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RACING POST ANNOUNCES RESULTS FROM ‘THE BIG PUNTING SURVEY’ OF MORE THAN 10,000 HORSERACING BETTORS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

Published

3 years ago

February 24, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), a world-leading technology, content and media company, has announced the results of a major betting survey conducted by the Racing Post, the undisputed home of horseracing content.

The Big Punting Survey received responses from more than 10,400 respondents in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. The survey is believed to be one of the largest surveys of sports bettors ever carried out, and revealed detailed views relating to the current state of horseracing, betting activity and affordability checks.

This unique survey revealed that 17% of UK-based respondents and 13% of Ireland-based respondents have been asked to undertake an affordability check, whereby bettors are asked to provide bookmakers with bank statements and payslips. Of those, 55% refused to provide the financial documentation, and even of those who did provide documents, less than half (38%) were given what they regarded as a satisfactory deposit limit.

Discussing the results of the survey, Racing Post Editor and Group Racing Director, Tom Kerr said: “These results offer startling evidence of the degree to which affordability checks are already affecting a wide range of racing bettors and how few are willing to provide the sensitive financial documents requested by bookmakers. Even when some punters do reluctantly engage with the checks, less than one in two is left satisfied by the process.”

The participants almost uniformly (97%) said that they, rather than the government, regulator, or their bookmaker, are best placed to determine what is affordable to spend on gambling. Of those who haven’t yet been asked to undertake an affordability check, just 12% indicated they would comply with one.

When asked about the utilisation of black market bookmakers, almost 4% of the participants said they had used one in the past 12 months and another 11% know someone who has.

Tom Kerr added: “If you extrapolate these results across the wider racing audience, it creates an ominous picture for the sport and the regulated betting market in Britain. It’s clear bettors are increasingly turning to the black market, where onerous affordability checks are as absent as all other forms of player protection. Based on these findings, it’s likely that tens of thousands of bettors and hundreds of millions of pounds in betting turnover have already shifted to unregulated and untaxed offshore bookmakers.

“Next month’s Cheltenham Festival will see hundreds of thousands of racing fans increase their betting budget for one incredible week of sporting action at the home of jumps racing. However, that increased betting activity will almost certainly result in many of these bettors being subjected to affordability checks, which our polling indicates very few will comply with.

“As such, it’s likely that the 2023 Cheltenham Festival will prove an unprecedented bonanza for black market operators, but a black week for racing, which is seeing its revenue streams dry up as its customers stop betting.

“Under current Gambling Commission guidelines betting operators have no choice but to continue subjecting their customers to these incredibly unpopular affordability checks. It’s critical that the government steps in to provide common sense clarity on what is and isn’t expected by bookmakers before we end up driving yet more customers into the hands of black market operators, doing catastrophic damage to horse racing in the process.”

DUPR Ratings

USA Pickleball “Golden Ticket” Returns to Las Vegas: February 2026 at the Plaza

Published

1 hour ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

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USA Pickleball is heading back to the “Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World” for the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket – Las Vegas, presented by Tommy Bahama.

Taking place from February 18–22, 2026, the event moves to a new iconic home at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas. As a premier qualifying event for the 2026 USA Pickleball National Championships, this tournament offers amateur players their fastest “Path to Nationals.”

The “Golden Ticket” Advantage

In the competitive world of pickleball, a “Golden Ticket” is the ultimate prize for amateur athletes.

Priority Registration: Gold medalists in each age and skill bracket receive a Golden Ticket, granting them guaranteed priority registration for the National Championships in November.
Tiered Point System (TPS): Participants who do not win gold still earn maximum ranking points toward Nationals eligibility, as Golden Ticket events sit at the highest tier of the sanctioned points system.
Official Rankings: As a sanctioned event, results are reported to DUPR, providing athletes with verified skill ratings.

Venue Spotlight: The Plaza Hotel & Casino

The Plaza has established itself as the premier pickleball destination in Las Vegas, boasting more courts than any other hotel-casino resort in the city.

16 Tournament-Level Courts: The venue features 12 permanent rooftop courts and a dedicated championship court area that can expand to accommodate large-scale tournament play.
Rooftop Experience: Players compete on the Plaza’s fifth-floor pool deck, offering panoramic views of the Las Vegas valley and the historic Fremont Street District.
Capacity: The event expects to host over 500 athletes across five days of high-stakes competition.

“This venue allows us to deliver an extraordinary athlete experience, from professional operations to the energy that makes Las Vegas such a special host city,” said Jose Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball.

Tournament Registration & Logistics

Registration for the Las Vegas Golden Ticket is currently open, with several key deadlines and costs for participants:

Registration Deadline: February 8, 2026.
Cost: $95 Registration Fee + $45 Event Fee (Amateurs).
Skill Levels: Open to players in skill brackets 3.0 to 5.0, with age divisions ranging from 19 to 80+.
Exclusive Rates: A special hotel rate is available at the Plaza using group code SUSAPGT for bookings made by February 2nd.

For more information on Golden Ticket tournaments and the Path to Nationals, visit https://usapickleball.org/goldenticket/.

The post USA Pickleball “Golden Ticket” Returns to Las Vegas: February 2026 at the Plaza appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

DUPR Ratings

USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Heads to the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas next month

Published

1 hour ago

January 7, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

usa-pickleball-golden-ticket-heads-to-the-plaza-hotel-and-casino-in-downtown-las-vegas-next-month

USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Las Vegas presented by Tommy Bahama set for Feb. 18-22

USA Pickleball is returning to Las Vegas next month with the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket – Las Vegas presented by Tommy Bahama, bringing one of the organization’s premier qualifying events back to the city after a highly successful 2024 tournament. The event will take place Feb. 18–22, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, offering athletes a new venue and an elevated tournament experience.

Golden Ticket Tournaments are official qualifying events for the USA Pickleball National Championships, the sport’s most prestigious competition. Winners earn a coveted Golden Ticket, securing priority registration to Nationals, while all participants earn points as part of USA Pickleball’s Tiered Point System.

Golden Ticket Tournaments attract top players from across the country, offering a professionally run environment with certified referees, official rules, and first-class venues designed for fair and competitive play. As sanctioned USA Pickleball events, participants earn official DUPR ratings and ranking points, helping athletes track progress and advance competitively.

“We’re excited to bring the Golden Ticket back to Las Vegas and to do it at the Plaza Hotel and Casino, with an expected 500+ athletes,” said Jose Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball. “This venue allows us to deliver an extraordinary athlete experience, from professional operations to the energy that makes Las Vegas such a special host city. Golden Ticket tournaments are a vital part of The Path to Nationals, and Las Vegas is the perfect place for players to test themselves, earn their way forward, and compete among the best in the country.”

“With the most pickleball courts of any resort, the Plaza has become the premier destination for pickleball in Las Vegas,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “We are excited to host this prestigious tournament and welcome the top USA Pickleball players from across the country to the Plaza. This event will be one not to miss with exciting, competitive matches played on our courts that offer unforgettable views of the Las Vegas valley.”

A special hotel rate at the Plaza is available for tournament participants. Rooms must be reserved online by Feb. 2, with group code SUSAPGT at https://book.passkey.com/go/SUSAPGT. Guests can also make reservations by phone, 1-800-634-6575, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., or Saturday and Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on Golden Ticket tournaments and the Path to Nationals, visit https://usapickleball.org/goldenticket/.

The post USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Heads to the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas next month appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

BetMGM

BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

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BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has officially partnered with FashionTV Gaming Group to launch a curated portfolio of luxury-branded games. This strategic collaboration marks the entry of FashionTV’s iconic aesthetic into the North American iGaming market, exclusively through BetMGM’s platforms.

The partnership merges FashionTV’s global prestige in the worlds of fashion and high-society entertainment with BetMGM’s award-winning digital casino infrastructure.

Immersive Luxury Table Games

The initial rollout features two high-gloss table games designed to provide players with an “immersive, lifestyle-driven” experience that mirrors the sophistication of the FashionTV brand.

FashionTV Blackjack: A premium take on the casino classic, featuring refined visual assets and high-end production values.
FashionTV Roulette: A sleek, stylized version of the iconic wheel, bringing a “fashion-forward” energy to every spin.

The titles are currently live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a wider rollout planned for all jurisdictions where BetMGM Casino is active.

Strategic Vision and 2026 Roadmap

For BetMGM, the partnership is part of a broader “branded content” strategy that includes previous successes with major TV and movie franchises.

“At BetMGM, we have redefined what it means to deliver entertainment in iGaming,” said Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM. “By partnering with FashionTV Gaming Group, we’re creating experiences that go beyond gameplay and connect players to the brands they love.”

Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, added: “BetMGM’s leadership and scale make them the perfect partner to transform our vision into a North American success story.”

Looking ahead, BetMGM has confirmed that additional FashionTV-branded titles—including slots and potentially live dealer variants—will be released throughout 2026 as part of an expanding content pipeline.

The post BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.