Sports Betting
The Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board

The Betting and Gaming Council has aappointed Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
The HBLB administers a proportion of profits from bookmakers to improve breeding, advance veterinary science in the sport and contribute to the wider improvement of horseracing. It is administered by a board of seven members, including one appointment from the BGC, to represent bookmakers.
Entain Customer Communications Director Simon Clare formally replaced Mike O’Kane on October 7.
BGC members are expected to contribute to £105m in Levy payments to the HBLB for last year, according to figures released in May. The contribution, provided by the independent HBLB, is an increase of £5m on the previous year. As a result of this additional funding, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2m in its prize money contribution for 2024 versus 2023, from £67.3m to £70.5m.
It is the third year in a row that Levy contributions have increased, from £97m in 2021/22, to £100m in 2022/2023 and now £105m in 2023/2024.
Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “We’re delighted Simon is joining the HBLB.
“He brings an unrivalled wealth of experience from his many years with Ladbrokes and Coral, where he has become respected as a vocal and passionate champion of the sport.
“I know his wisdom and knowledge will be crucial assets to the HBLB over the coming years. I would also like to pay tribute to Mike O’Kane who has been an excellent representative to the HBLB on behalf of BGC members.
“Over his time with the HBLB Mike has brought a strong voice for the sector to the Board at a time of significant change for racing and also record Levy contributions. We wish Mike well in the future and are delighted to welcome Simon to the HBLB.”
Simon has spent close to three decades in the betting and horseracing sectors. After graduating with a Degree in Politics at Liverpool University in 1992, he was accepted on The Jockey Club Graduate Scheme, where he had a placement with the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
After a spell at the Jockey Club, and then the newly formed British Horseracing Board in an Executive Assistant role, Simon then joined Ladbrokes as a PR Manager in 1996, before joining Coral in 1997 to become their Racing PR Manager.
Following the merger with Ladbrokes in 2016, Simon became responsible for PR, Sponsorship and Social Media for both brands, and is now the Customer Communications Director for Entain UK Brands – responsible for PR, Sponsorship and Social Media for Ladbrokes, Coral, Gala, Foxy and Partypoker.
He has been a longtime, passionate supporter of horse racing, and even learned to ride in 2014 before taking part in a charity race at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival.
Entain Customer Communications Director Simon Clare, said: “I am extremely honoured to be joining the Horserace Betting Levy Board as the betting representative.
“Mike O’Kane will be a hard act to follow, and I would like to thank him for the great contribution he has made in his time in the role.
“I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a long and varied career within the betting industry with Coral, now Entain, alongside a lifelong passion for horse racing and all major sports, so will hopefully be able to make a valuable contribution to the Board.”
The post The Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Press Releases
ULTIM8 SPORTSBOOK IFRAME: Ultimate Solution for Operators Who Have Seen It All

GR8 Tech launches ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame—an easy-to-launch solution designed specifically for the needs of experienced businesses: casino brands aiming to dominate sports betting without hiring an army of sportsbook specialists, or operators fed up with tech bottlenecks stunting their growth.
“We dedicate a lot of time to talking to the market, and one thing kept coming up: too many products are built for entry-level needs. That’s fine… until it is not. Operators that grow beyond the basics often hit a wall. Their current platform needs improvement and differentiation that comes slowly, if at all; at the same time, switching to something new just means discovering another set of limitations down the line,” shares Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech. “There was clearly a gap—a well-formed demand for a solution tailored to mature operators who know what their players want and are done settling for tech that slows them down or boxes them in.”
ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame was created to tackle these advanced challenges, enabling operators to differentiate with market-leading content and a customizable front-end while maintaining full control over crucial areas like player engagement and risk management. Feature-rich right out of the box, the solution drives the ultimate revenue boost with its AI-driven toolset.
“ULTIM8 is built for results. Operators using our iFrame solution see up to 50% GGR uplift through features that come ready to deploy—odds personalization, parlay tools, and dynamic cashout,” comments Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “Coupled with the geo-tailored layouts and widget-based frontend flexibility, these things give operators the ability to shape the ultimate experience for their audiences, while keeping full control over performance and profitability.”
With all these advanced features, GR8 Tech’s ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame still maintains one of the key decisive factors of all iFrame solutions—quick launch time. As long as operators provide everything necessary for the launch from their end in time, the business can go live within just one week.
Sergey Ghazaryan adds: “GR8 Tech aims to become the first choice for operators looking for high-performance sportsbook-driven solutions. ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame is a very important step towards this goal—an ultimate showcase of our sportsbook expertise, packed in a convenient, easy-to-integrate form, tailored to the demands of the mature operators that have been unanswered up until now. Well—not anymore.”
Contact GR8 Tech for an in-depth guide through the ultimate sportsbook solution.
The post ULTIM8 SPORTSBOOK IFRAME: Ultimate Solution for Operators Who Have Seen It All appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Press Releases
GR8 Tech Powers Smarter Betting with New Match Trackers

GR8 Tech has unveiled a powerful new upgrade to its high-performance sportsbook platform: high-quality, real-time Match Trackers—designed to bring more action, insight, and excitement to players. Match Trackers are available across all of GR8 Tech’s sportsbook solutions, including iFrame and the Hyper Turnkey.
“We’re always looking for ways to elevate the player experience and give our partners a competitive edge,” said Denys Parkhomenko, CPO at GR8 Tech. “Match Trackers have smart features that drive engagement, boost retention, and power faster betting decisions in real-time.”
With broad coverage across football, basketball, tennis, hockey, volleyball, and handball, the trackers are live for pre-match analytics and in-game updates. Key features include:
- Detailed Stats: From xG in football to rebounds in basketball and aces in tennis, players get live and historical stats tailored to each sport.
- Key Moments & Summaries: Goals, assists, red cards, substitutions, and more delivered in real-time.
- Pitch Animation: A dynamic, visual alternative to video streaming, showing key moments as they unfold on the field.
- Lineups & Live Updates: Full team sheets, coaches, and live substitutions, so players are always in the know.
- Live Standings: Updated rankings and tournament tables across all supported sports.
By providing operators with the tools to deliver everything players need in one place, GR8 Tech enhances the sportsbook user experience, enabling more confident betting and driving longer player sessions.
The launch of Match Trackers marks another step in the company’s long-term strategy to deliver a best-in-class, sportsbook-driven platform and become the leading sportsbook provider by 2028. Coverage will soon expand to even more sports to meet operators’ needs.
The post GR8 Tech Powers Smarter Betting with New Match Trackers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
partnerships
Midnite creates free limited-edition beer for fans to enjoy at World Snooker Championship

Midnite is the new official UK betting and casino partner of the World Championship, Snooker’s greatest event, which will run from April 19 to May 5.
To celebrate the partnership, Midnite has created a FREE limited edition lager – with one free beer available per person – which will be served at a local pub throughout the tournament.
The one-off lager will be served at The Graduate, an iconic Sheffield pub a short walk from The Crucible, with fans able to enjoy a new beer on tap while the World Championship comes to the city.
Midnite has partnered with London-based brewery Drop Project to bring the concept to life. Drop Project creates the freshest, premium flavoursome beers with consistent high-quality results, and pushes creative boundaries and brews the beers that both inspire their passions for the industry and our lifestyles.
A Midnite spokesperson, commented: “We have worked with Drop Project to bring fans a Midnite lager that they can enjoy throughout the whole tournament. We wanted to create something tangible that snooker fans can enjoy throughout, and to have been able to create our own beer is something we’re pleased with.
“The World Snooker Championship brings real excitement to the city, and fans can head straight from The Crucible, to The Graduate and enjoy a pint or two of our specially brewed lager, just for the occasion.”
Midnite is providing the beer free of charge – one free drink per person of Midnite Lager Only and for ticket holders to the Snooker World Championship (18+). Redeem by showing your matchday ticket at The Graduate. While stock lasts.
The post Midnite creates free limited-edition beer for fans to enjoy at World Snooker Championship appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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