Latest News

MyRacehorse appoints Ted Durcan as bloodstock consultant

Published

1 year ago

March 20, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Micro-share horse racing syndicate MyRacehorse has brought in two-time Classic-winning Jockey Ted Durcan as its Bloodstock Consultant in the UK and Ireland.

Durcan will partner with MyRacehorse to select horses both at public auction and privately as the company looks to expand its portfolio of horses available for customers to buy on its micro-share platform.

As well as riding winners in two British Classics, Durcan is a seven-time UAE champion jockey with over 25 years of race riding experience, having ridden 1,500 winners all over the world. His major wins include the Haydock Sprint Cup, the Oaks, St Leger and Sun Chariot Stakes.

After retiring from riding in 2018, Durcan started Durcan Bloodstock and has been purchasing horses privately as well as taking part in all the major European auctions for clients throughout Ireland, the UK, and abroad.

MyRacehorse offers racing fans the opportunity to participate in genuine racehorse ownership, starting at just £46.

Founded in the US in 2019, MyRacehorse now has over 50,000 owners, sharing ownership of 110 racehorses across America, Australia, the UK and Ireland including Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic.

Now MyRacehorse is looking to continue to grow its unique model of racehorse ownership in the UK where it already has horses in training with John & Thady Gosden, Joseph O’Brien, George Baker and Michael O’Callaghan.

Discussing his appointment, Durcan said: “I am delighted to have been asked to join MyRacehorse to help the team source some exciting and fun horses for the season ahead.

“MyRacehorse gives everybody the chance to see how this amazing sport works from the inside out rather than the outside in. This is something that normally would not be achievable for most people, but MyRacehorse makes it happen.

“Being involved in racehorse ownership is fun, exciting and social. There are highs and lows but it’s the whole journey that makes this sport special, and it’s important to find new ways to share that journey.”

Kate Hardy, Director of Operations at MyRacehorse, added: “We are thrilled to have Ted working with MyRacehorse as we grow our stable here in Ireland and the UK.

“His extensive knowledge of the sport, and the unique perspective he has as an ex-jockey when it comes to evaluating form and conformation are invaluable to MyRacehorse.

“Ted’s track record and reputation speaks for itself, and we are extremely fortunate to have him join our team.”

Latest News

World Pool returns to UK and Ireland with launch of £50,000 jockeys’ charity prize

Published

34 mins ago

April 30, 2024

George Miller

world-pool-returns-to-uk-and-ireland-with-launch-of-50,000-jockeys’-charity-prize

Reading Time: 4 minutes

World Pool, the largest globally commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will make its UK seasonal bow at Newmarket Racecourse on Saturday 4 May, where a brand new £50,000 initiative is being launched for jockeys.

For the first time the opening two Classics of the UK Flat season will both be World Pool events, with the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday 5 May becoming a new World Pool race this year and joining the 2000 Guineas run the day before.

Guineas weekend will also see the start of a new World Pool initiative, the World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship, where jockeys will compete to accumulate points across World Pool fixtures in the UK & Ireland.

For the winning jockey of every World Pool race in the UK and Ireland, points will be awarded based on the World Pool win dividend. The concept of this point system offers a level playing field for all jockeys, from leaders to rising stars, and their chances of winning are dictated by the public as reflected by their World Pool odds.

Beginning with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, the competition will conclude on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 19 October, with the winner receiving £50,000 to be donated to a charity of their choice.

A further new addition to the World Pool calendar this year will be the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday 26 May. The Tattersalls Gold Cup, run on the same day, will also be a World Pool race for the first time, with prize money increased from €450,000 in 2023 to €500,000 this year.

Following the successful introduction of World Pool Moment of the Year in 2022 in Great Britain and Ireland, this will continue in 2024 covering all full World Pool meetings and will reward stable staff with cash prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong for four people in 2025 to the overall winner.

One World Pool Moment of the Day will be selected at each full World Pool meeting with the winning groom receiving HK$40,000 (or equivalent – £4,000 in the UK and €4,000 in Ireland).

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “It’s fantastic to be returning to the UK and Ireland with an extended World Pool fixture list this year now featuring the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, and we look forward to making these historic fillies’ Classics available to customers from around the world.

“In addition to the popular World Moment of the Day initiative, we’re excited to announce the new World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship, which will provide a different dimension and further competition to World Pool racedays right up until QIPCO British Champions Day in October.

“It’s a unique competition, with a jockey’s points being determined by World Pool win dividends, and a great initiative as there’s £50,000 up for grabs for the leading rider to donate to a charity of their choice. We are committed to giving money back to racing and good causes, and this seemed the perfect way to do that.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “It’s always an exciting time of year as the Flat season gets underway and we’re delighted that both the UK’s first Classics are World Pool events. City Of Troy has the potential to be a global superstar and we look forward to his seasonal reappearance being watched and bet on by 28 countries who play into the UK’s first World Pool event of 2024.

“Racing fans in the UK and Ireland will be able to access the huge global pools at tote.co.uk, on the Tote App and at racecourses which means excellent value is on offer, while the sport benefits from this increasingly important revenue stream.”

Martin Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the media interests of The Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York Racecourses, said: “RMG looks forward to another exciting World Pool season in UK and Ireland, and will continue to work closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote and our racecourses to grow both the sport’s revenues and global appeal.”

Amy Starkey, Managing Director, Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and thank them for their support as we deliver three exciting World Pool days across the QIPCO Guineas Festival and the Betfred Derby Festival.

“For the first time in the UK, we have worked alongside World Pool to host a nine-race card on QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day. This will include the first Classic of the season, whilst we are also delighted to feature the following day’s three-year-old Classic Fillies’ race, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, as a World Pool race for the first time.

“World Pool enables strong reinvestment back into British racing and working alongside them to secure these additional races is an important step as we continue to strengthen links with Hong Kong, engage more fans with British racing and strive to grow our sport.”

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of the Curragh Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with World Pool in 2024 with the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup on 26 May and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby meeting on 30 June included in the programme.

“We had a very positive first experience with World Pool last year and look forward to building on it this year, bringing our racing to a wider audience. Irish horses have enjoyed great success internationally in recent years and we are delighted to be showcasing our best races through World Pool.

“Inclusion in World Pool has enabled us to increase prizemoney at the Curragh in 2024 and we look forward to developing this relationship further in the future.”

Upcoming UK and Irish World Pool events in first half of 2024:

May

Saturday 4: 2000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (F)

Sunday 5: 1000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (S)

Saturday 18: Lockinge Stakes Day – Newbury Racecourse (P)

Sunday 26: Irish 1000 Guineas Day – Curragh Racecourse (P)

June

Saturday 1: Derby Stakes Day – Epsom Racecourse (F)

Tuesday 18: Queen Anne Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Wednesday 19: Prince of Wales’s Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Thursday 20: Gold Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Friday 21: Commonwealth Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Saturday 22: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Sunday 30: Irish Derby Day – Curragh Racecourse (F)

*F: Full meeting – World Pool coverage on all races in the relevant meeting
P: Part meeting – World Pool coverage only on selected races in the relevant meeting

S: Single race – World Pool coverage only on this race in the relevant meeting

The post World Pool returns to UK and Ireland with launch of £50,000 jockeys’ charity prize appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Bet Sum Triples: SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Q1’24 Results

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2024

George Miller

bet-sum-triples:-softswiss-jackpot-aggregator-q1’24-results

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, a solution designed to enhance player engagement and retention, shares its Q1 2024 results. During this period, the total jackpot Bet Sum tripled compared to Q1 2023 and increased by 28% compared to Q4 2023.

In Q1 2024, the jackpot Bet Sum experienced growth, primarily fueled by increased engagement from both existing and new clients, whose number expanded to include 80 brands in total. Notably, the smooth and swift setup process facilitates the adoption of the jackpot solution among clients using the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator.

Clients of the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator boost player engagement by running branded and network jackpots. Internal research shows that combining these activities increases the Average Turnover per User by over 50%, albeit outcomes may differ based on each casino’s strategy.

Moreover, the Prime Network Jackpot alone is capable of driving a significant increase in gaming activity, boosting it by nearly 28%. Casinos that participated in the first Prime Network Jackpot campaign, spanning from October 2023 to February 2024, reported a rise in the average bet sum per user by 16.13%, along with an increase of 4.23% in the average bet count per user. The campaign culminated in a 244,742.34 euro win.

As the second Prime Network Jackpot continues, the total pool has neared 450,000 euro and is still rising. Every new brand joining the campaign gains access to the existing pool, enhancing its player engagement and gaming activity by providing an opportunity to win a substantial prize.

“I am pleased to see that the combination of network and branded jackpot campaigns has significantly improved our clients’ business metrics. This year, we are welcoming the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator’s clients, who can seamlessly and rapidly set up jackpot campaigns. Launching jackpots has become easier than ever before, as our jackpot engine can now be seamlessly added into any iGaming project, whether it’s the Casino Platform or the Game Aggregator,“ comments Aliaksei Douhin, Head of SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator.

In celebration of the company’s 15th anniversary, SOFTSWISS has prepared special gifts for its clients, who will be utilising the Jackpot Aggregator.

The post Bet Sum Triples: SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Q1’24 Results appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Holly Fairweather Head of Account Management at House of Brands provider White Hat Studios

Women in iGaming Interview: White Hat Studios’ Holly Fairweather

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

women-in-igaming-interview:-white-hat-studios’-holly-fairweather

Holly Fairweather, Head of Account Management at House of Brands provider White Hat Studios, sits down with Gaming Americas to discuss the growing influence of women in the iGaming industry, and highlights how more can be done to improve the overall gender imbalance

Gaming Americas: Since joining the industry in 2018, have you noticed a change in how women are represented within iGaming companies, as well as general attitudes?

Holly Fairweather (HF): When I reflect on the past six years, it feels great to say I have seen a lot of positive changes in our industry and more importantly, an ever-increasing drive to address gender diversity. There is still work to do, and I am reminded of this attending our industry events, where it’s very evident we still lack female presence in C-level roles and on expert panels. It’s also not hard to see walking around conferences the overall gender imbalance that exists. With that being said, I do feel it’s moving in the right direction and I am regularly inspired by women around me being promoted to senior management roles, providing great mentors and role models. Awareness of gender diversity and celebrating success is continually being pushed via various channels, and for me plays a big part in why we are seeing more women have the confidence to progress in their careers and more women enter the industry. It’s also important to say, and why I think change is happening more, that the want of women to succeed and to increase female presence in our industry, is indeed backed by a strong support network of women supporting women, but also of the men in our industry.

Gaming Americas: How important are groups like Global Gaming Women? What kind of initiatives have they offered to help your own career development?

HF: I’ll be honest, I’m still learning about all that Global Gaming Women offers. Working in the US market I see GGW as a substantial network which offers reams of support from training courses, lean in circles and mentorship and networking events just to name a few. I have taken part in a few of the industry wide networking events, and really enjoyed them, connecting with some amazing people, learning more about the industry. One of my objectives this year is to participate in more events, adding value where I can whether that’s within the GGW network or through other avenues.

Gaming Americas: What more can the industry do to make it more appealing to women and ensure they are better represented within organizations?

HF: It’s got to start within each individual company taking responsibility for equal representation. This is not a tick box exercise to achieve a target on a gender split % by x date but must be about promotions and roles being rewarded to the best candidate for the role, regardless of gender, ethnic background, or sexual orientation. We need to shout about the success stories of DEI within the industry, creating an inclusive work environment will attract not just more women but more candidates overall, increasing the talent pool.

There is also a piece around exposure and shining the light on the fantastic women we have leading the way. Sharing their career paths, the good, and the challenges, to provide relatable examples of success. To make women in gaming not about the stats or portray the headline as a negative but more around showcasing the women that are successful and why, helping more women relate and pursue a similar path if this is what they wish to do.

Gaming Americas: What advice would you give to the next generation of women that are looking to make a breakthrough in the industry?

HF: This is a good one! First and foremost, you lead your own progression. Be proactive in building your network, push yourself out of your comfort zone to attend networking events. Reach out to other women in the industry for support and mentorship. That is on you to drive.

Immerse yourself in a team with values that align with yours, a team that welcomes and promotes diversity of all types and supports and rewards on merit are key.

Build your knowledge, for me knowledge is confidence. Quickly realise it is ok not to know everything, ask the questions and find out. Be solution-oriented, supporting your superiors will get you noticed for going over and above and adding value to your team and company.

I was told ‘people do business with people,’ which I stand by and could not be truer in the igaming industry. Always treat everyone with respect, be kind, be yourself, but don’t forget to back yourself! Relationship building is so key in this industry and has helped me progress to where I am today.

Lastly, take risks. And by this, I mean sometimes you must step out your comfort zone and push yourself to try something different to progress to the next stage. So far, the most pivotable moment in my career and biggest risk I have taken, and I’m sure Andy Whitworth (CEO) and the White Hat Studios (WHS) team won’t mind me saying, was accepting the job at WHS. A brand-new supplier to the US, no content live alongside the fact I had never worked in the US market, so of course there was an element of risk. It was, however, a calculated risk as I was joining a team of experts, senior level management I had worked for previously, in an ever-growing US market. A no brainer now when I look back.

Gaming Americas: From a White Hat Studios perspective, what DEI initiatives does the company put in place?

HF: DEI of all types is something I believe increases the performance of a team, and is something we are extremely passionate about at WHS. As we grow and expand, maintaining a strong culture has never been more important. We recently held a WHS workshop in Prague, with one section of our day spent holistically agreeing and locking down our values as a team, ‘Who we are, what we stand for ‘and ‘treating everyone equally’ is now embedded in our company culture as one of our five core values.

I have been lucky in the fact I have never felt that my gender has held me back in my current role and previous igaming companies. Although I understand this has not been everyone’s experience, I truly believe the more we celebrate success, drive awareness, embed inclusion within our companies, and work together across DEI as a whole, we will continue to see women progress and take on careers in igaming.