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HBA Media Partners with Genius Sports

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HBA Media announced a new partnership with Genius Sports to launch “Crown Jewels Racing Fantasy” (CJRFantasy) – the first international horse racing fantasy game.

As the established leader in the international distribution of horse racing media rights, HBA Media works with broadcasters worldwide representing renowned races including Royal Ascot, the Saudi Cup, the Breeders’ Cup, Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as premium UK horse racing through HBA’s partnership with Racecourse Media Group.

CJRFantasy has been launched to help unify the global horse racing calendar, providing broadcasters and their fans around the world with a new platform to enhance their knowledge, compete with family and friends, and engage with the world’s most prestigious races.

For each race, players must select three horses, designating who will finish first, second and third. Double points will be assigned to one horse chosen as captain, while players must also answer a tie-breaker question on the winning distances. Each horse is assigned an XP where the lower their score, the more likely the horse is to win the upcoming race. Horses with higher XP who win will deliver more points, encouraging players to select from the full field.

HBA Media will promote the new CJRFantasy game through the international broadcast feed across the calendar year, connecting their gamification strategy with millions of horse racing fans worldwide. On-air graphics will encourage and engage viewers in the joys of the CJRFantasy game, which offers unique raceday experiences and VIP merchandise as prizes. In addition, on-screen talent and ambassadors that include horse racing’s finest Nick Luck, Michelle Yu, Tom Stanley and Frankie Foster will also host their own competitive leagues, enabling viewers to take on the professionals.

CJRFantasy is powered by Genius Sports – a global leader in building highly interactive and engaging fantasy, trivia and predictor tools for the NFL, FIFA, World Rugby, European Tour and MLB.

Frank Sale, Managing Director for HBA Media, said: “We are continually looking for innovative and exciting ways to promote, engage and connect with new and existing audiences. Working in partnership with Genius Sports has enabled us to provide our clients (racecourses, federations and broadcasters) with a powerful and entertaining interactive tool. We are delighted to be able to launch CJRFantasy for the prestigious Dubai World Cup this Saturday.”

Judd Goldstein, Global Commercial Lead, Fan Engagement at Genius Sports, said: “HBA Media plays a central role at the heart of the global horse racing ecosystem, and we’re thrilled to be helping them directly connect with fans around the world. CJRFantasy will bring the world’s showcase horse races into one connected free-to-play gaming destination, allowing horse racing fans to engage with the sport like never before.”

The post HBA Media Partners with Genius Sports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Carlo Santarelli

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations

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Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. announced that Carlo Santarelli has been appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations, a new position at the Company. Mr. Santarelli will begin his new position on August 18, 2025 and will report to GLPI President and Chief Operating Officer, Brandon Moore.

Mr. Santarelli brings over 25 years of Wall Street experience in Equity Research and Investment Banking to his new role and joins the Company from Deutsche Bank where he was Managing Director of Gaming & Lodging Equity Research. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr. Santarelli held similar positions at Bear Stearns, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. He consistently ranked highly in Institutional Investor and other sell-side analyst research polls as a thought leader in the space, providing unique perspectives on industry events and trends with his data-driven approach and stock picking talent. Carlo Santarelli graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics in 2000.

Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI, said: “We’ve known and respected Carlo’s research work on the gaming, lodging and gaming REIT sectors for many years. Carlo brings to GLPI an in-depth knowledge of the industry and its participants, having experienced GLPI’s original formation of the gaming triple-net-REIT structure from a research analyst and capital markets perspective. We value his deep network of contacts among institutional investors, sell-side analysts and a wide range of gaming industry operators and we look forward to the value of his contributions.”

In his new role, Mr. Santarelli will work with Mr. Carlino and GLPI’s senior management to develop and evaluate growth opportunities and strategic relationships, and will oversee investor relations interactions.

The post Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer

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VIP Play, a technology-driven leader in interactive consumer engagement, announced that Jim Mackey, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will step down from his role, effective August 8, 2025.

The Company has initiated a transition process and is in the process of identifying a successor. Mackey will assist in an orderly transition over the coming weeks.

“We thank Jim for his contributions to the Company, particularly during a transformative period for our business. We remain focused on executing our strategic priorities, including financial visibility, operating efficiency, and delivering value to our stakeholders,” said Les Ottolenghi, CEO of VIP Play.

The post VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

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Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, has partnered with StarLadder, a pioneering tournament organiser. The Budapest Major 2025 marks a highly anticipated comeback for StarLadder, as it is their first Counter-Strike Major since 2019 and a significant return to the top-tier esports arena.

As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event. This will empower organisers, teams, sponsors and fans with unparalleled transparency and a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.

Artyom Odintsov, Co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts, said: “We are thrilled and proud to provide viewership analytics for StarLadder for the Budapest Major 2025. Since both Esports Charts and StarLadder are Ukraine-born companies, we share similar values and deal with similar challenges, which brings us even closer.

“It’s genuinely exciting to follow how viewership will develop at this Major. But knowing the expertise, drive, and passion that the organizers are bringing, I have no doubt we’ll witness some incredible things happen in Budapest.

“Esports Charts has always been driven by a mission to provide the esports community with accurate, actionable data, and we look forward to showcasing the impact and audience engagement of this world-class event.”

StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 15 years now, since hosting its first tournaments in 2011. Renowned for its innovation and reliability, the company has organised some of the industry’s most iconic events. These include the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, which accumulated over 44 million hours watched and remains in the top 10 CS events by this metric, and the legendary StarSeries tournaments which started back in 2012.

Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Sales and Partnerships at StarLadder, said: “We’ve been working with Esports Charts since their founding and have always valued their professionalism and integrity. In a market where reliable data is essential, Esports Charts provides honest, transparent numbers, exactly the kind of insights sponsors and stakeholders rely on when assessing the potential reach of a World Championship event.

“We’re confident that this partnership will result in a high-quality analysis of our tournament’s performance and the audience data we’ll report to our partners. It’s a collaboration built on trust, shared values, and a deep understanding of what it takes to elevate esports to the next level.”

The Starladder Budapest Major 2025 will be held from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest, Hungary. The event will bring together the world’s top 32 Counter-Strike 2 teams to compete for a $1.25 million prize pool and one of the most prestigious titles in esports.

The post Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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