Press Releases
YouGov unveils US bettor research report, which highlights that 43% of sports bettors use three or more sportsbook apps
YouGov has released its US bettor research report, which provides detailed insights into the preferences of US sports bettors.
Utilizing YouGov Custom Research, the report uncovers the impact that ESPN BET has had on the market, which in-app sportsbook features drive bettor engagement, and much more.
The report finds that:
- 71% of 25-44 year-old bettors find the ability to live stream sporting events that they bet on in their sportsbook app important (vs 65% all ages)
- bet365 is the most used sportsbook by 21-34 year-olds and DraftKings is used most by all other ages
- 67% of 21-24 year-old current and prospective bettors are likely to create a sportsbook account with a sportsbook that is associated with a streaming service (vs 57% of all ages)
- 51% of sports bettors are using ESPN BET more than they used to (vs 15% using it less)
“The US sports betting industry is a very competitive marketplace and maintaining loyalty from customers has proven to be difficult for sportsbooks, especially when new sportsbooks enter the market,” said Jeff Morris, VP at YouGov.
“Our research shows that the sportsbooks that incorporate key in-app features like live streaming sporting events can provide an advantage for driving interaction from current sports bettors and attracting prospective sports bettors.”
The report highlights key factors that would influence prospective sports bettors to create their first sportsbook account and provides an in-depth look at how sports bettor preferences vary across age groups.
ACR Poker
ACR Poker Launches Venom Fever: Hundreds of Seats Up for Grabs for $10 Million Dual Venom Events
ACR Poker is kicking off 2026 with the return of its flagship Dual Mystery Bounty Venom tournaments, featuring a combined $10 million in guaranteed prize pools. To ensure players of all bankrolls can participate in these $2,650 buy-in events, the site has launched its massive Venom Fever satellite extravaganza.
Running from January 12th to February 1st, Venom Fever offers a wide variety of pathways to qualify for the $8 million GTD No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) and $2 million GTD Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) Venom events.
Affordable Pathways to the $10 Million GTD
The Venom Fever promotion is designed to “democratize” access to high-stakes poker. Players can choose from several qualification paths:
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Mega Satellites: These high-volume qualifiers start at $0 (Freerolls), allowing players to build a bankroll from scratch and turn nothing into a $2,650 seat.
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Direct Satellites: Streamlined qualifiers that award seats directly to the Day 1 targets.
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Beast Tournaments: ACR’s weekly progressive rake race tourneys will also feed into the Venom prize pool.
Both the NLH and PLO events feature multiple Day 1 flights, with Day 1A officially beginning on Sunday, January 18th.
The Venom Vault: Guaranteed Prizes for Every Player
In addition to traditional satellites, ACR Poker has introduced the Venom Vault promotion. On Saturday, January 17th, every player will receive a free key to unlock their first vault.
Each key guarantees a prize, ranging from satellite tickets to the full $2,650 tournament entry. Players can earn additional keys by:
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Completing special in-client poker challenges.
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Purchasing keys for $2.99.
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Exchanging 300 Combat Points.
“Satellites are your backstage pass to play in our biggest online events,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “Land just one good qualifier run and you’re at the table with millions on the line. With both events just around the corner, make sure you don’t miss out!”
Mystery Bounty Excitement
The Mystery Bounty format remains one of the most popular in online poker. During the previous series in August, the NLH champion walked away with over $700,000, while the PLO winner secured $350,000. The format allows players to win life-changing sums by knocking out opponents once the money bubble bursts, with some bounties often rivaling the top-tier prizes.
The post ACR Poker Launches Venom Fever: Hundreds of Seats Up for Grabs for $10 Million Dual Venom Events appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Horse Racing Innovation
Spotlight Sports Group Unveils 2026 Racing Innovation Blueprint with Dual Product Launch
Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), the global racing technology leader and parent company of Racing Post, has officially announced a major dual-product release to anchor its 2026 Racing Innovation strategy.
Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Racing Post, the launch features the Smart View Tipping Feed and the Racing Bet Builder. These algorithm-driven tools are designed to modernize the racing experience, making it more intuitive for novice bettors and time-poor enthusiasts alike.
The Next Evolution of Smart View
Both products are powered by the proprietary Smart View Engine, a machine-learning system that evaluates hundreds of variables—including trainer form, jockey strength, course suitability, and draw bias—to generate easily interpretable ratings.
1. Smart View Tipping Feed
This global, 24/7 service provides a continuous stream of ready-to-bet selections across the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, South Africa, and the UAE.
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Betting Angles: Every tip is categorized under specific “angles” such as Naps, Bankers, Course Legends, Ideal Conditions, and Data Aces.
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Deployment: Designed for seamless integration across sportsbooks, mobile apps, CRM campaigns, and retail environments.
2. Racing Bet Builder
Representing the first same-race multiple product built specifically for horse racing, this tool identifies the strongest combinations across key derivative markets.
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Markets Covered: Includes To Win, Top Finish, Winning Distance, and Match Bets.
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Data-Led Insight: Each Bet Builder is supported by written expert analysis and a “Smart View market confidence rating” to ensure transparency and trust.
Leadership Perspective
The initiative aims to remove the traditional complexity of horse racing, broadening its global appeal through data-led, personalized content.
“As we enter Racing Post’s 40th anniversary year, we are proud to lead the way with racing innovation,” said Sam Houlding, Managing Director of B2B at Spotlight Sports Group. “Smart View Tipping Feed and Racing Bet Builder give operators powerful new ways to engage racing audiences with easily digestible, trusted guidance crafted from decades of expertise.”
Spotlight Sports Group will showcase these new innovations at ICE Barcelona from January 19–21, 2026.
The post Spotlight Sports Group Unveils 2026 Racing Innovation Blueprint with Dual Product Launch appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Blockchain
Tequity and MINT Partner to Launch Bespoke, Branded “Originals” for Crypto-First Gaming
Tequity, the premium technology partner for custom iGaming solutions, has announced a landmark partnership with MINT, the upcoming AI-driven, crypto-first operator platform. Under the agreement, Tequity will supply its suite of Originals—fast, provably fair house games—which will be fully customized to reflect the MINT brand identity.
The collaboration centers on the “Originals” category, which has evolved from a niche preference to a foundational product for modern crypto-first brands. These games are designed for high-frequency play, making them a significant driver of player engagement and volume.
A New Standard in Fully Brandable House Games
Tequity’s Originals allow operators to launch 16 diverse house games—including popular formats like Crash, Mines, and Plinko—built on a technical stack optimized for speed and stability.
Through this partnership, MINT will move beyond off-the-shelf content, utilizing Tequity’s modular RGS and partner-ready tooling to create a “native” feel. Key features of the rollout include:
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Complete Brand Control: Full customization of the UX/UI to match MINT’s aesthetic.
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Provably Fair Infrastructure: Transparent, blockchain-verified mechanics that align with MINT’s Web3 roadmap.
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Streamer-Friendly Design: Fast-paced gameplay loops optimized for the burgeoning live-streaming community.
Strategic Vision: Launching the Next Generation of Web3 Gaming
The partnership comes as MINT prepares for its official February launch, positioning itself as a platform that prioritizes product quality over speculative hype. By integrating Tequity’s performance-driven infrastructure, MINT can deliver a premium, localized content suite from day one.
“MINT gets full branding control to make the games feel truly their own, while we provide the underlying performance and reliability,” said Dominic Sawyer, VP Growth at Tequity. “They are building a new kind of operator platform that combines a strong iGaming core with a Web3 roadmap, and we’re excited to be their technical foundation.”
Zak Manhire, CEO of MINT, added: “For us, Originals aren’t just another game category, they’re a foundation. Tequity gives us a very strong technical base, and we’ll push it hard—iterating quickly and building new games together as one. We treat our partners as collaborators, not service providers.”
The post Tequity and MINT Partner to Launch Bespoke, Branded “Originals” for Crypto-First Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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