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World Pool extends global network with biggest ever World Pool season in 2023

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World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), will be extended further in 2023 with the addition of major fixtures, including Lightning Stakes Day in Australia, The Saudi Cup and the Irish Derby.

Following the successful introduction of World Pool Moment of the Year in 2022 in Great Britain and Ireland, this has now been extended to all global World Pool meetings and will reward stable staff with a total of over HK$1 million (approx. £103,000) in prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong, thanks to additional funding from the HKJC, UK Tote Group, Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Ascot Racecourse.

Starting on Saturday 28 January with Met Day at Kenilworth in South Africa, the first meeting where racing fans from over 20 countries will be able to bet into the World Pool, and ending on Melbourne Cup Day on 7 February in Australia, one World Pool Moment of the Day will be selected at each World Pool meeting to win a prize of £4,000 (HK$38,785).

Each winning groom from the season’s 25 World Pool days will also enter the chance to be named World Pool Moment of the Year and win a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong for either the 2024 Hong Kong Derby or 2024 FWD Champions Day.

The 25 individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners will be narrowed down to a final four by a panel of global racing experts, before being voted on by the public for World Pool Moment of the Year, which will be revealed at the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin in December.

Last year’s World Pool Moment of the Year winner was Alpinista and winning groom Annabel Willis, who lit up the Knavesmire at York Racecourse when landing the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks before going on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Saudi Cup and Lightning Stakes to make World Pool debuts in Q1 2023

 

Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington on 18 February and Saudi Cup night in Riyadh on 25 February have been confirmed as the two new additions to the first quarter of World Pool races for 2023.

The opening quarter of the year now boasts five fixtures, with two visits to Meydan for Super Saturday (4 March) and Dubai World Cup Night (25 March), as well as the aforementioned Met Day (28 January) at Kenilworth.

Irish Derby and Lockinge Stakes among 18 UK and Irish World Pool events

For the first time, World Pool will be in operation at Newbury Racecourse in the UK with two races added to the World Pool season on Lockinge Stakes Day on 20 May, while Irish Derby Day is also set to feature amongst 18 UK and Irish events on 2 July. Coverage of Irish Derby Day will also include the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg-Horn, marking the first World Pool race from Germany.

In 2022, World Pool betting turnover hit a new high of HK$6 billion (approx. £622m), up from HK$4.8 billion (approx. £498m) in 2021, across the 21 racedays that were commingled, while Derby Day at Epsom recorded the single highest day of turnover with HK$66.1 million (approx. £6.8m) – *note: turnover is recorded in HK$, and approximate pound sterling figures are therefore based on current exchange rates.

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said“We were absolutely thrilled with the results from our 21 World Pool meetings in 2022 and are excited to be extending that offering to 25 days this year.

“Having Australia and Saudi Arabia on the fixture list of 2023 World Pool meetings is another important step in the globalisation of World Pool, while adding some high-profile British and Irish meetings to the schedule is another exciting advancement.

“To complement our expanding list of World Pool meetings are the Moment of the Day and Moment of the Year initiatives, which for the first time will reward winning stable staff from all countries hosting World Pool races.

“Last year’s launch of the competition in the UK and Ireland was met with great feedback from yards across the region and we look forward to opening that up to our World Pool days in South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “We are looking forward to another World Pool season which now extends its reach across eight countries worldwide. For the UK and Ireland, it is welcome to see new additions to this year’s schedule, with two races from Newbury’s Lockinge Day added, along with Irish Derby Day, taking World Pool events hosted in the UK and Ireland to a total of 18.

“The ambitions for a global wagering platform are already being realised with over 20 pool betting operators now part of World Pool. Last year alone, the UK and Ireland saw record turnover of £521 million across 17 World Pool events, showcasing the best of our racing to a global audience, ensuring an improved value proposition for our own wagering customers and creating a more sustainable funding mechanism for horseracing in the future, with additional income for our racecourse partners.

“Our continued thanks go to our partners the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and in collaboration with RMG and Ascot, we are delighted to see Moment of the Day and Moment of the Year now extended to include all countries hosting World Pool races.”

Martin Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the media interests of The Jockey Club, Newbury, Goodwood, and York racecourses, said: “RMG is delighted to partner with Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote and our racecourses to bring 11 high-quality British and Irish days to the innovative and important World Pool schedule.

“RMG looks forward to working with all the parties in growing both the sport’s revenues and global appeal. We’re also excited to see the World Pool Moment of the Day and Year awards increase in prize money and evolve into a global initiative for stable staff – the real unsung heroes of our sport.”

Alastair Warwick, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ascot Racecourse, said: “It’s fantastic to see this truly global expansion of the meetings included in the World Pool for 2023. The continued growth of World Pool since launching at Royal Ascot in 2019 has been very impressive and hugely important for British racing. We look forward to being involved again across our major meetings this year.”

Gregory Bortz, the Executive Chairman of Cape Racing, the operator of racing in the Western Cape of South Africa, said: “We are honoured to have WSB Met Day, one of the biggest and most prestigious days on the South African racing calendar, be included as a World Pool event. We believe the sight and sounds of nineteen of our finest equine athletes competing for this prestigious Grade 1 race, with the views and sounds of Cape Town playing out in the background, will make for an unforgettable experience for the countless racing enthusiasts around the globe betting into the World Pool.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club represents the gold standard for racing operators around the world, and we at Cape Racing look forward to following their lead by ensuring our top-class racing provides the entertainment and turnover befitting of World Pool status.”

Provisional World Pool events to be hosted on the following days in 2023:

 

January

Saturday 28: Met Day – Kenilworth Racecourse, South Africa

 

February

Saturday 18: Black Caviar Lightning Race Day – Flemington Racecourse, Australia

Saturday 25: Saudi Cup – King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

 

March

Saturday 4 March: Super Saturday – Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

Saturday 25 March: Dubai World Cup – Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

Other key fixtures will be finalised later in the year, but major meetings including Royal Ascot, King George Day, Goodwood Festival, York Ebor Meeting, British Champions Day and Melbourne Cup Day will also form part of World Pool 2023.

eSports

NEW YORK ISLANDERS REPRESENTATIVE ERIK ‘EKI’ TAMMENPAA EARNS HIS SIXTH EUROPEAN TITLE AT THE EA SPORTS NHL 24 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

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In a rematch of last year’s European Championship, Erik ‘Eki’ Tammenpää, representing the New York Islanders, again prevailed over Teemu ‘Temppanen’ Karvonen representing the Anaheim Ducks to win the EA SPORTS NHL 24 European Championship title. The win marks Eki’s fourth-straight and sixth-overall European Championship title (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and another $15,000 USD in earnings. Temppanen placed second in the competition that took place at the Copenhagen Media Facility in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday evening. For a second year straight, both players will represent Europe in the EA SPORTS NHL 24 World Championship taking place in April in New York.

Eki is a full-time YouTube and Twitch content creator and EA SPORTS™ NHL® 24 expert and 24-year-old native of Helsinki, Finland. He remains the most decorated esports player on the NHL competitive circuit and will try once again to capture the World title after capturing runner up at last year’s EA SPORTS NHL 23 World Final.

During the competition in Copenhagen today, Temppanen and Eki qualified for a spot in the World Final by competing in a semifinal best-of-three round. Both players split their first two games, with Temppanen ultimately overtaking NikkeDanglesin a tight competition and Eki defeating Eken45Jr with eight goals in a Game Three shutout.

The Championship series saw a rematch of last year’s EA SPORTS NHL 23 European Final with Temppanen and EKI facing off once again. While Temppanen took the lead with an early goal in Game One, Eki scored three quick goals in a three-minute span during the second period and a game-winning goal in the third period by Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers). Eki continued his goal streak and dominated Game Two, ultimately scoring six unanswered goals, including tallies from Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Bo Horvat(New York Islanders), and Cam Atkinson (Philadelphia Flyers). Eki’s

6-0 victory solidified his sixth European title and status as “the one to beat.”

EA SPORTS NHL 24 EUROPEAN FINAL STANDINGS

1st: Eki, New York Islanders

2nd: Temppanen, Anaheim Ducks

3rd: Eken45jr, Pittsburgh Penguins

4th: NikkeDangles, Washington Capitals

5th-8th: Alphaborje, Detroit Red Wings

5th-8th: Kibeeex, Toronto Maple Leafs

5th-8th: Launonexx, Tampa Bay Lightning

5th-8th: Teemuyy, Colorado Avalanche

The EA SPORTS NHL 24 North American Championship will be contested on March 24 at the NHL Flagship Store in New York beginning at 1 p.m. ET on the NHL’s Twitch channel. For more news, fans can visit www.nhl.com/NHL24 and follow the conversation on social using #NHL24WC.

 

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TWO PAGCOR MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITIES INAUGURATED IN TARLAC

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Two Pagcor multi-purpose facilities inaugurated in TarlacPAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (left) turns over to Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro of San Manuel, Tarlac (middle) the ceremonial key for the new multi-purpose facility funded by the state gaming regulator while San Manuel Vice Mayor Atty. Benjamin Tesoro looks on.

 

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco on Monday, March 18, led the inauguration of two newly completed multi-purpose centers in the towns of San Manuel and Victoria in the province of Tarlac.

Mr. Tengco said the state gaming agency provided a total of Php100 million for both of the two-story projects.

“Naglaan ang PAGCOR ng limampung milyong piso para sa bawat multi-purpose center sa bayan ng San Manuel at Victoria; mayroon itong iba’t ibang pasilidad gaya ng kusina, storage areas para sa relief goods, toilet at shower rooms, lactating rooms at maluwag na activity area para sa iba’t ibang gawain,” he said.

 

Two Pagcor multi-purpose facilities inaugurated in TarlacStudents and teachers of Sta. Maria Elementary School in San Manuel, Tarlac greet PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (8th from right, standing) and San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro (7th from right, standing) during the inauguration of the PAGCOR-funded multi-purpose facility on March 18.

 

The PAGCOR chief said that because the Philippines is very vulnerable to climate change, “typhoons, floods and earthquakes are common occurrences that we must always be prepared for.”

However, he stressed that while the buildings are primarily designed as temporary shelters during emergencies, the structures can be used for various socio-civic activities, too.

 

Two Pagcor multi-purpose facilities inaugurated in TarlacPAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (left) and San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro (right) unveil the PAGCOR logo during the inauguration of the two-story facility.

 

“During the height of the pandemic, when the project was rolled out, there was a high demand for quarantine and evacuation facilities. But now, there is more sense to call these as multi-purpose centers rather than just evacuation facilities,” Chairman Tengco said.

 

Two Pagcor multi-purpose facilities inaugurated in TarlacThe two-story PAGCOR multi-purpose facility in Victoria, Tarlac.

 

 

Two Pagcor multi-purpose facilities inaugurated in TarlacPAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (right) and Victoria Municipal Mayor Rex C. Villa Agustin (left) unveil the PAGCOR logo during the inauguration of the multi-purpose facility constructed by the state gaming agency in Victoria, Tarlac.

 

“You may use this facility as your social hall, events area, and livelihood training center. You may also use this building to generate revenues for the local government,” he said.

During the event, Chairman Tengco also introduced PAGCOR’s upcoming flagship programs which include school buildings for public schools, e-learning centers, community wellness centers, and socio civic centers nationwide.

“These upcoming flagship projects are designed to create lasting impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” he said. “These are just some of our nation-building efforts because as you are all aware, PAGCOR is the third largest revenue contributor to the national coffers.”

San Manuel Mayor Doña Cresencia Tesoro thanked the PAGCOR chief for the agency’s support.

“We are grateful that PAGCOR saw our need. This multi-purpose center is so far the biggest project that we have seen in San Manuel, and this is proof of PAGCOR’s commitment to serve the Filipinos,” she said.

“We thank everyone who made this dream come to life. Rest assured that we will use this to enrich the lives of our people and the generations to come,” Tesoro added.

 

Two Pagcor multi-purpose facilities inaugurated in TarlacPAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (left) shakes hands with Victoria Municipal Mayor Rex C. Villa Agustin during the inauguration of the multi-purpose facility constructed by the state gaming agency in Victoria, Tarlac.

 

Board Member Harmes Sembrano of the 2nd District of Tarlac also expressed gratitude to PAGCOR for funding the two-story multi-purpose facility in Victoria.

“With our limited resources, we cannot afford to fund all programs that will be beneficial to the people of Tarlac. But because of PAGCOR’s help, we have this new multi-purpose facility which will serve not only the locals of Victoria but also those from neighboring towns,” Sembrano said.

PAGCOR has thus far completed and inaugurated 38 multi-purpose buildings in different parts of the country while 34 others are still under construction.

 

 

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BETSSON.SPORT DEBUTS IN ITALY WITH FRANCESCO TOTTI AS AMBASSADOR

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BETSSON.SPORT DEBUTS IN ITALY WITH FRANCESCO TOTTI AS AMBASSADOR
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Betsson.sport proudly announces the launch of its new sports infotainment platform in Italy. At the heart of this initiative as its ambassador, stands Francesco Totti, the revered Italian football legend celebrated for his exceptional talent and illustrious career.

With a focus on delivering exclusive content, interviews, news and highlights across various sporting disciplines, Betsson.sport aims to become a go-to destination for sports enthusiasts nationwide.

Additionally, Betsson.sport introduces the initiative ‘Betsson Sport Club,’ inviting teams to join and gain visibility and support alongside other participating teams. This club is open to clubs from both prominent and lesser-known leagues, offering them exposure opportunities and a platform for more visibility.

“I am thrilled to be part of this project, which aligns perfectly with my daily commitment to sharing my passion for sports,” said Francesco Totti. “Betsson.sport presents a wonderful opportunity to unite various sports clubs and helping them to realise their full potential.”

Ronni Hartvig, Chief Commercial Officer of Betsson Group, stated, “Italy holds significant importance for Betsson, and we are delighted to partner with Francesco Totti, a figure synonymous with excellence in Italian football. We think his story and experiences will help us make the Betsson Sports Club even better, promoting our values of fair play, inclusion, and passion.”

As Betsson.sport embarks on its journey in Italy, the brand is committed to innovation and collaboration. The recent partnership announcement with Roma exemplifies this commitment, marking the beginning of a series of dynamic initiatives aimed at strengthening the bond between sports and Betsson.sport.

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