New SBK Betting Podcast with Lee Westwood as first guest

Published

5 years ago

September 22, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SBK – the sportsbook app powered by Smarkets – is delighted to announce the launch of the new SBK Betting Podcast, hosted by Jess Stafford of Racing TV.
Every episode will feature a new guest from the world of sport, starting with Lee Westwood, one of the most recognisable faces in golf for over 20 years.
Westwood is due to tie with Sir Nick Faldo’s record of 11 Ryder Cup appearances when he represents Team Europe at Whistling Straits this week and speaking exclusively to SBK on the podcast, he said:

“It’s ironic really that he set the record of 11 Ryder Cups in 1997 at Valderrama where I was his partner and that was my first one, so it’s all kind of gone full circle really. He’s obviously a legend of the game and it’s nice to be tying a record that he holds.”

The Ryder Cup veteran also commented on Brooks Koepka’s criticism of the ‘hectic’ event schedule:

“I can see where Brooks is coming from. Some people find it difficult to adjust to that team environment. We’ve all got into golf because we like the buck to stop with us at the end of the day. We like being individuals. A lot of us played team sports in our youth and we’ve kind of transferred to golf because it’s an individual sport and we like that environment, and then you get thrown into the team environment. The week of the Ryder Cup there is a lot to do, they cram a lot of media in, dinners etc. and practice rounds take a lot longer, and there aren’t a lot of hours in the day. And if you’re somebody like Brooks who likes to chill out going into tournaments it’s difficult; at a Major Championship he might play 18 holes on Monday, nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday, and really not do a lot but at the Ryder Cup it’s very full on!”

Team USA are 4/7 favourites with SBK to lift the trophy but Westwood does not believe these odds factor in the team element of the Ryder Cup enough:

“All the statistics that are used for compiling the odds take into consideration individual achievements. The world rankings are all based on individual achievements. But at the Ryder Cup you come together as a team so it’s completely different to what we do week in and week out. European teams seem to bond well and bond that little bit better (than the Americans). I always go into it not really thinking that either team is particularly the favourite. It’s a pretty level playing field and I think it’s just who holes the most putts at the right time, and generally just plays that last hole well when you need to under pressure; that’s who is going to come out on top at the end of the week.”

Westwood also announced that his son, Sam, would be taking over caddying duties from his wife Helen, who caddied for him at the recent BMW PGA Championship:

“Sam’s doing the Ryder Cup, my son. Helen’s doing all the wives and partners things and Sam’s doing the caddying. Sam’s caddied a lot for me this year, at the Masters and other events in Europe like the Scottish Open. They share it between the two of them. Both know what to say to me, they don’t get involved in the yardage or picking clubs but they’re good on the psychology side of things. They just keep me in a good, nice, relaxed frame of mind which is even more important the week of the Ryder Cup.”

EvenBet Gaming and SBC set private poker tournament for SBC Summit Malta

Published

10 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

evenbet-gaming-and-sbc-set-private-poker-tournament-for-sbc-summit-malta

Invite-only No Limit Hold’em event runs 30 April at Casino Malta, InterContinental Hotel, with prizes for SBC Summit attendees.

EvenBet Gaming will host an invite-only No Limit Hold’em poker tournament with SBC on 30 April, the final day of SBC Summit Malta. The event will take place at Casino Malta at the InterContinental Hotel and is restricted to conference delegates.

The companies are positioning the tournament as a networking format built around a “premium, fast-paced poker experience,” with professional hosting at the venue.

Prizes listed for the event include an iPad Air, Apple Watch 11, and AirPods Pro 3.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “This tournament is sure to be one of the highlights of SBC Summit Malta, combining the thrill of competition with the social and strategic elements that make poker such a powerful connector.

“Taking place in Casino Malta, the event is reserved exclusively for conference attendees, and we look forward to welcoming them to the table to create new connections while enjoying one of the industry’s most iconic card games.”

The post EvenBet Gaming and SBC set private poker tournament for SBC Summit Malta appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Just Slots

QTech Games adds Just Slots to its aggregation platform

Published

10 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

qtech-games-adds-just-slots-to-its-aggregation-platform

Deal expands distribution for Just Slots titles via QTech’s operator network, with a focus on Africa and Latin America.

QTech Games has signed a new content partnership with slots studio Just Slots, adding the supplier’s catalogue to QTech’s aggregation platform for its operator clients.

The integration makes a range of Just Slots titles available via QTech, including Shogun Skylord, Rain and Ruin, Book of Abyss, and Shadow Pirates. The companies said the deal is aimed at extending distribution across emerging markets, particularly Africa and Latin America.

QTech Games CEO Philip Doftvik said: “We’re dedicated to rolling out more and more elite content and product innovation that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with Just Slots extends our impressive sequential pipeline into 2026 – and we’ve so much more to come this year! In today’s marketplace, only premium games of the highest standard separate you from the crowd. So, we look forward to sharing their wide spectrum of games with both leading and challenger operator brands in emerging markets worldwide.

“Just Slots’ stunning portfolio will assist any platform partner ensure a complete brand experience that players enjoy and return to, driving dwell-time and fresh revenue streams. Their games introduce compelling narrative twists to their features, appealing to the culturally varied proclivities of new players across a swathe of untapped territories.”

Nick Formosa, Head of Client Strategy at Just Slots, said: “This is a partnership we’re genuinely excited about. QTech has the reach, the operator relationships, and the on-the-ground expertise in markets where slot demand is growing fastest. Being part of their platform puts our content exactly where we want it to be, and we’re looking forward to seeing our games find new audiences across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.”

The post QTech Games adds Just Slots to its aggregation platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BettingStartups

Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to boost early-stage igaming support

Published

10 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

defy-the-odds-partners-with-bettingstartups-to-boost-early-stage-igaming-support

The groups will collaborate on startup programming starting at SBC Summit Americas on June 9–11 in Fort Lauderdale.

Defy the Odds (DTO) and BettingStartups have announced a strategic partnership to support early-stage startups across igaming and sports betting. The first public collaboration is scheduled for SBC Summit Americas (June 9–11) in Fort Lauderdale, where both organisations said they will support startup-focused programming.

DTO, which advises early-stage founders in igaming, sports betting, sportstech and fintech, and BettingStartups, which focuses on the real money gaming early-stage ecosystem, said the partnership aims to improve access to community, collaboration and capital for founders.

The organisations said the combined effort is intended to increase visibility for emerging companies, improve connections across fragmented industry networks, and help founders become “investor-ready,” including support such as pitch preparation, financial modelling and introductions to investors active in the sector.

Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds said of the partnership, “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when founders connect, share ideas and push each other forward. That’s what community does. This partnership with BettingStartups is about bringing more startups together and making sure the wider industry pays attention to what they’re building. Because the future of our industry is being shaped by these founders.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, adds “We’ve always been about providing high-signal infrastructure for founders to scale. This partnership with DTO doubles down on that mission, linking our audience with a community that actually opens doors. Starting with the Startup Zone at SBC Americas, we’re giving founders a direct, affordable line to the operators and investors who define this industry.

Both organisations said additional joint initiatives are planned throughout 2026.

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