Connect with us

Latest News

RMG and SIS agree further three-year pictures and data deal for bookmakers

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Sports Information Services (SIS) announced a further three-year agreement for the distribution and transmission of audio-visual and data from British racecourses, which are licensed for the term 2023-2026, to licensed betting offices (LBO) across UK and Ireland.

Following an ultra-competitive tender process, SIS were awarded the contract, which will run from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2026 and follows the current five-year agreement which started in 2018.

Martin Stevenson, CEO of RMG, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with SIS for a further three years. LBO revenue remains an extremely significant media rights income source for RMG’s racecourses. This deal will further increase the value of LBO rights by invigorating betting turnover via first-rate production and presentation of horseracing for the LBO audience.

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

“We look forward to working with SIS on new and innovative ways in which the quality content from our racecourses can be produced and presented, including the introduction of in-play betting on racing in betting shops. This deal guarantees quality, core content for bookmakers in UK and Ireland until 2026, while ensuring there is minimal ‘leakage’ from the sport, in line with RMG’s ethos of returning its profits to the sport. We are very grateful to all the parties who expressed an interest with a range of compelling offers.”

Richard Ames, Chief Executive of SIS, added: “SIS is very pleased to extend the relationship we hold with RMG and are confident that this agreement will continue to deliver excellent value for racecourses and bookmakers with a collaborative approach to growing the value of horseracing. Winning this extension in a competitive situation is testament to the good work and excellent relationship that has been fostered between the companies over the last three years. I look forward to RMG’s premium racing content being the cornerstone of SIS’ racing services for many years to come.”

Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said: “Following such a rigorous and competitive process we can be confident this new agreement with SIS represents the best possible LBO rights arrangement for our sport. Betting media represents such a key revenue stream and one that is fundamental to how racecourses fund their substantial contribution to prize money levels. The process has been a great example of multiple stakeholders working together to try to achieve the best outcome and I would commend the leadership of RMG and our fellow racecourses in this regard.”

William Derby, York Racecourse Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said: “This is an important agreement for all involved and further deepens the partnership between racing and betting shops. The extended agreement to 2026, based on the level of betting activity on racing in UK and Ireland shops, with race-by-race reporting of turnover, should help ensure it is in everyone’s mutual interests to further innovate, promote and grow interest in horseracing.”

Hazel Peplinski, CEO of Perth Racecourse, said: “This renewal with SIS until 2026 helps the likes of Perth to plan with a good degree of certainty and confidence, which, of course, is extremely welcome given events of the past 15 months. SIS has been an excellent partner for Racing and this agreement offers not just continuity but also promises to increase the value of racecourses’ LBO rights further which, in turn, we can reinvest for the benefit of the whole sport.”

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Latest News

Better Collective North American talent-led media brands surpass 1 billion views and downloads, providing new ways for partners to reach sports fans

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

An expanded focus on talent-led media and live events complements Better Collective’s broader strategy of diversifying revenue streams, engaging sports fans, and strengthening its position in key growth markets such as North America.

Talent-led media has become a core strategic focus for Better Collective, providing new ways to engage fans and create value for the company’s partners. Through shows hosted by world-class athletes and personalities such as Shaquille O’Neal, Jalen Brunson, Angel Reese, and Jeff Marek, Better Collective is able to reach highly engaged audiences across North America. These trusted voices not only help Better Collective stay relevant with younger sports fans but also offer partners authentic, direct access to these communities. Since the beginning of last year, content from Better Collective’s talent-led media brands have generated over one billion views and downloads and were significant contributors to the company’s global sponsorship revenue of more than 45 mEUR in 2024. Talent-led media has also further strengthened the commercial opportunities for partners and reinforces Better Collective’s position as a leading digital sports media group.

Karl Pugh, Group SVP of Revenue at Better Collective, said: “As a market leader operating at the intersection of sports media and sports betting, Better Collective provides partners with unparalleled global reach and commercial opportunities. Through our brands and their shows, we are not only reaching millions of engaged sports fans, but creating meaningful value for our partners by offering them direct access to these highly relevant audiences. With more than one billion views and downloads from fans across North America since the start of 2024, our brands have proven over time to be in high demand and an essential platform for partner activation. I look forward to continuing to grow these partnerships and unlocking new ways to drive revenue, audience engagement, and long-term business value together.”

All three of Better Collective’s leading North American brands, Playmaker HQ, Action Network and The Nation Network, have increased their audience with the help of talent-led media and live events.

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
  • All five of Playmaker HQ’s shows have crossed 2 million total followers on social media, total over 15 million hours of consumed content on YouTube, and average 75 million monthly views across all accounts. The shows have gone viral several times, such as when Unapologetically Angel was named one of Spotify’s best new podcasts of 2024.
  • Action Network’s content from leading betting experts has spurred growth as well, evident from its 600k+ hours of consumed content from fans this year. Additionally, the brand’s podcasts totalled 6 million downloads during the last NFL season, and will total 8 million total downloads in 2025.
  • Within Canada, Better Collective has also experienced growth among its users thanks to The Nation Network (TNN), which has firmly entrenched itself as the leading destination for premier, digital sports coverage. Across its content this past year, TNN saw 71 million total streams, 5 million total watch hours, and 342 million total impressions on YouTube. These numbers reinforce Better Collective’s belief in Canada as a massive growth opportunity and market with immense potential.

North American brands are providing additional avenues for partner success

These three North American-based brands have each contributed to the company’s rise in the talent-led media space, growth in audience, and value generated for both endemic and non-endemic partners. Across the three brands, leading consumer and sportsbook partners include StockX, Dove Men’s+Care, Tommy John, DraftKings, bet365, Ford, Tim Hortons, Coca-Cola and Budweiser, exemplifying the value Better Collective offers its wide variety of partners in reaching new audiences in modern, engaging ways. These partners are not only getting value out of sponsoring podcast episodes, but also by helping create live activations that form deeper connections and more awareness among fans and potential consumers. Listeners and fans are also highly engaged with each brand’s content, leading to elevated brand exposure, increased content consumption, and higher turnouts at events. Examples of this can be seen with Action Network’s over 75% completion rate of its podcasts – above the average industry standard – as well as Playmaker HQ and TNN’s attendance at their live events, showing not only that fans have an appetite for the content, but that partners will get more exposure through their sponsorships and branded activations.

Live events have given our brands more ways to engage audiences 

In addition to the popular podcast shows, Playmaker HQ, Action Network, and The Nation Network are all using their strong brand platforms to host live events. These include meet and greets, live shows, watch parties, and fan experiences that bring audiences closer to their favorite shows and stars. A standout example was last year’s live Roommates Show in Central Park, where thousands of fans gathered to meet Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, enjoyed the show, and took part in branded experiences and giveaways from partners.

These events not only deepen fan engagement but also offer partners unique opportunities to connect with audiences beyond digital channels. Previous events have been held in major cities during some of the biggest sporting moments of the year, including the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Final Four, and the 4 Nations Face Off. Throughout the rest of the year, our brands will continue to host exciting events for fans and partners alike, including the upcoming NBA Summer League.

 

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

The post Better Collective North American talent-led media brands surpass 1 billion views and downloads, providing new ways for partners to reach sports fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

iGB L!VE opens in London

Published

on

iGB L!VE opens in London
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The 2025 edition of iGB L!VE opened today (2nd July) at it’s new ExCeL London home. iGaming professionals made full use of ExCeL London’s transport infrastructure with Elizabeth Line and Docklands Light Railway trains full of visitors celebrating the show’s relocation to the Capital.

Organisers are seeking to grow the iGB L!VE attendance and, in the process set another record for the event. The 2024 edition, which was the last to be held in Amsterdam attracted 9,788 unique attendees, surpassing the 7,299 at iGB L!VE 2023 and was nearly double the 5,022 at iGB L!VE 2022. The 2025 edition of iGB L!VE will be the biggest on record, providing attendees with access to over 22,000 sqm of product innovation and inspiration.

Claire Williams OBE, the former leader of the Williams Formula 1 racing team and one of the most prominent and successful women in F1 history provided the iGB L!VE 2025 keynote.

Exploring the best practice parallels which can be drawn between the data-driven worlds of F1 and iGaming, Claire Williams noted: “There are a number of ways that Formula 1 can inspire businesses and provide tangible takeaways for iGaming operators of all sizes, from product innovation to navigating entry into new markets. As well as key requirements such as having a dynamic leadership, a culture of continuous improvement, hiring the very best problem solvers and being the first to embrace technology advances, F1 also demands the organisational agility that’s necessary to nuance strategy in what is an ultra-competitive space. “

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

Described as the TED of iGaming, iGB L!VE features a mix of highly practical case studies, data presentations and panel discussions on best practices across operators and affiliates. Topics include innovations in in-play betting, how to use IP and branding to protect competitive advantage, integrated marketing and SEO strategies, how to build links when no one wants to talk about gambling, as well as market dives into LatAm, UAE and Italy. The full programme can be viewed at:https://www.igblive.com/event-schedule

The post iGB L!VE opens in London appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA ANNOUNCES GLOBAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH $10,000 PRIZE POOL

Published

on

THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA ANNOUNCES GLOBAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH $10,000 PRIZE POOL
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Midjiwan, the award-winning independent studio behind The Battle of Polytopia has today announced The Polytopia World Championship with a prize pool of $10,000 USD and a live final broadcast from Stockholm.

The Polytopia World Championship is set to launch this fall, uniting players from across the globe in an epic showdown of fast-paced strategic mastery. The tournament will be themed to Battle of the Tribes. Players will choose to compete with one of Polytopia’s 12 in-game tribes; each with a unique regional theme and skillset.

The tournament will begin with open qualifiers, giving everyone a chance to prove themselves. From there, players will advance through tribe-specific playoffs and head-to-head elimination rounds, each match bringing them one step closer to glory.

The top six players will earn a spot in the live finals in Stockholm on December 6: an in-person event streamed online for fans worldwide. In addition to live commentary of the tournament, the fan event will also provide behind-the-scenes content from the Midjiwan team.

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

The winner will be awarded a prize pool of $10,000; making this tournament the biggest competitive event in The Battle of Polytopia’s nine year history.

Christian Lovstedt, CEO of Midjiwan AB, commented: “This marks a major new step for Polytopia’s competitive scene, featuring a fresh tournament format and enhanced broadcasting that makes it even more exciting for viewers to watch, learn, and get inspired by the world’s top players.“

The matches will be played on the Polytopia Official Space on the Challengermode esports Platform.

The planned dates are:

September:

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
  • Sep 13–14

  • Sep 20–21

  • Sep 27–28

October:

  • Oct 4–5

  • Oct 11–12

  • Oct 18–19

November:

  • Oct 25–26

  • Nov 1–2

  • Nov 8–9

Nov 22–23

  • Faceoff

  • Final Qualifier

Dec 6

  • World Championship Live Event

The post THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA ANNOUNCES GLOBAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH $10,000 PRIZE POOL appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
Continue Reading

Trending

Offering comprehensive coverage on all aspects of the gaming sector, our daily posts include online and land-based gaming, betting, esports, regulatory and compliance updates, and technological advancements. Regular features encompass daily news articles, press releases, exclusive interviews, and insightful event reports.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Gaming News Room is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania