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XB Net unlocks premium horse racing content for IZIBET in Malta

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XB Net, the leading provider of premium horse racing content across the Americas, has further broadened its international footprint with the announcement of its latest digital distribution rights deal with established Malta-based operator, IZIBET.

IZIBET is the renowned retail brand of lottery operator IZI Group, with over 200 retail sites across Malta. IZI Group operates the island’s iconic Dragonara Casino and, since 5th July 2022, the National Lottery of Malta.

The agreement offers XB Net’s delivery of live pictures, data and betting services from an unrivalled network of tracks in North America, furnishing IZIBET with a highly-flexible programming schedule, supported by a steady stream of rapid-cycling wagering opportunities that are proven to increase digital dwell-time for new and existing customers.

These racing rights are founded upon core premium content from the majority of North American racetracks, which also grant IZIBET and its loyal customer-base access to more global highlights, including January’s Pegasus World Cup, two legs of the world-famous Triple Crown (featuring the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes) and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This daily timetable of engaging action supplies IZIBET with a reliable source of fast-settling racing content at both primetime and off-peak viewing slots.

XB Net stands alone as the proven pacesetter for horse racing content across the Americas, providing rights, data, live broadcast and video streaming on behalf of its growing global portfolio of partners. It retains a sought-after ability to offer players both pari-mutuel and intelligible fixed-odds in lockstep, which it does outside of the United States.

Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President International at XB Net, said: “It’s fantastic to break new ground in Malta with such a recognisable brand as IZIBET. This partnership adds more muscle to our strategy of selecting the right brands across key international territories, helping to grow the sport and return the value to racing’s stakeholders. IZIBET is a trusted ‘go-to’ operator in Malta, as befits the local national lottery brand. And this announcement also offers us unrivalled access to a thriving retail market. We’re thrilled to be able to deliver the best racing products on the market to even more bettors.”

“It’s an exciting time to be continuing to grow our global audience and products, with our core North American racing service now ably abetted by some cracking racing from Australia and South America. IZIBET’s diligent and innovative team give us the confidence to evolve and expand this collaboration as 2023 unfolds.”

Franco De Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer at National Lottery plc, added: “We are delighted to have concluded this agreement with XB NET” as through this agreement IZIBET, which since 5th July 2022, has become the official sports betting brand of the National Lottery, will offer the most comprehensive horse and dog racing betting services in Malta, comparable to the rich offering provided by leading international betting providers. Our players can now avail themselves of races from the early hours of the morning till late in the evening when the roster of races from the Americas kicks in. This is in line with our customer charter which is built on our promise to provide the market with the richest and most enticing product offering possible.”

XB Net is now a key product of 1/ST Content, the innovative operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies. 1/ST is the biggest racing company in North America, with a mission statement committed to redefining and supporting Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it.

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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

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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