Africa

1/ST CONTENT widens its Southern African scope via sublicensing deal with 4Racing

Published

2 years ago

October 12, 2023

1/st-content-widens-its-southern-african-scope-via-sublicensing-deal-with-4racing

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1/ST CONTENT – the leading provider of premium content for North American horse racing and a key division of 1/ST RACING, the biggest racing company in the Americas – has broadened its growing international footprint with the announcement of a progressive sublicense agreement with South African rights holder, 4Racing.

This multi-year deal revolves around commingling and fixed-odds betting for 1/ST CONTENT’s leading portfolio of racetracks and charges 4Racing with the managing the exploitation and distribution of these exclusive pictures and data to online and retail operators across South Africa and the wider SADC (Southern African Development Community) whose 16 Member States include the likes of Zimbabwe, Angola and Tanzania.

1/ST CONTENT already assembles well over 3,300 days of racing each year from top North American racetracks, such as Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course, alongside Del Mar, Keeneland, Tampa Bay Downs and Woodbine. More recent international distribution partnerships (via NYRA, BetMakers and CDI) have made 1/ST CONTENT the pre-eminent player in the international-rights space.

To which end, 1/ST CONTENT’s delivery of live pictures, data and multidimensional betting services now comprises an unrivalled network of over 70 North American tracks, equipping international operators with a highly-flexible programming schedule, supported by a steady stream of rapid-cycling betting opportunities that are proven to increase digital dwell-time for new and existing customers.

1/ST CONTENT’s acclaimed end-to-end solution, encompassing extensive content that maps approximately 90% of all U.S. racing, accordingly opens the door to many of the planet’s most prestigious horse races. Highlights include the Pegasus World Cup, every leg of the revered Triple Crown series (featuring the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes) and the season’s flagship finale at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Santa Anita (3-4 November).

This daily timetable of engaging action, whose chronology naturally complements international racing coverage across varied time-zones, provides 1/ST CONTENT’s global partners with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content at peak leisure-time viewing slots throughout South Africa, whose own daily domestic racing scene seamlessly transitions to East Coast start times at, for example, Gulfstream or Belmont Park.

Stephen Watson, Head of 4Racing TV, said: “1/ST CONTENT stands alone as 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. So, naturally, we’re delighted to take charge of their portfolio under the terms of this progressive new sublicense agreement, allowing us to maximise the reach of North American racing not only in South Africa (a territory long-familiar with horse racing) but also in a broader span of the SADC’s emerging markets where a more educational play around this content is required in African States where football is king.

“More generally, 4Racing is reinvigorating the horse racing industry in South Africa and beyond with a commitment to diversity and transparency in its relationships with stakeholders, designing and implementing a series of new projects and strategies for the betterment of the sport.”

Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at 1/ST CONTENT, added: “1/ST CONTENT is thrilled to build on our strategic relationship with 4Racing to widen the international reach of North American Thoroughbred racing in South Africa and SADC. As a result, fans and bettors around the world can now enjoy more coverage of top-quality racing than ever before, as out service corrals the lowest-latency feeds from thousands of annual meetings, showcasing tens of thousands of races each year. North American racing continues to assist worldwide operators in engaging untapped audiences by delivering 24/7 horse racing, and helps us return the value to a host of U.S. racetracks and their key stakeholders.

“4Racing have previously proven to be a strong partner for us in the Southern African market, so it’s fantastic to be expanding on an already valuable partnership. The distributional scope of their operators is second to none, across both retail and digital.”

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Africa

Dive Into a Different Kind of Love This February with Springbok Casino’s ‘Whalentines Month’ and Claim 25 Free Spins

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

dive-into-a-different-kind-of-love-this-february-with-springbok-casino’s-‘whalentines-month’-and-claim-25-free-spins

This February, SpringbokCasino.co.za redefines the season of love with ‘Whalentines Month’, a unique feature inspired by the majestic whales visiting South Africa’s coast. The campaign celebrates love as a patient, enduring, and natural force.

Players are welcomed with 25 FREE SPINS on the popular slot Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs.

“February is usually dressed in red — roses, ribbons, and familiar love stories that come and go as quickly as they arrive,” says Daniel Van Wyke, Casino Manager. “But along South Africa’s coastline, love follows a slower rhythm. Whalentines Month honors that deeper connection.”

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A Romantic Sanctuary: Showcases why South Africa’s waters are a chosen haven for whale courtship.
Oceanic Love Songs: Reflects on the whales’ haunting, far-traveling serenades.
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The post Dive Into a Different Kind of Love This February with Springbok Casino’s ‘Whalentines Month’ and Claim 25 Free Spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

Sun International Appoints Mark Sergeant as Chief Operating Officer of Gaming

Published

6 days ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

sun-international-appoints-mark-sergeant-as-chief-operating-officer-of-gaming

Sun International CEO Ulrik Bengtsson has announced the appointment of Mark Sergeant as chief operating officer: gaming, responsible for land-based revenue across the group.

Sergeant will head up the casino operations from February, reporting directly to the CEO. He also brings over 25 years of credible leadership experience across all spheres of Sun International’s operations, from gaming to leisure and hospitality, having led two of the UK’s largest casino groups.

As the group managing director at Genting Casinos he oversaw a portfolio of 35 casinos across the UK, an international casino operation in Cairo, a UK integrated gaming and leisure resort, and two online gaming businesses.

Sun International said the appointment marks another giant leap forward for the group as it pursues its strategy to become a digitally-led, market-leading omnichannel gaming company of scale.

Bengtsson said: “Mark brings all the right skills to drive our gaming operations forward as well as a fresh new perspective for how we can continue to build world-class capabilities”

“In addition to his notable skills, we were also impressed by his leadership expertise and his passion for people. He is widely recognised for building high‑performing teams, developing future leaders, and cultivating service‑driven cultures that will ultimately deliver exceptional customer experiences. He has also played a significant role in championing Responsible Gaming strategies, ensuring operational excellence while upholding the highest standards of compliance, integrity, and customer care.”

The post Sun International Appoints Mark Sergeant as Chief Operating Officer of Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AFCON 2025

AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis

Published

2 weeks ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

afcon’s-month-of-football-did-not-lift-igaming-demand-—-blask-data-analysis

AFCON 2025 ran from 21 December to 18 January, packing 52 matches across 19 matchdays. Given that schedule and the heavy interest in favourites such as Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt, many expected a measurable boost in online gambling activity. However, Blask data shows the tournament produced only occasional deviations from normal patterns — even in the nations with teams that reached the final stages.

Key findings from Blask data

No broad uplift: Overall iGaming demand did not climb consistently across markets during AFCON.
Weekly rhythm dominated: The Blask Index largely followed pre-existing weekly patterns; matchday timings rarely overrode those cycles.
Host-country anomaly: Morocco — with more viewer-friendly kick-offs (five of seven on Sundays or Friday evenings) — recorded the largest single day-to-day Blask Index move (26 December, Morocco vs Mali at 21:00 local).
Vertical competition mattered: Live-match excitement often drew attention away from casino play rather than increasing it. Hourly Blask Index figures frequently fell or stayed flat during national-team matches.
Market-share stability: Dominant brands (usually 1–4 operators) retained their daily shares; AFCON did not reshuffle leaders in most markets.

Why AFCON didn’t create a sustained iGaming spike

Calendar beats event noise. Daily and weekly user habits — workweek rhythms, prime-time viewing slots and local schedules — remained the strongest determinants of iGaming demand.
Attention is finite. While live betting benefits from matchday attention, casino verticals compete for the same user time. In practice, watching matches often reduced casino activity.
Operator strategy limits volatility. In markets controlled by a few large operators, firms manage audience attention by shifting promotions across verticals rather than expanding overall demand. That keeps market shares relatively steady.

Notable exception: Nigeria’s operator flip-flop

Nigeria bucked the broader trend: two brands controlling 70%+ of audience attention exchanged top positions frequently. Bet9ja was the 2025 leader overall, but SportyBet overtook it on most AFCON days, including all Nigeria team matchdays — showing how high-profile tournaments can temporarily reorder leaderboards where competition is extremely concentrated.

What this means for operators and marketers

Promotions should be tactical, not assuming scale. Expect matchday windows to deliver spikes in live-bet engagement but not necessarily a net rise across iGaming.
Vertical-specific offers perform better. Tailor live-betting promos during matches and protect casino revenues with off-peak incentives.
Local kick-off times matter. Host nations or markets with viewer-friendly schedules can see stronger short-term lifts — use that to time campaigns.

Conclusion

AFCON 2025 drew continent-wide interest, but Blask’s daily and hourly data indicate no broad, sustained iGaming uplift. Instead, the tournament rearranged attention — boosting live-bet engagement at times while leaving overall demand on its usual calendar-driven trajectory. For operators, the insight is clear: the calendar is king, and major sporting events tend to redistribute, not expand, iGaming activity.

The post AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.