UK

The Queen’s Estimate filly, winner of last year’s Ascot Gold Cup, has tested positive for banned substance morphine. The British Horseracing Authority said that a number of post-race samples obtained from recent meets have found, upon analysis of the ‘A’ samples, to have morphine, prohibited under raceday regulations. Although permitted for use in-training, five horses have so far tested positive for alleged race day breaches. The …

Sky Sports Digital Media (SSDM) is now a distributor of official British horseracing Pre-Race Data (PRD), joining Press Association, SIS and Timeform as partners with the Racecourse Data Company (RDC). RDC – a joint venture with 57 racecourses set up to licence and control PRD – has licensed SSDM to use the data, which is generated by Weatherbys and is …

Financial spread betting operator IG Group posted full year or year growth, reporting net trading revenues of £370.4 million (€468.5 million/$632 million), up 2.4% on the £361.9 million achieved in the previous year. The spread betting operator posted net revenues of  in £194.7 million up 1.3% on 2013 figures (£192.2 million) The FTSE 250 company, which has a market capitalisation …

With the English football season starting on the 9th of August, SBC caught up with SkyBet Marketing Director Rob Painter, to discuss football betting sponsorship. In June 2013 SkyBet became the title sponsors of the English Football league, a deal which has seen the SkyBet brand covered through multiple channels. Rob Painter has worked with some of the UK biggest brands as …

An initial two season regional sports sponsorship deal has been struck between Liverpool FC and the Scandinavian online casino operator ComeOn!. 188Bet is the club’s official gaming provider and will remain as such as this new agreement is an altogether different set up. Part of the agreement stipulates that ComeOn! is able to advertise and promote its link with Liverpool …

A Bet A has finalised a deal to allow British and Northern Irish bookmakers to bet into the UK Tote pool with their new integration: Tote Express. The specialist supplier, who service operators in the UK and Ireland as well as 22 global territories, has released new software which will go live later this month. In doing so, it will allow …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced an extension to its online gaming services application, in order to allow  betting and igaming operators to apply for non-remote licences. After reviewing current processes the UKGC, have implemented an extension to the time frame allowed for the submission of applications for UK licences, furthermore the UKGC wish to grant the online gambling …

Exploring new products and business innovation within the sports betting industry, SBC interviews Daniel Schwartzkopff –  founder of BetVIP.com, which claims to be the sector’s first licensed Bitcoin-only sportsbook. The digital currency operator takes wagers and pays out winnings exclusively in Bitcoin, offering odds on thousands of pre-match and in-play markets. It holds a gaming license in Curacao and only accepts …

A survey of gambling operators and treatment providers has shown a consensus regarding the priorities for improving self-exclusion as a harm minimisation tool. The study, which surveyed perspectives from industry operators, has been published today by the Responsible Gambling Trust. It found that the majority of respondents from gaming businesses believe the industry needs to ensure self-exclusion is irrevocable within the …

Betting exchange Betfair is extending its TV advertising campaign into the real world by placing its giant octopus between the fourth green and fifth tee of The Open golf championship at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. ‘Paul the Octopus’, which made its debut playing table tennis in Betfair’s current This Is Play TV advertising, has been designed in homage to …