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Rolling In It: Most Profitable Racehorse
- Leading race horses earned £126,093 on average per minute in 2020
- Top 20 earning thoroughbreds took just 11.05 minutes to surpass the £1 million-mark last year
- Arrogate remains the all-time leading earner with £12,718,498.00 prize money, or £635,924.90 per minute
- 2020’s top 20 horses passed the £1million-barrier 65.42% quicker than sport’s top earning athletes
- Authentic picked up £402,623.08 for every 60 seconds raced last year, more than Cristiano Ronaldo (£18,782.16) and Lionel Messi (£19,926.51)
Horse racing’s class of 2020 pocketed £126,093.67 per minute of action, a new study into the value of racehorses has revealed.
The top 20 earning racehorses last year took 11.05 minutes of racing, on average, to break the £1 million-barrier, 59.56% quicker than global sports’ top earning athletes, across the same 12-month period.
However American great Arrogate still tops the all-time charts, having banked £1 million for every 1.57 minutes raced.
Exactly half of last year’s leading thoroughbreds pocketed six-figure sums for a mere 60 seconds’ work, according to OLBG’s Most Profitable Racehorse report.
Arrogate, bought by Juddmonte Farm for a meagre £408,000.00, landed three of the planet’s richest races within the space of four months, amassing as yet insurmountable career earnings of £12,718,498.00; £462,490.84 per minute on the dirt. The Breeders’ Cup Classic netted his camp £2.24 million, the Pegasus World Cup £5.69m and the Dubai World Cup £4.88m.
The Bob Baffert-trained phenom won on seven occasions in total, earning more than his keep in just 20 minutes.
That ‘time to £1 million’ figure dropped to 5.66 minutes, when you assess the financial vitals of the top 20 earning racehorses of all time. This elite group earned an aggregated £160,446,327.70 across collective careers comprising 229 starts, and a win percentage of 52, to boot.
The stats for the class of 2020 are quite remarkable too, with a combined 69 wins from 117 starts; landing each of their respective owners a sizable share of £23,847,336.32.
There are some exceptionally wealthy racehorses out there, or there would be if they got to keep the cash.
Recently retired Authentic, the sport’s top earner in 2020, added a further £402,623.08 to his owners’ coffers for every single minute he ran.
Winner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, setting a new track record at Keeneland in the latter, he took home a cool £5,234,100.00, in just seven starts and recently began his stud career in central Kentucky, having retired last November.
That comes against the backdrop of prize purses for the top 10 most expensive horse races on the planet surpassing the £50 million-mark for the first time in 2020, the collective fund up 28.74% year-on-year.
Disappointingly, but understandably due to the pandemic, the cumulative total prize money available for the 489 races staged across the world last year finished at £322,187,199.00, down 19.09% from 2019 (£398,218,061.00), with the available funds in Europe taking the biggest hit, falling by a jaw-dropping 58.82% year-on-year.
Across the rest of the sporting world, Cristiano Ronaldo, who plys his trade in Serie A for Juventus, cleared £76,650,000.00 through salary, bonuses and endorsements in 2020, banking £18,782.16 per minute in the 2019-20 season, 60.08% less than 18th-ranked horse Mr Freeze (£34,911.89).
Footballers Messi (£19,926.51) Neymar (£29,218.36), Basketball’s Le Bron James (£27,774.14) and F1’s Lewis Hamilton (£26,384.38) also failed to trouble Mr Freeze, purchased in 2016 for £54,750, in the earnings per minute stakes, based on 2020 income.
Tyson Fury meanwhile was the most lucrative earner. Despite fighting just once last year he averaged £2,117,557.25 per minute – 248% more than the next highest earner which was Irish racehorse Tarnawa, who also only competed once.
Commenting on the findings, OLBG’s Richard Moffat said: “We’ve always known about the huge sums of money involved in racing horses, both on the betting exchanges and the business side of it too, but to see the figures in black and white and compare what racehorses earned versus sport stars really does make you sit up and take notice.
“It’s the fine margins between winning and losing, and the colossal financial incentives on offer, that add to the drama and intrigue of the sport. It also gives you a feel for why major bloodstock operations such as Godolphin, Zayat, Juddmonte, to name but a few, exist and take the creation of future leading thoroughbreds so seriously.
“When you microanalyse it to the point where Authentic earned £402,623.08 for every 60 seconds’ work in 2020, the lucrativeness of the sport is plain to see.”
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Liverpool Leads UK Sports Fans as Darts Surges with Luke Littler
New data from Flashscore highlights Liverpool as the most popular football club in the UK in 2025 while revealing darts as the fastest-growing sport among UK users.
The insights come from the annual Flashscore Yearbook, which analyzes billions of interactions across the platform’s app and website to identify trends in fan engagement, top teams, sports, events, and athletes.
Football Dominates, Liverpool on Top
Football remained the UK’s favorite sport, registering 5.9 billion views on Flashscore throughout 2025. Within the league, Liverpool emerged as the most-viewed team, accumulating over 5.3 million views, ahead of Manchester United (4.5M), Arsenal (4.3M), and Manchester City (3.2M).
Chelsea secured fifth place, while Newcastle United overtook Tottenham Hotspur, signaling a shift in fan attention and club momentum.
Notable match highlights include:
- Real Madrid vs Arsenal (Champions League) – 2.6M views
- Manchester United vs Burnley (Premier League) – 2.6M views, boosted by Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time winner
Darts Breaks Through with Luke Littler
Darts overtook tennis, golf, and basketball to become the UK’s second most popular sport, attracting nearly 275 million views across major tournaments.
- PDC World Championship led viewership, surpassing Premier League Darts.
- Luke Littler’s January victory over Michael van Gerwen drew 952,887 views, making it the year’s most-watched darts match.
The 19-year-old Littler emerged as the third most-viewed UK sportsperson, only behind football stars Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, and the only non-footballer in the top 20, showcasing his role in raising darts’ profile.
Broadening Fan Interests
Charlie Ford, UK Country Manager at Flashscore, highlighted the evolving sports landscape: “The Yearbook shows that while football remains dominant, fans’ interests are expanding. Liverpool’s engagement demonstrates consistent fan loyalty, while Newcastle’s rise reflects shifting attention. Darts’ growth, fueled by Luke Littler, proves the impact a breakout star can have on a sport’s popularity.”
The data underscores a diverse fanbase increasingly engaged across multiple sports, from traditional football to rising stars in darts.
What This Means for UK Sports
- Liverpool Dominates Digital Engagement – Confirming their enduring popularity on and off the pitch.
- Newcastle’s Momentum – Smaller clubs can disrupt traditional hierarchies with key performances.
- Darts’ Growing Appeal – High-profile athletes like Littler attract younger, digitally engaged audiences.
- Fan-Centric Insights – Platforms like Flashscore reveal real-time shifts in sports popularity.
The full Flashscore Yearbook 2025 provides a detailed look at these trends, highlighting the evolving preferences of UK sports fans.
The yearbook is available at canva.com/design/DAHBMseYWyc/YYOTdS56irp1FBspX2qodQ/view?utm_content=DAHBMseYWyc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h844c3c447c
The post appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
award winning indie game
THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA CELEBRATES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, CONFIRMS NEW GAMEPLAY MODE AND FEATURES ON THE WAY
The Battle of Polytopia Marks 10 Years with New Gameplay Mode and Major Updates
The Battle of Polytopia is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2026, as developer Midjiwan confirms a brand-new gameplay mode, additional features, and even a physical card game are on the way.
Originally launched on February 26, 2016, the award-winning strategy title has evolved from a single-player mobile passion project into a globally recognized indie success story with more than 25 million organic downloads and millions of monthly game sessions.
From Indie Passion Project to Global Strategy Hit
Created by Felix Ekenstam, founder of Midjiwan, The Battle of Polytopia began as a mobile-first strategy game inspired by classic PC and console titles but redesigned for touchscreen accessibility.
At launch, the game featured:
- iOS-only availability
- Single-player mode
- One gameplay format
- Five playable tribes
Over the past decade, the game has expanded significantly, now offering:
- Multiple unique Tribes including Cymanti
- Local and online multiplayer
- Leaderboards and weekly challenges
- Multiple game modes such as Domination
- Tribe skins and customization
- Releases on Android, Steam, Epic Games Store, and Nintendo Switch
This evolution transformed Polytopia into what Midjiwan now calls a “forever game,” emphasizing replayability, competitive play, and community-driven design.
Award-Winning Growth and Community Power
Over the last decade, Polytopia has earned industry recognition, including:
- Best Indie Developer at the Pocket Gamer Mobile Game Awards (2024)
- Best Community at the Gaming On Phone Awards (2025)
The game boasts:
- 270,000+ active fans
- 50,000+ Discord members
- 60,000+ Reddit members
The most popular tribes among players include Elyrion, Vengir, Cymanti, Kickoo, and Hoodrick, reflecting the strategic diversity that keeps the meta evolving.
From September to December 2025, Midjiwan hosted the Polytopia World Championships, a global esports event with a $10,000 prize pool and more than 10,000 participants — reinforcing the game’s competitive credibility.
10th Anniversary Celebrations Begin
To mark the milestone, Midjiwan has launched:
- A signed limited-edition 10-Year Anniversary poster via its official store
- The New Dawn Cymanti Skin on Nintendo Switch (already available on mobile)
The celebrations will continue throughout 2026, culminating in the reveal and launch of:
- A brand-new gameplay mode
- Additional in-game features
- A physical Polytopia card game
While details remain under wraps, the announcement signals continued innovation and franchise expansion beyond digital platforms.
Sustained Engagement and Replayability
Polytopia now sees:
- Millions of sessions played monthly
- Average player session times exceeding 5 hours
The game’s long-term success is widely attributed to its player-first philosophy — prioritizing creativity and community over aggressive monetization strategies.
According to studio leadership, the focus remains on quality gameplay, strategic depth, and meaningful community interaction.
Why Polytopia’s 10-Year Milestone Matters
In the mobile gaming industry — where lifecycle turnover is often rapid — sustaining a decade of organic growth is rare. Polytopia’s journey highlights several important trends:
- Mobile-First Strategy Works – Deep strategy games can thrive on mobile platforms.
- Community Drives Longevity – Strong Discord and Reddit ecosystems sustain engagement.
- Indie Studios Can Scale Globally – Award recognition and esports tournaments validate long-term viability.
- Platform Expansion Fuels Growth – Moving beyond iOS accelerated adoption and competitive legitimacy.
As Midjiwan prepares to reveal its new gameplay mode later this year, Polytopia enters its second decade positioned as one of the most resilient and community-driven mobile strategy franchises.
Similar coverage about games:
https://www.pocketgamer.com/the-battle-of-polytopia/feature-retrospective/
Pocket Gamer frequently publishes retrospectives and milestone coverage on successful mobile strategy games, including The Battle of Polytopia and other long-running indie titles.
The post THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA CELEBRATES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, CONFIRMS NEW GAMEPLAY MODE AND FEATURES ON THE WAY appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Conferences
BetConstruct AI to Redefine the Brazilian iGaming Landscape at SBC Summit Rio 2026
BetConstruct AI is excited to announce its participation in the SBC Summit Rio 2026, held from March 4-5 at the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro.
As Brazil navigates its second year of full regulation, BetConstruct AI arrives at this pivotal market juncture to showcase a vision of technological empowerment and strategic autonomy.
At Stand A230, visitors will encounter a comprehensive suite of AI-driven solutions designed to meet the high standards of the Brazilian audience. The showcase features the industry-leading Sportsbook and Casino Platforms, engineered to scale rapidly while maintaining the highest levels of performance.
Beyond the core platforms, BetConstruct AI provides the essential architecture for a dominant online brand. This includes CMS Pro, a specialized content management solution that empowers operators to manage their entire business from one centralized hub, and SpringBuilder X, our mobile-first, SEO-driven drag-and-drop website builder that eliminates the need for technical skills. Taking customization a step further, BetChain AI offers a revolutionary way to build and shape iGaming websites faster and smarter, giving partners full creative control. These foundational tools are designed to work in perfect harmony with our deeper intelligence layer, creating a seamless bridge between a stunning user interface and sophisticated back-end automation.
The core of the exhibition is the BetConstruct AI Suite, a sophisticated collection of tools built to automate and optimize the operator’s journey. This includes:
- CRM AI: Delivering deep behavioral insights to enhance player retention.
- Umbrella AI: Providing real-time risk management and automated player protection.
- AI Game Recommendation System: Ensuring personalized content delivery to maximize engagement.
- Betting Mate: An intuitive AI companion that elevates the player experience with real-time stats and insights.
Reflecting its commitment to the Brazilian market’s long-term success, BetConstruct AI will highlight its exclusive “The Choice to Grow” program. This performance-based initiative is designed to reward partners who achieve a 16.67% increase in GGR per quarter. By meeting these targets across a diverse product range – including Sportsbook, Virtual Sports, and partner brands like PopOK Gaming and CreedRoomz- operators can unlock a 51% invoice discount every third month, alongside exclusive service benefits and tournament access.
BetConstruct AI invites all industry stakeholders, operators, and media representatives to visit Stand A230 at Riocentro. The team will be available throughout the summit to demonstrate how a connected, AI-driven environment allows partners to choose the path of innovation, efficiency, and market leadership in the Brazilian Market.
The post BetConstruct AI to Redefine the Brazilian iGaming Landscape at SBC Summit Rio 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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