Latest News

Veloce Racing primed for Ocean X Prix success as Newey praises rebuild effort

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Veloce Racing is ready to get back on track this weekend (29-30 May) at the scene of the second event on Extreme E’s inaugural calendar – the Ocean X Prix – featuring yet another breathtaking landscape, this time in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal.

The opening round of the series was one to forget for fledgling outfit Veloce Racing, with its drivers – 2019 W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick and two-time Le Mans Series Champion Stéphane Sarrazin – having completed just one lap each in the exploratory Friday shakedown session before a spectacular barrel roll early in Sarrazin’s Q1 run forced the team to withdraw from the remainder of the competition.

Prior to the incident, the Frenchman was on course to match the pace of his adversaries during the opening stages of the lap, meaning the team carries plenty of optimism into the next round of the championship.

Thankfully, Sarrazin emerged from the incident unscathed but Chadwick was left stranded at Extreme E’s Desert X Prix Command Centre, missing the opportunity to log valuable time inside the cockpit of the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 SUV.

However, the format of the Extreme E calendar is more forgiving than other motorsport series with the unique characteristics of each location meaning many drivers will approach the upcoming events with a relatively similar lack of experience – meaning Chadwick won’t be playing catch-up for long.

Veloce Racing’s ODYSSEY 21, meanwhile, required an extensive rebuild post-Saudi Arabia. Following a thorough investigation by the team, it was revealed that a significant refit was required owing to a damaged roll cage and suspension.

A small team of mechanics from Competition Partner ART GP and Veloce Racing Team Manager Ian Davies will complete an estimated 75-100 hours of labour in Senegal to ensure the SUV is race-ready.

These repairs have sparked an unlikely collaboration between two Extreme E teams, as the ABT CUPRA XE car is also undergoing reconstruction in the build-up to the race. With some parts common across all Extreme E vehicles, Veloce Racing are working together with the German-Spanish outfit to share some of the workload required on both cars and minimise the environmental impact of both rebuilds.

With no spectators permitted on-site in Senegal – in-keeping with Extreme E’s sustainable ethos and commitment to minimise its carbon footprint – the racing will be broadcast all around the world on a variety of networks, including ITV, the BBC Sport website and Red Button application, Sky Sports and BT Sport in the UK, plus the championship’s official website.

The action will begin with the qualifying rounds from 11.30am local time (12.30pm BST) on Saturday, 29 May, with the semi-finals and final taking place from 10am local time (11am BST) the following day.

Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing commented:

“I feel like I have the same level of excitement for this race as I did for the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, I only got the one lap in during the shakedown session so that just gave me a little taste of what Extreme E is really like – and it was amazing! This weekend, I want more of that feeling and to really get my teeth into this series.

“I think in other championships my lack of track time would really hurt the team in this next race, but because each location is so different to anything the drivers have done before, I don’t think we’ll be at a huge disadvantage.

“The only goal I have this weekend is just to get some solid points on the board. You have some bumps in the road and difficult rounds every year so hopefully we got ours out of the way early on.”

Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing added:

“I can’t wait to be back in the Extreme E paddock. It’s so different to anything I’ve experienced before, and it’s fantastic! We had a difficult start to our season, but I think that has made us more determined than ever to deliver results.

“The other teams have a head start on us in the championship, but everyone will probably have issues at some point so it’s definitely not over yet! The pace we had looked promising, so I think we have a lot to be positive about this weekend.

“I’m also really looking forward to being involved with the Legacy Programmes again in Senegal, this is one of the things that sets Extreme E apart from any other sporting series – helping local communities and creating a positive and lasting impact.”

Adrian Newey, Lead Visionary, Veloce Racing, added:

“I’m really excited to see what the team can achieve at the Ocean X Prix. Obviously, we didn’t have the opportunity to show what we’re really capable of in Saudi Arabia, but I think it looked promising before Stéphane’s roll. The team are going to come back fighting, I know that much!

“I have seen plenty of set-backs throughout my career, and the team has reacted to adversity in exactly the right way. It takes hard work and dedication to recover from an incident like we experienced at the Desert X Prix, and both the drivers and the team are working flat out to be as prepared as possible for this weekend. I know that there is still a lot of work going on in Senegal to get the car ready, and don’t underestimate how much that will motivate our drivers.

“As far as the location goes, this is going to be a really interesting one (as they all are!). It looks like the terrain is going to be similar to Saudi Arabia but the course will be totally different and pose entirely new challenges for even the most experienced drivers!”

Following the Ocean X Prix in Senegal, the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating paddock – will then set sail for Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August) followed by Pará, Brazil (23-24 October) and finally Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

AI Casino Recommender

Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

meridianbet-doubles-down-on-belgium:-new-casino-license-unlocks-e455m-market-segment

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: This is a classic “Cross-Sell” play. Meridianbet has already spent seven years building a sports betting database in Belgium. By securing this B+ license, they can now monetize those same users with higher-margin casino products (slots, table games) without needing to acquire new traffic from scratch. With the Belgian casino sector growing at 20% year-over-year, this is a significant revenue unlock for the GMGI portfolio.

The Full Story

Meridianbet, the sports betting and gaming operator owned by Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has successfully expanded its regulatory footprint in Europe by securing a B+ online gaming license in Belgium.

The new license (B+ 4016) authorizes the company to launch a comprehensive online casino platform—featuring slots, table games, and automated live games—starting in January 2026. This move significantly broadens the operator’s capabilities in the country, complementing its existing sports betting operations which have been active in the Belgian market for seven years.

Targeting the Largest Market Segment The strategic rationale behind the license is clear: Casino is now the dominant force in Belgian gambling. According to the Belgian Gaming Commission, the online casino vertical generated €455 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in 2023, representing a 20.2% year-over-year increase.

By entering this vertical, Meridianbet gains access to the largest and fastest-growing segment of a market that generated a total of €944.6 million last year.

Tech-First Entry Meridianbet plans to deploy its proprietary AI Casino Recommender technology for the Belgian launch. This system analyzes player behavior and preferences in real-time to deliver personalized game suggestions, a crucial differentiator in a highly concentrated market where just ten operators account for 94% of all online wagers.

Regulatory Context Belgium is known for having one of Europe’s strictest regulatory frameworks, characterized by rigorous compliance standards and player protection protocols. Securing this license validates Meridianbet’s operational standards and deepens its foothold in a “mature” market that is notoriously difficult for new entrants to penetrate.

The post Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

B2B Marketing

LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand

Published

7 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

linkdatamedia-drops-‘startup’-look-with-major-5th-anniversary-rebrand

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: In the iGaming affiliate space, the five-year mark is a critical survival threshold. Many media startups fade away before reaching it. LinkDataMedia’s decision to rebrand now is a classic “graduation” signal. By shedding their startup skin for a more corporate, “blue-chip” aesthetic (the stability-focused blue triangle), they are telling operators and partners that they are no longer just an affiliate project, but a stable infrastructure partner ready for larger commercial deals.

The Full Story

LinkDataMedia, the parent company behind the popular affiliate portal Gamblers Connect, has announced a comprehensive corporate rebrand to coincide with its fifth anniversary.

The overhaul includes a completely refreshed brand identity, a redesigned logo, and a fully revamped website, all of which are now live. The move is described by the company not as a mere cosmetic update, but as a strategic pivot designed to distance the business from its “startup roots” and reflect its current status as an established player in the competitive iGaming media landscape.

Visualizing Maturity The new visual language features a modernized blue triangular logo, a shape chosen to represent “stability and forward momentum.” The digital user experience has also been streamlined, offering partners a cleaner interface that aligns better with the company’s matured operational capabilities.

Management Commentary Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder and CEO of LinkDataMedia, commented on the significance of hitting the half-decade milestone in such a volatile industry:

“Surviving the first five years in business takes more than luck. It takes belief, resilience, and the right people around you. This milestone, and the rebrand, reflect exactly that.”

Implementation The new branding has already been deployed across the main corporate website and is currently being rolled out across LinkDataMedia’s social media channels and internal communication platforms. As the company enters its sixth year, the refreshed identity aims to set the stage for a new phase of expansion and innovation.

The post LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

B2B Gaming Event

Win Systems to Debut New ‘Gold Club Colors’ and WIGOS Upgrades at ICE Barcelona

Published

8 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

win-systems-to-debut-new-‘gold-club-colors’-and-wigos-upgrades-at-ice-barcelona

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: As ICE makes its historic move to Barcelona, established tech providers like Win Systems are under pressure to bring their “A-game” to the larger venue. The focus here isn’t just on cabinets; it’s the ecosystem. By highlighting WIGOS (their CMS) alongside WIN PAY, Win Systems is positioning itself as an infrastructure partner, not just a hardware supplier. The debut of the Gold Club Colors roulette specifically targets the growing demand for visually customizable electronic table games (ETGs).

The Full Story

Win Systems, the global provider of technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, has confirmed its product roadmap for ICE Barcelona 2026, the sector’s most significant international event taking place from January 19 to 21.

Exhibiting at Stand 3M30 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the company will leverage the new venue to showcase a broad portfolio designed to cover the entire casino floor—from management systems to the gaming floor itself.

Systems and Fintech At the core of the showcase is WIGOS, the company’s flagship Casino Management System (CMS). WIGOS is widely recognized for connecting thousands of machines across multiple countries, and the Barcelona display will focus on advanced tools that streamline daily operations and optimize player retention.

Complementing the CMS, Win Systems will present WIN PAY, its secure transaction platform. As cashless and seamless payment solutions become standard requirements for operators, WIN PAY offers the necessary efficiency and security controls for modern gaming environments.

Hardware: Roulette and Slots On the hardware side, Win Systems is refreshing its electronic table game offering with the new Gold Club Colors electronic roulette. The Gold Club line has long been a staple in the company’s portfolio, known for its compact footprint and reliability; the “Colors” iteration promises to maximize visual impact on the floor.

Alongside the roulette, the company will display its latest slot hardware, including the Sublime and Rhapsody cabinets. These units are designed to house the company’s extensive game library, which has been adapted to suit diverse market profiles from Europe to Latin America.

Strategic Goals Win Systems aims to use the three-day event to reinforce its 30-year legacy in the industry. The company described its participation as a commitment to “continuous innovation,” inviting operators and regulators to explore how their integrated solutions can improve in-room performance.

The post Win Systems to Debut New ‘Gold Club Colors’ and WIGOS Upgrades at ICE Barcelona appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.