Canada

XB Net signs long-term global distribution deal with Breeders’ Cup, securing status as North American racing leader

Published

3 years ago

June 25, 2021

Horse racing’s flagship “World Championships” agree to three-year broadcast and content rights extension with leading Stateside supplier, thanks to ongoing success

XB Net, a product of 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s world-class data and media management service, has agreed to exclusive new deal terms and a three-year contract extension for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, bolstering the pair’s ongoing partnership for content rights, data, odds and signals around this flagship festival of global thoroughbred racing.

This agreement comprises worldwide broadcast and video-streaming distribution rights from the Breeders’ Cup whose 2021 renewal, consisting of 14 Championship races and over $31 million in prize money and awards, is scheduled to be held 5^th-6^th November at Del Mar racetrack, near San Diego, California.

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will also raise the bar on equine wellbeing and safety standards, featuring the latest cutting-edge medication practices, testing protocols, equine security programs, veterinary exams, injury management protocols and race-surface testing.

XB Net’s end-to-end solution, corralling expansive content that covers approximately 75% of North American racing, affords access to many of the world’s most prestigious horse races. These include Triple Crown events at the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the Pegasus World Cup and this grandstand finale at the Breeders’ Cup in California. This engaging, top-quality action is proven to retain eyeballs and promote betting activity across competitive digital-entertainment cycles, driving new revenue streams for a wide range of international clients.

Accordingly, XB Net is the proven pacesetter for live North American horse racing content, providing rights, betting data, live broadcast and video streaming on behalf of its growing global portfolio of partners. Harnessing low-latency feeds from more than 2,500 meetings, showcasing over 25,000 races per year, North American racing is helping a growing global group of operators proactively populate an otherwise uncertain schedule for live sports.

This progressive partnership also leverages natural synergies in content-provision between the Breeders’ Cup and 1/ST’s marquee stages – notably this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships venue at Del Mar racetrack, whose innovative content and betting services XB Net represents. Further, through its ground-breaking alliance with Total Performance Data (TPD) – the definitive source of live GPS-tracking data for horse racing – XB Net is also deepening in-running fan engagement at Del Mar this year via the saddle-cloths of all participating equine athletes.

John Keitt, Executive Vice President and COO at the Breeders’ Cup, said: “The Breeders’ Cup is proud to extend and expand our close collaboration with XB Net to further broaden the international reach of our world-class festival of thoroughbred racing. Sports fans and bettors around the globe can look forward to even more coverage of Championship racing from some of the most storied venues in the United States over the coming years.”

Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, added: “It’s a privilege to continue working in tandem with the Breeders’ Cup team and some of our finest racetracks to optimize and increase the returns to North American racing during a challenging economic period. Securing this long-term partnership underscores XB Net’s commitment to the sport and our broader status as the leading international provider of North American racing. This deal is another sound endorsement of our business model and the collective power of our multivariate services.

“Our underlying resolve is to support the Breeders’ Cup’s efforts to distribute its horse racing content and wagering on a global scale. We’re confident these combined, complementary endeavours can further benefit horse racing’s consumer economy, both at home and abroad.

“Throughout the pandemic, North American racing distinguished itself as one of very few elite sports that was able to maintain both a solid timetable and a high bar for quality and data integrity with fast-settling content that can fill the gaps for elite sport, wherever you set your scene on the map. We witnessed record engagement levels around last year’s Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland and expect to see that trend extend at this year’s Del Mar renewal. It’s wonderful to see the sport’s global popularity surge during a crucial period.”

Canada

Play’n GO announces partnership with Canadian operator Loto-Québec

Published

3 days ago

May 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

play’n-go-announces-partnership-with-canadian-operator-loto-quebec

Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a partnership with Canadian operator Loto-Québec, launching the Swedish gaming giant’s games into another Canadian province.

Already active in another Canadian province , this partnership sees Play’n GO’s content available in the province of Québec exclusively with Loto-Québec, a state-owned corporation, where online players now have access to titles such as Tome of Madness.

Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer, Play’n GO said: “At Play’n GO, we have always been clear in our vision to be active in every regulated market in the world, and this partnership with Loto-Québec is the next step on that journey.

“Our past success in Canada gives us confidence that players in Québec will enjoy the best Play’n GO content, and we look forward to many years of success with Loto-Québec in the province.”

Stéphane Martel, Head of Product and Innovation at Loto-Québec added: “As the sole iGaming operator in Québec, we pride ourselves on offering titles that truly add value to our platform, lotoquebec.com. We are happy to bring Play’n GO games to our players.”

Canada

Court Decision Upholds iGaming Ontario’s Model

Published

4 days ago

May 15, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

court-decision-upholds-igaming-ontario’s-model

iGaming Ontario has welcomed the decision of the Ontario Superior Court, which found that iGaming Ontario’s model is consistent with the Criminal Code and that iGaming Ontario is conducting and managing igaming in the province.

“We have always been confident in our model and are pleased that the court has ruled in our favour, and that Ontarians can continue to play with confidence in our regulated igaming market,” said Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario.

“Ontario’s model meets the requirements and contributes to the public good by protecting players, their data and their funds, while helping to fund priority public services in Ontario, and bringing well-paid, high-tech jobs and economic development to Ontario,” Otton added.

In dismissing the application brought forward by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK), the Superior Court found that iGaming Ontario is the “operating mind” behind Ontario’s competitive igaming market in accordance with the conduct and manage requirements of the Criminal Code.

iGaming Ontario will continue to conduct and manage igaming as it has since the launch of the regulated market on April 4, 2022.

Bragg Gaming Group

Bragg Gaming Appoints Renowned iGaming Executive Neill Whyte as Chief Commercial Officer

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

bragg-gaming-appoints-renowned-igaming-executive-neill-whyte-as-chief-commercial-officer

Bragg Gaming Group, a global iGaming technology and content provider, announced that Neill Whyte has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective 1st May 2024, establishing a new global commercial structure at the Company and bolstering its leadership team.

Whyte brings over 18 years of experience in the iGaming sector, most recently in the role of Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Gaming Corporation’s (DGC), B2B iGaming Division. After joining DGC in early 2020, he was responsible for the commercially successful launch and growth of its content distribution business in the US.

Prior to joining DGC, Whyte held multiple positions in the gaming industry including as Head of Business Development at Isle of Man-based iGaming specialist Apricot Investments, as Board Member at Swedish iGaming product and Lottery content distributor Genera Networks, and in various senior roles over eleven years at leading iGaming content supplier Microgaming, including as Head of Product Channels.

In his new role with Bragg, Whyte will be tasked with leading the Company’s global commercial teams to drive growth across all of the Company’s product verticals which include proprietary online casino content from its Atomic Slot Lab, Indigo Magic and Wild Streak Gaming studios, exclusive content from content partners, HUB a leading casino content aggregation platform, Fuze player engagement, as well as its award-winning player account management (PAM) platform and turnkey solutions.

Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer at Bragg, said: “I am very pleased to be announcing today the appointment of Neill Whyte as Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg. His iGaming product and market knowledge, together with his record in driving growth from developing successful and mutually beneficial commercial partnerships are exceptional.

“As we leverage our broad content and product portfolio to grow in existing and new markets, including in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe, Neill’s unique combination of knowledge, skills and experience in this sector are a perfect fit for our ambitions at Bragg.”

Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg, said: “It’s an honor to join Matevž and the wider teams at Bragg already in place across North America, Europe and in India. I have been impressed with the depth and quality of the content, product and technology offerings at Bragg, and its ability to rapidly adapt, certify and deploy this content and technology in newly regulated markets is a distinct advantage.

“We also have a huge opportunity to grow our footprint with our existing customers in markets in which we are already established. Our content and product roadmaps are second to none, and I’m planning to get on the road in the coming weeks and months to meet the team and our customers and to start building for the next stage of mutual growth. I can’t wait to get going.”