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Gambling in the USA

Online betting pioneer creates another first with live virtual racing products

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5 years ago

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Betinternet founder Vincent Caldwell behind Virtual Live Racing’s regulated digital tote betting products for USA

A new concept in live virtual racing products has been created which features fully rendered replicas of real tracks, stunning graphics, and results based on historical race data in partnership with leading American racetrack venues.

Virtual Live Racing is a global first because races are based on anonymised and encrypted data from real-life thoroughbred, harness and greyhound races – a huge leap forward compared to RNG (Random Number Generator) products that are currently offered by legacy market suppliers.

A number of tracks are live including Derby Lane and Tampa Bay Downs in Florida. Five other tracks are signed and are soon to be launched, including Hawthorne in Chicago, and Parx in Philadelphia. The product is available to all tote systems in the US via distribution through Amtote International’s Spectrum betting system which is the leading technology tote provider in the USA which enables tracks to accept wagers from players and create a brand new risk-free revenue stream.

Virtual Live Racing has been created by Isle of Man-based company Virtual Software which has a proven track record of innovation in digital product development for the pari-mutuel or fixed odds betting industries. Chairman Vincent Caldwell started one of the world’s first online wagering companies (betinternet – licensed in the Isle of Man) which then went on to become the first such company to list on the London Stock Exchange.

The launch of VLR is the result of several years’ hard work by their highly experienced executive team which, along the way, has led to some truly historic milestones for the industry. Most notably these include a State of Oregon Legislature Senate Bill which made history by granting regulatory approval for virtual racing products.

Caldwell said: “While virtual racing products operate in over 40 countries and are very much a mainstream wagering product with billions of dollars bet on them each year, we have identified a niche opportunity for a unique product. We’ve developed a real-time rendering engine deployed to deliver horse, harness and greyhound racing with high quality graphics and animations. Unlike other products, our technology ensures that a racetrack’s intellectual property in the form of historic race data is anonymised and encrypted so outcomes cannot be known prior to the race being run. We believe that Virtual Live Racing products, which are built on a pari-mutuel wagering model, have a massive potential because it allows market access into an existing $11billion USA pari-mutuel wagering market, and other access points into international regulated racing markets valued at $100billion.”

VLR has a strong executive team with a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. Dave Mousley is Chief Creative Officer, and Angus Wood, Chief Software Architect. Dave, of Island Broadcasting Media Limited, was the co-founder of Red Vision which created the world’s first major virtual racing products. Those products currently generate more than $8billion gross gaming revenue annually. He led his team to win two BAFTA and two Royal Television Society awards for technical and creative innovation. Dave and his team were twice nominated for Emmy awards in the United States for computer graphics and virtual effects.

Angus, also of Island Broadcasting Media Limited, was formerly CTA at Inspired Gaming where, following the acquisition of Red Vision, he oversaw their growth to become the leading developer of online virtual racing products. His role included responsibility for the technical development and security operations of over 90,000 wagering terminals and machines as well as substantial server-based wager testing. VLR is represented in the US by Derby Lane and their executive team, and VLR’s Business Development Consultant Joey D Michaels who is responsible for building relationships with track owners and online Account Deposit Wagering (ADW) betting operators to drive expansion into tracks, casinos, and off-track betting outlets.

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ABBIATI Casino Equipment

Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas

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4 days ago

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July 4, 2025

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Abbiati Casino Equipment, a globally recognised leader in premium casino equipment and technologies, announced a strategic partnership with Hawkins Holdings to strengthen its presence across North and South America. As part of this initiative, seasoned gaming executive Roger Hawkins has been appointed Brand Ambassador and Strategic Consultant for the Americas.

With more than 20 years of executive leadership in the global casino and gaming industry, Hawkins will spearhead the company’s efforts to expand its footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere. His role will include market development, strategic partnerships, regulatory positioning, and the promotion of Abbiati’s legacy of Italian innovation, craftsmanship, and integrity.

“This partnership is about more than market entry – it’s about building deeper awareness, driving product adoption, and reinforcing Abbiati’s commitment to quality across every pit and poker room in the hemisphere,” said Hawkins.

Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said: “We have proudly served clients in the Americas for many years, but the time is right to deepen our focus. Roger’s knowledge of our products and his insight into the market make him the ideal partner to lead this next phase.”

The post Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – June 16-22

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2 weeks ago

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June 24, 2025

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

PrizePicks announced it has been Certified by Great Place To Work for the first time — a prestigious recognition based on employee feedback about their experience working at the company. Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours proven to drive business performance. According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified workplace. Team members at Certified companies are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work and are twice as likely to feel they are paid fairly and have equal opportunities for advancement.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued cease-and-desist orders to five illegal online gambling operators—BoVegas Casino, BUSR, Cherry Gold Casino, Lucky Legends and Wager Attack Casino—after discovering they were targeting Michigan residents without proper licenses. These operators are violating Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and the Michigan Penal Code. The MGCB’s investigations found that these sites have been accepting wagers and deposits from Michigan residents on sports events, slots, blackjack and other casino games—all without the oversight and safeguards required by law. Players using these platforms face unreliable payouts, unfair gaming practices and have no legal recourse in case of disputes.

ZOOT, a sweepstakes gaming platform bringing video game sensibilities to iGaming entertainment, announced it has raised $6 million in seed funding led by CoinFund, one of the world’s first cryptonative investment firms, with participation from Griffin Gaming Partners to expand the current US-focused business to a global-facing, stablecoin-driven one. The investment further grows the opportunities for instant, borderless payments in digital entertainment as stablecoin adoption surges past $239 billion in circulation, with payment giants like Visa and PayPal racing to integrate crypto rails for faster, cheaper transactions. ZOOT is building an iGaming platform that pioneers a new approach to iGaming that combines the engagement of video games with the efficiency of blockchain-based payments.

Partnerships

Maverick Games has launched sports betting operations in Ontario, through a partnership with Delasport. Maverick Games will offer Ontarian players a premium sports betting experience, built on Delasport’s superior technology and known for its unique innovative features that players love including personalisation, recommendations, gamification, quick bets, player engagement features and more. Maverick Games is the second brand to launch on Delasport’s technology in Ontario, with another full turnkey brand set to go live soon. Delasport also recently unveiled its innovative sports betting jackpot network game, SuperPot.

International Game Technology PLC announced that it recently signed a new, three-year sports betting technology agreement with Boyd Gaming Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, IGT’s award-winning PlaySports platform will continue powering Boyd Gaming’s retail and mobile sports betting offering in Nevada through August 2028. The new agreement builds on IGT and Boyd Gaming’s long-standing sports betting technology partnership that started in 2018. In addition to using the IGT PlaySports platform, Boyd Gaming will continue to offer IGT’s PlaySports Kiosks at its 10 retail betting locations across Nevada.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – June 16-22 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris

Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

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2 weeks ago

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June 23, 2025

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Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.

Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.

The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.

The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.

The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:

• 4300 slot machines

• 100 table games

• 11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, café, and grab-and-go outlet

• A players lounge

• 11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar

• A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces

The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.

“This casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.

Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.

The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.

“Once again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nation’s efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,” Harris said.

Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.

The post Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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