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Martin Stevenson appointed new CEO of Racecourse Media Group

Published

3 years ago

March 9, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Martin Stevenson has been appointed CEO of Racecourse Media Group (RMG) – the media and data rights holding company for the UK and Ireland’s leading racecourses.

Stevenson has a deep and intimate knowledge and understanding of the RMG business, having joined the Group as the Finance Director of RMG in 2007.

A qualified accountant (FCCA), his previous experience includes the position of Managing Director of the Newspaper Licensing Agency and Group Financial Controller of Trinity Mirror plc.. Stevenson succeeds Richard FitzGerald, who left the post of CEO in September.

Roger Lewis, Chairman of RMG, said:

“On behalf of the RMG Board, RMG’s racecourses and all the RMG staff, I am delighted to announce Martin as the new CEO of the Group.

“After an extensive and rigorous recruitment process, during which we interviewed a number of outstanding candidates, the RMG Board unanimously voted for this appointment.

“Martin’s vision for RMG is bold and imaginative. His relationship with our shareholder racecourses is very special and Martin is passionate that RMG can, and will, deliver the best returns for racing.

“The RMG business model has been severely tested during the last 12 months, but it has demonstrated great resilience, providing vital media rights income for our racecourses. This has been achieved due to the extraordinary efforts of our racecourses who have brilliantly kept horse racing running. We are proud to serve them.

“We are now slowly emerging out of the pandemic and Martin is undoubtedly the right person to lead RMG into its next phase of growth over the coming years.”

Martin Stevenson, new CEO of RMG, added:

“I am extremely excited and honoured to take up the position of RMG CEO. I look forward to working even more collaboratively with our 34 racecourse shareholders, whose media interests have been entrusted to RMG.

“RMG has been a phenomenal success story since its inception as Racing UK back in 2004, having posted year-on-year increases in licence fees payable to its racecourse shareholders nearly every year of trading. It shows what can be achieved via a collective approach to commercialising our racecourses’ media and data rights.

“But RMG never stands still. We will continue to innovate with our output, as evidenced by the recent launch of the Racing TV virtual studio, which follows the introduction of the broadcast and publication of in-race timing information.

“We will also continue to be creative and forward-thinking in how best to commercialise our racecourses’ content, including building on the recent success of the Watch & Bet streaming service, which has been greatly welcomed by bookmakers, punters and race-fans alike.

“RMG has a committed, knowledgeable and loyal team, which, I have absolutely no doubt, will continue to deliver the right results for our racecourses.”

RMG was created by racecourses for the sport of racing and the compelling content generated from the racecourses it broadcasts from has enabled RMG to continue to drive the business forward.

RMG’s quality offering was evidenced recently as five of the top 11 races run in the world in 2020 (rated by IFHA) – headed by the Juddmonte International Stakes at York at number one – were broadcast live on Racing TV.

Recent Key Developments over the last six months at RMG include:

Virtual studio – Racing TV’s new studio takes horseracing coverage to the next level

Record viewers – Racing TV memberships hit a record 63,000

In-race timing service – New tracking service launches on-screen and online

Watch & Bet – Low-latency and data-rich streaming service enhances output for bookmakers, punters and fans

Racing TV Extra – Dedicated racecourse streams, with presenters, available from all RTV’s 61 racecourses

ITV and Virgin Media TV – RMG’s racecourses’ rights are renewed until 2023 in UK and Ireland

Sportsbet – Streaming and marketing deal with Australia’s largest online betting operator

British Champions Day – RMG distributes TV coverage to 125 countries via 26 broadcasters

Angela Bernhard Thomas

CAPCOM’S STREET FIGHTERTM 6 GOING TO COLLEGE THIS FALL

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

capcom’s-street-fightertm-6-going-to-college-this-fall

CSMG will create and operate College Street FighterTM Tour in North America for the 2024-25 academic year
College conference Street Fighter 6 champions will punch their ticket to the national Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) & May Madness in 2025

Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) announced today during the kick-off of its Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) Texas presented by McDonald’s that it has joined forces with Capcom to launch the College Street FighterTM Tour during its 2024-25 academic year with the finalists competing at CECC Texas in 2025 throughout its May Madness event. Street FighterTM 6 will join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch 2®, Rocket League, and VALORANT as part of the official game titles for CECC.

“We are immensely excited to welcome Capcom into the CECC family and provide a path to glory for student athletes to showcase their skills in Street Fighter 6,” said Michael Schreck, Chief Executive Officer for CSMG. “In our fourth year of building May Madness, we continue to listen to our players, coaches and fans on how to make our event more inclusive, and the partnership with Street Fighter 6 is a resounding success.”

“The Street Fighter franchise is a multi-generational and global game series, so it’s important for us to continue to grow that fandom at the collegiate level,” said Michael Larson, Head of Esports at Capcom USA. “CECC continues to set the standard for competition and community, so it’s a natural format for expansion, and we’re eager for College Street Fighter Tour competitors across North America to show off their skills and join us in Texas next year.”

”The vision for the College Street Fighter Tour is a publisher backed esports series that integrates into the existing infrastructure of The Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup, a bracket style event series that takes place every year and has been coined May Madness. The path to championship includes invitational bids to national and regional level conferences as well as official CECC qualifiers held regionally,” said Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer for CSMG’s ESPORTSU.

Every college or university from a 2-year or 4-year institution can participate through their conference or through select qualifiers. Wim Stocks will serve as the Commissioner of the College Street Fighter Tour and bring his 20 years of experience in college esports to create a dynamic and engaging format of competitive gaming.

“Since the launch of Street Fighter 6 in June of ’23, it is clear the rich legacy of Street Fighter is stronger than ever and helping lift the fighting game community to still greater heights,” said Stocks. “Having a structure now for a national collegiate competitive series, league, and events, Capcom and ESPORTSU are building a phenomenal ecosystem and mechanism for developing up and coming Street Fighter 6 competitors.”

More details on the College Street Fighter Tour will be shared later this year.

CSMG welcomes 84 teams (up from 64 in 2023) this weekend from a record breaking 19 conference champions to the largest scholastic esports festival globally. They will compete at Esports Stadium Arlington on May 3-5 for the chance to hoist one of the coveted trophies. Fans can watch the CECC Texas on ESPORTSU’s Twitch channel at https://www.twitch.tv/esportsu.

CECC Texas 2023 was also recently awarded LAN Event of the Year during the inaugural Scholars Awards in Las Vegas, which are produced in partnership with the Esports Awards.

Clark County

Clark County residents can bring a friend for free to next week’s Super Bingo $160,000 tournament at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, May 6-8

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

clark-county-residents-can-bring-a-friend-for-free-to-next-week’s-super-bingo-$160,000-tournament-at-the-plaza-hotel-&-casino,-may-6-8

Home to downtown Las Vegas’ only bingo room, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is offering Clark County, Nevada residents who register to play in next week’s Super Bingo tournament the opportunity to bring a friend for free.

Happening Monday, May 6 through Wednesday, May 8 in the Plaza’s expansive ballroom, Super Bingo is expected to draw nearly 1,000 people from the local Las Vegas valley and across the country and Canada for the opportunity to win big playing fun-filled games of bingo over two days, with a $50,000 super coverall both days while socializing with like-minded bingo players.

Bingo-only registration is $160 per person, and Clark County residents who register can bring a friend for free. Registration is available online at https://www.plazahotelcasino.com/bingo/super-bingo-registration/. Hotel-and-bingo packages start at $300 for a four-night stay with no resort fee.

All Super Bingo players receive one 6-on paper pack for both days, two daubers, free drinks via an open bar at all sessions, boxed lunch both days, and $10 in free slot play after the first day’s session.

The Plaza’s Bingo room offers six daily bingo sessions at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and is located on the 3rd floor. By parking on the third floor of the Plaza’s self-parking garage, guests have convenient and direct access to the Plaza’s bingo room and parking is validated for bingo players.

Gambling in the USA

Kambi Group plc extends Mohegan partnership with on-property sports betting agreement in Pennsylvania

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

kambi-group-plc-extends-mohegan-partnership-with-on-property-sports-betting-agreement-in-pennsylvania

Kambi Group plc (“Kambi”), the world’s trusted sports betting partner, has agreed a long-term on-property sportsbook partnership with Mohegan to provide its award-winning sportsbook at two retail locations in the state of Pennsylvania.

The partnership will see Mohegan utilise Kambi’s cutting-edge retail sportsbook offering across more than 20 kiosks in sportsbook locations at Mohegan Pennsylvania and Mohegan Pennsylvania at Lehigh Valley Race and Sportsbook.

The deal further strengthens Kambi’s relationship with Mohegan, which already utilises Kambi’s suite of sports betting products at ilani in Washington, as well as online and on-property in the Canadian province of Ontario at Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.

Kristian Nylén, Kambi CEO and Co-founder, said: “With several successful partnerships with Mohegan already in place, we are pleased to agree this new partnership as we continue to build on our strong relationship.

“This latest deal further reinforces Kambi’s position as the sportsbook provider of choice for tribes across North America, and we look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Mohegan.”

Tony Carlucci, President & GM of Mohegan Pennsylvania, said: “Mohegan Pennsylvania is excited to continue utilising the same Kambi technology platform that existed under our Kindred partnership, which will help to create a seamless process as the Sportsbook at Mohegan Pennsylvania fully rebrands later this Spring.”