champion).

Elaborating on the Awards initiative, Bacta President Joseph Cullis stated: “Our sector has numerous committed individuals who endlessly exert effort, making significant contributions to both Bacta and the wider community.

“The Bacta Awards honour individuals who have excelled, whether through outstanding community engagement or significant contributions to the industry. They also showcase the standards and values that define Bacta membership, including a commitment to professionalism and to operating in an ethical, sustainable, responsible, and transparent manner.”

“I was delighted that we could utilise EAG, which is the biggest annual concentration of Bacta members to recognise and celebrate the work of Alan Claypole, Alan Walker and James Sturgess – all extremely worthy recipients.

It was a great honour to welcome our Bacta Award Winners and to honour them in front of their peers.”

James Sturgess – Community Champion: James Sturgess, Regional Operations Director at Luxury Leisure which operate Admiral in the UK, has been at the forefront of the company’s partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to install a potentially life-saving defibrillator in every one of their AGC venues. Every year in the UK around 40,000 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest, but less than one in ten survive. Immediate CPR and defibrillation can double a person’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest. The partnership between Luxury Leisure and the BHF will mean that life-saving defibrillators are readily available if a customer, or someone in the community suffers a cardiac arrest. Thanks to the generosity of Admiral customers and colleagues the partnership has raised an incredible £500,000 for the British Heart Foundation, providing essential support for thousands of people in communities across the country.

Alan Walker – Seaside Hero: Alan Walker recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and has spent half a century in the amusement industry including more than a decade working at Clacton Pier. Alan is the pier’s head of coin operation services and works with colleagues some of whom are 60 years his junior. Alan spent nine years in the Army before he took up a post as a service engineer at Music Hire Group in his native North East. From there he progressed into management with the firm. He moved on to join the Noble Organisation – both in the North East and Blackpool – before taking up a role running amusements for the resorts division of First Leisure. His next job was with Family Leisure in London, and he has worked with Connaught Leisure, J Holland and Sons before joining Billy and Elliot Ball at Clacton Pier. Alan said that he was very proud to have received the award from Bacta. Reflecting on the award he said: “I was shocked to be honest, but it is nice to be honoured in that way for something you love doing.”

Alan Claypole – Supply Chain Champion: The Blueprint Operations Director of Technical and Product Development has a distinguished history of overseeing the Bacta Standards and leading on Bacta’s engagement with the Gambling Commission on the critical issue relating to the review of Technical Standards. Alan has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the technology that delivers gambling entertainment and shares his knowledge and insight for the betterment of the industry and for Bacta member businesses. Bacta President Joseph Cullis said: “Alan brings the level of expertise that any amount of money simply could not buy. He leads on technical discussions for Bacta and is able to draw on an unbelievable depth of knowledge. It is absolutely essential that manufacturers are aligned and the work undertaken by Alan on behalf of Bacta has a significant impact on both manufacturers and operators.”

The post Honouring excellence: Bacta Awards for standout contributors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Anne Marie Caulfield CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

GRAI: Problem gambling higher among those exposed to gambling as children

Published

15 minutes ago

January 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

grai:-problem-gambling-higher-among-those-exposed-to-gambling-as-children

Research by the ESRI’s Behavioural Research Unit, commissioned by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, indicates that problem gambling is significantly more prevalent among individuals who were exposed to gambling during childhood. The research revealed that the prevalence of problem gambling is notably greater in individuals who gambled during childhood, had parents who engaged in gambling, or whose parents viewed gambling favorably.

‘Problem gambling’ refers to a situation where an individual’s gambling interferes with and harms their life, leading to adverse effects on finances, health, and social relationships.

The study collected anonymous online feedback from a representative sample of over 1,600 adults. The researchers examined present gambling habits in relation to childhood experiences while accounting for social background.

The information showed a significant connection. Children who engaged in gambling were nearly twice as prone to experience issues with gambling later in life. Having a gambling parent raised the risk of problem gambling by one third, and parental views on gambling similarly influenced this risk.

People who both gambled as children and had a parent who gambled a lot were four times more likely to suffer from problem gambling.

The majority of the sample had engaged in at least some form of gambling when under 18 years old. The most common forms were slot machines, scratch cards, horse or dog betting, gambling amongst friends, bingo and lotteries.

Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, said, “This research provides clear evidence of the long-term potential harms resulting from childhood exposure to gambling. It reinforces the importance of a well-regulated gambling sector that protects children and those vulnerable to gambling harm. It also points to the need for awareness and education among our young people, their parents, and guardians on gambling related harms.”

To coincide with the release of this report, the GRAI have published advice for parents on how best to approach the topic of gambling and associated dangers with their children on our website. This advice was developed in collaboration with the HSE Addiction Services and provides a useful tool for parents.”

The post GRAI: Problem gambling higher among those exposed to gambling as children appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Aviator

The half time hero: Why crash games are the ultimate cross-sell tool for sportsbooks

Published

15 minutes ago

January 30, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

the-half-time-hero:-why-crash-games-are-the-ultimate-cross-sell-tool-for-sportsbooks

As player acquisition costs soar, the “bridge” between sports and casino has never been more critical. Giorgi Tsutskiridze, CCO at SPRIBE, explores why crash mechanics resonate with the sports bettor’s unique psychology, and how it’s turning downtime into a primary revenue driver.

Sports betting is inherently bursty, with the largest volume of activity and wagers coming while the sporting action takes place.

This is certainly the case since the rise of in-play betting and cashout. But this means operators are leaving millions of dollars of GGR on the table during half time, injury stops and the gaps between fixtures, especially during the off season.

Some have looked to expand their offering beyond core sports betting to help recover some of this lost GGR through virtuals, table games and even sports-themed slots.

In most cases, these games just don’t hit the mark with sports bettors. Standard slots, for example, are too noisy and complex for your average punter, as they prefer quick, skill-adjacent and transparent outcomes.

But this is where crash games such as Aviator come in. They are the perfect middle ground with a format that feels like a bet put plays more like an instant win.

Tapping into the psychology of hybrid players:

The transition from a sportsbook to a traditional casino lobby can often feel like a culture shock for the bettor.

Where sports betting is rooted in analysis and timing, traditional slots can feel like a passive exercise in luck. Aviator solves this friction by speaking the sports bettor’s native psychological language.

Here’s how…

The multiplier mindset: quantifiable risk v reward

For a sports bettor, value is everything. They’re conditioned to look at odds and weigh the probability of an outcome against the potential return. Aviator’s central mechanic, an increasing curve with a visible multiplier, mimics this “price action”.

Unlike a slot machine where the math is hidden behind spinning reels, Aviator displays the risk/reward in real-time. The player isn’t just gambling, they’re monitoring a market that’s moving in their favour, much like watching the odds shift in a live tennis match.

The cash out continuity

The most significant psychological bridge is the cash out functionality. In modern sports betting, the ability to settle a bet early to lock in profit or mitigate loss is a standard expectation.

Aviator takes this specific sports betting mechanic and makes it the core gameplay loop. The tension of deciding whether to hold for a higher Multiplier or exit to secure the win is identical to the adrenaline spike of an in-play football wager.

This familiarity reduces the cognitive load required to try a new game, leading to higher conversion rates from the sportsbook tab.

Passive luck v active agency (the skill component)

With traditional slots, the player hits a button to spin and then just waits to see if they win or not. Sports bettors, however, generally view themselves as participants whose knowledge or “gut” influences the outcome.

Crash games like Aviator grant the player agency. Even though the underlying math is RNG-based, the player feels in total control of the exit point. This sense of active participation satisfies the bettor’s desire for skill-based entertainment.

They aren’t just waiting for a win to be handed to them, they’re actively claiming it through a timely decision.

Fitting into the 15 minute window:

Half time is where GGR goes to die but because crash games have such short loops – with Aviator, a game round is typically between 8 seconds and 12 seconds – and are designed for the scroll and swipe behaviour of mobile users, they fill that time perfectly.

For example, Aviator now generates more than 400,000 bets per minute on average and we often see spikes during the half time of major sporting events.

Social proof as a retention lever:

Betting is highly social, but casino is often solitary, and this is a key reason why so few sports bettors engage with slots and table games.

Sports betting thrives against a social background, with punters talking about their bets at the pub, in the bookies, on social media, etc.

Aviator provides this social engagement via the chat function, as well as things like real-time leaderboards and the Rain Promo feature, where they can share bonuses with other players in the chat.

This actually keeps players engaged with the game and active in the chat, even when the match they are watching resumes after half time.

Strategic integration and a high ROI:

In 2026, seamlessness is the only KPI that matters.

Aviator’s lightweight UI, which is key for the success it has generated in emerging markets where limited infrastructure and high data costs to consumers cause challenges for “heavier games”, ensure there’s no loading bar friction as the player moves from the sportsbook into the Aviator lobby.

And when it comes to ROI, Aviator is in a league of its own – when given a full and proper launch, operators can see an immediate GGR uplift of 10%.

Crash games aren’t just another format for players to engage with – they are a strategic bridge that allows bettors to cross into the casino lobby through gameplay that genuinely taps into their psyche and delivers the experiences they enjoy.

And this is why operators that fail to integrate crash games like Aviator into their sports betting journey are leaving double-digit revenue growth on the table.

Author: Giorgi Tsutskiridze, CCO at SPRIBE

The post The half time hero: Why crash games are the ultimate cross-sell tool for sportsbooks appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.