Retail

The 2014 Galway summer festival gets underway on Monday, with Ballybrit expected to draw more than 150,000 racing enthusiasts and punters during the seven day gala.A report commissioned by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association last year, found that the festival is one of the largest in the world based on attendances and heightened media exposure, contributing millions to the local and national economy. Several Galway hotels sponsor …

The UK Leisure industry has labelled the 2014 Brazil World Cup, as the ‘stay at home World Cup’, as Greene King Leisure Tracker, published a 6% decrease on drinking and eating out. Leisure Tracker published figures that the UK leisure and hospitality sector had witnessed a decrease of £12 from £192.22 in May to £180.28 in June. Making it the …

Online and mobile games developer Playtech has extended its partnership with MSC Cruises, which has ordered the Neon Casino Management System for its newest ship, MSC Preziosa. The software is an enterprise-level system for land-based gaming operators, designed to cover a range of gambling operations. Neon is integrated with the ships’ Fidelio Cruise property management system, enabling guests to use their room key to charge …

53 international sports ministers met in Glasgow to discuss development and integrity of sports in developing countries. The ongoing meetings took place before the opening of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and has been named by officials as the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting. The meeting between international ministers focused on the development of professional sports in underprivileged nations within the …

Britain’s Labour Party announced it was considering imposing new tax levies on online betting and Premier League TV incomes, in order to support grass root sports in the UK.  The Party issued a public mandate on Thursday, outlining measures and policy ideas to raise capital for UK sports. The Labour Party, leading in national opinion polls before next May’s national …

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 …

Melbourne newspaper The Age reports that the AFL will consider a new gambling partnership, once their existing Tabcorp deal expires. It’s believed that BetEasy or William Hill Australia could be lined up to replace the wagering and gaming giant, whose brands include the likes of TAB in NSW and Victoria. However, Chief Operating Officer Craig Nugent believes the firm is in a strong position to extend the contract beyond 2015, with rumours …

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 …

Irish horseracing industry statistics for the first half of 2014 report improvement across many areas with yearly increases in bloodstock sales, racecourse attendances, new owners, Tote turnover and prize-money. However, the number of active owners remains a concern, according to Horse Racing Ireland.Bloodstock sales at public auction grew for the fifth consecutive time with turnover up by almost 42 per cent …