Latest News
Ascot Racecourse and Tote Sign New Five-Year Agreement
Ascot Racecourse and UK Tote Group commit to continue to grow pool betting together
Support and development of World Pool at the heart of the agreement
Ascot Racecourse and the Tote have signed a new agreement that will strengthen and grow pool betting in the United Kingdom.
The agreement, which commenced on January 1, 2024, ensures all pool bets placed on racing from Ascot Racecourse will continue to support liquidity in the United Kingdom pool, which has been operated by the UK Tote Group since October of 2019. This includes bets placed on-course under the Bet with Ascot brand, remotely via Tote.co.uk and through bookmakers and third-party partners.
Over the last four years, Ascot Racecourse and the Tote have built a positive partnership. Pool betting on racing from Ascot Racecourse is growing year-on-year and both parties are committed to accelerating this under the new agreement. The growth is due to both the quality and popularity of the racing action on the track and the innovations being brought to pool betting in the United Kingdom, which are appealing to a growing number of racing fans betting on the sport. Since 2020, remote B2C turnover (British and Irish customers betting on Tote.co.uk/ie) on racing from Ascot Racecourse has more than trebled while overseas turnover (international customers) is up 22% over the same period with the help of World Pool.
Internationally, Ascot Racecourse has been central to World Pool since its inauguration at Royal Ascot in June of 2019. The Royal Meeting proved a successful template for the World Pool model, whereby Tote operators from 28 countries commingle pools, hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, to significantly increase liquidity and enhance the betting experience. With World Pool days on British and Irish race-days having grown to 17 days in 2023, the sport is benefiting from increased financial income through higher media rights payments, while racing fans enjoy deeper, more stable pools and enhanced competitive returns. For example, a £1 bet with the Tote on every winner on British and Irish World Pool days in 2023 paid £263 more than the industry starting price with the Tote win overround at 109% versus an industry starting price overround of 122%.
Ascot Racecourse, along with other British Racecourses and the Tote, will be working closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to help ensure the continued growth of World Pool in 2024. This will be achieved via racecourses making the race fields on World Pool days as competitive as possible and thus attractive to bet on while the Tote is continuing to improve the value and experience of pool betting for racing fans.
“We are delighted have a new agreement in place with the Tote that will allow us to build on what has been achieved domestically and internationally over the last four years,” the Chief Executive for Ascot Racecourse, Alastair Warwick, said. “As one of the original architects of World Pool, alongside the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Tote, we are excited to support the further development of World Pool to ensure both racing fans and the sport benefit from it. We were thrilled to see that Royal Ascot produced five of the top six World Pool days by total turnover in 2023 and also that QIPCO King George Day performed so well after some targeted race planning changes. We will ensure that Ascot Racecourse’s top-class racing continues to be at the forefront of British racing’s efforts to see that the sport is watched and bet on by a growing domestic and global audience.”
“The Tote is immensely proud to be a partner of Ascot Racecourse, which hosts some of the most prestigious race-days in the sporting calendar,” the Chief Executive for UK Tote Group, Alex Frost, said. “This new agreement ensures Ascot Racecourse and the Tote are perfectly positioned to work together to achieve a strong United Kingdom pool, alongside the continued development of World Pool, which are crucial elements to the future financial sustainability of the sport. I would personally like to thank Alastair and his excellent team at Ascot Racecourse for their ongoing support and everyone at the Tote looks forward to continuing our partnership with Ascot Racecourse over the next five years.”
Asia
Nazara announces five investments totalling INR 196 Crores to drive growth across Gaming and Entertainment
Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: 543280 | NSE: NAZARA), India’s only listed diversified gaming and sports media company, has unveiled a series of strategic investments aimed at solidifying its position in the gaming and entertainment ecosystems.
Nazara has announced new Investments in Funky Monkeys & Learntube.ai
Nazara has expanded into physical entertainment with the acquisition of a 60% stake in Funky Monkeys Play Centers Private Limited, a leader in indoor soft play centers for children, for INR 43.7 crores. Funky Monkeys operates 11 centers across India, offering interactive play experiences for children.
Co-founders of Funky Monkeys, Binita Putcha and Sanjay Ghadiali, said: “We are excited to join hands with Nazara, whose vision for digital and hybrid entertainment aligns closely with ours. With Nazara’s expertise and resources, we are confident we can scale Funky Monkeys and bring even more joy to children and families across India. We also see synergies with digital IP’s owned by Nazara such as Kiddopia and will work to maximise these opportunities”
Nazara will also invest INR 4.2 crores for a 4.7% stake in Learntube.ai, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing education with 1:1 interactive and gamified learning. Catering to over 20 lakh learners, LearnTube is the world largest personalised learning platform that offers affordable, interactive gamified learning experiences for professional skilling.
“LearnTube’s collaboration with Nazara is a bold step forward in reshaping professional learning and interactive media. We are excited to combine forces to lead innovation on a global scale,” said Shronit Ladhani, Co-founder, LearnTube.
Nazara has Increased its shareholding of existing companies
Nazara will invest INR 148 crores in its existing subsidiaries including Sportskeeda, Nodwin Gaming, and Datawrkz to increase its ownership in them and support their growth.
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Nodwin Gaming: Nazara will invest INR 64 crores through subscription of Optionally Convertible Preference Shares to bolster Nodwin’s growth. The funds will support Nodwins expansion, enhance its intellectual properties (IPs), and strengthen its footprint in emerging markets.
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Absolute Sports (Sportskeeda): Nazara will invest INR 69 crores to purchase shares arising from exercise of ESOPs from the Sportskeeda management to increase its stake to 100% in the company making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
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Datawrkz: Nazara granted in-principle approval for an investment of INR 15 crores in Datawrkz through the subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Cumulative Preference Shares to support ongoing growth of Datawrkz
Speaking on these investments, Nitish Mittersain said: “Nazara is committed to building the largest diversified gaming and entertainment platform out of India and many of our initiatives announced today are geared towards propelling profitable growth in these strategic areas of our interest.”
Latest News
ProgressPlay Shortlisted in Two Prestigious Categories at The International Gaming Awards 2025
ProgressPlay, a leading platform in the iGaming industry, is thrilled to announce its selection as a finalist in the Safer Gambling Award and Innovator of the Year Award (Operator) categories at the upcoming International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2025. This recognition underscores ProgressPlay’s dedication to innovation, player protection, and excellence in iGaming operations.
The Safer Gambling Award nomination celebrates ProgressPlay’s proactive approach to promoting responsible gambling. The company has continually advanced its proprietary automated safer gambling tools, integrating cutting-edge AI-driven features to ensure operators and players remain in control and mitigate risks effectively. ProgressPlay has positioned itself as a trailblazer by prioritising player well-being in building trust and fostering a healthier gambling ecosystem while reducing compliance risks for operators.
Being shortlisted for Innovator of the Year (Operator) reflects ProgressPlay’s relentless pursuit of technological advancement as a B2B specialist within the iGaming industry. With a portfolio of groundbreaking solutions and an emphasis on user-centric design, the company has revolutionised how operators engage with their players. This category highlights ProgressPlay’s unmatched ability to combine technology, creativity, and market insights to deliver exceptional gambling experiences.
Marina Nahhas, Head of B2B Sales and Marketing at ProgressPlay, expressed her delight: “Being recognised as finalists in two categories by such a prestigious organisation is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to innovation and responsible gambling. At ProgressPlay, we don’t just follow trends; we set them while ensuring the safety and satisfaction of our operator cluster and their players remain paramount.”
The International Gaming Awards, known for spotlighting excellence and leadership across the global gambling industry, will host its gala event in London on February 5, 2025. This ceremony is set to welcome the brightest minds and most influential companies in the iGaming sector, celebrating innovation, responsibility, and operational success.
ProgressPlay is a leading iGaming platform provider, delivering fully managed services alongside white-label and standalone solutions. With an emphasis on innovative technology, player engagement, and responsible gambling, the company powers over 200 brands worldwide, offering a suite of premium gambling products and tools that drive sustainable growth.
ProgressPlay’s CEO Itai Lowenstein said: “ProgressPlay is honoured to be in the company of other industry leaders and looks forward to the opportunity to showcase its continued commitment to excellence at this globally renowned platform and at ICE Barcelona in January.”
Latest News
MGA Games presents Wild Snow Spin, a slot game with variable Free Spins set in the snowy mountains of Central Asia
This new release from MGA Games, a leading provider of casino games in Spain, is a thrilling new game that beautifully combines excitement and nature. The game’s main character is the snow leopard, a majestic creature that serves as an Expanding Wild symbol. When the snow leopard appears, it not only captivates players but also enhances their chances of winning, adding to the excitement with every spin of the reels.
Wild Snow Spin is a 5×3 slot game featuring a Scatter symbol and the opportunity to access a variable Free Spins screen, depending on the number of accumulated counters. This enhances the player’s chances of winning big prizes and provides a unique, immersive experience—a virtual escape to the Asian mountains, all from the comfort of their mobile screen.
The game features a minimum bet of €0.10 and a maximum bet of €20, offering a maximum prize of €42,000. With its realistic graphics and an epic soundtrack, meticulously designed to capture the essence of the winter season, this game is sure to appeal to both slot game enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
This new release features a rich collection of Asian wildlife-themed symbols: wolves, brown bears, and giant pandas all of which promise an untamed experience. Wild Snow Spin will be available at major online casinos in Spain and .com Markets from November 28th.
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