World Snooker Tour is delighted to announce Midnite as the new official UK betting and casino partner of the Halo World Championship.

Snooker’s greatest event, the Halo World Championship, will run from April 19th to May 5th at the Crucible in Sheffield.

Kyren Wilson will be defending the title in a field of 32 of the world’s best players, all dreaming of lifting the famous trophy which was first contested in 1927.

The Crucible, famous across the globe as the home of the event since 1977, will be packed through the 17 days as fans flock to see the all-time greats competing for a top prize of £500,000.

A global audience of 500 million will watch the event live on BBC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, CCTV5, WST Play and many other platforms worldwide.

Midnite is one of the UK’s fastest-growing betting companies thanks to its player-first experiences and a next-generation app that brings fans closer to the games they love.

Midnite is promising to delight snooker fans by delivering a series of memorable moments throughout the 2025 World Championship, including giving away three pairs of Century Club tickets for the final session.

Midnite’s sportsbook was launched in 2018 by Nick Wright and Daniel Qu, who previously created daily fantasy sports platform Dribble in partnership with Sky Bet.

Midnite co-founder Nick Wright said: “We are dedicated to bringing fans closer to the game they love. It doesn’t get any more intimate than the fan experience at the Crucible for the World Snooker Championship, where the sport’s most unforgettable moments are created.

“Our partnership will be more than just a logo in the background. We are looking forward to unveiling a series of fan-first activities throughout the tournament and making sure Midnite is in the middle of more magical memories.”

Peter Wright, Chief Commercial Officer of WST, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Midnite for the first time on our biggest tournament. They are an ambitious brand, committed to the user experience and to bringing fans together to enhance interaction using technology which pushes boundaries. Most importantly, they place the highest priority on having fun in a responsible way on their platforms.

“They are excited to join our journey as a sport because, through the World Championship, we can offer massive exposure for Midnite’s brand on a global scale. We look forward to working with their team across the 17 days. There have been so many great moments at the Crucible, my own favourite is the last frame of the 2023 final when Luca Brecel won the title as it was incredible to see such a flamboyant young player bring the crowd to its feet with his style of snooker.”

Snooker stars’ memorable moments

Naming their favourite Crucible moments, leading stars said:

Kyren Wilson: “It has to be winning the title last year. I remember stretching for the final red and knowing that if I potted it I was World Champion. I looked up to my family and my son Finley was clenching his fist saying ‘come on!’ In the celebration afterwards I cuddled my kids and Finley shouted ‘Dad, you’ve done it, you’re World Champion!’”

Mark Selby: “Making my debut at the Crucible in 2005. I had never even been there to watch, so when I qualified for the first time it was an amazing feeling. Then I was drawn against John Higgins, so that was extra special, to walk out for the first time and to play against a legend like John.”

Neil Robertson: “In terms of a single moment, it has to be my 147 in 2022. As a kid I grew up watching the videos of Cliff Thorburn, Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan making 147s at the Crucible. It was something I always wanted to do, and when it happened my mum was in the crowd as well which made it something I will never forget.”

LFC Foundation plans to further increase its fundraising efforts and support 500,000 people a season by 2030. Now, Liverpool FC’s official betting partner Ladbrokes has announced its support for the foundation’s fundraising drive.

Ladbrokes, owned by Entain, will place a £100 accumulator charity bet for every remaining Premier League round of fixtures in 2024-25 – with a view to continue next season – starting with the Merseyside derby at Anfield on April 2.

All winnings from Ladbrokes’ charity bets will be donated to LFC Foundation at the end of the season, helping fund important programmes across several areas of impact, including health, learning and employability. On the occasions that the accumulator bets are unsuccessful, LFC Foundation will receive the value of the £100 stake as a donation.

In 2023-24, the Reds’ official charity supported more than 127,000 people and generated £92 million of social value to the Liverpool City Region, taking the total over the last four years to an impressive £284.48 million, including just under £30 million directly into the local economy. Last season for every £1 invested, LFC Foundation was able to generate a return of £13.70 back into the community.

Earlier this year, LFC Foundation launched its new long-term strategy, with the target of doubling funding and supporting more than half a million people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond by 2030.

Matt Parish, chief executive of LFC Foundation, said: “We are grateful to Ladbrokes for their support. These proceeds will go towards supporting vital programmes that help hundreds of thousands across the Liverpool City Region.

“The foundation recently launched an ambitious new strategy with the aim of supporting 500,000 people by 2030. The support of our partners is integral to the work we do and in achieving these ambitious targets, and every contribution will help us make a meaningful difference.

“With Ladbrokes’ support, we can continue to tackle social inequalities facing our communities and deliver measurable, life-changing programmes in our local communities and beyond.”

Gemma Bell, head of sponsorship at Ladbrokes, said: “We’re really happy to support LFC Foundation’s drive to double their donations. By placing these charity bets on our own behalf, we’re combining our passion for football with a meaningful commitment to give back and contributing to the foundation’s efforts to increase its impact and support more people.”

Gordon Moody, a leading charity providing support for individuals affected by gambling addiction, has partnered with No Trace to produce the upcoming short film “Terminal,” which tells the story of a young British South-Asian man grappling with addiction to fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). This collaboration aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of gambling addiction and provide support to those in need.

Terminal follows the journey of a young man called Rav, played by Jaz Singh Deol as he becomes increasingly consumed by his addiction to FOBTs. The film explores the psychological and emotional toll it takes on his relationships, his mental health and his future whilst highlighting the often-overlooked experiences of individuals from minority communities with its raw, empathetic portrayal of the struggles faced by those battling gambling addiction.

Gordon Moody CEO Monica Shafaq said: “We are thrilled to partner with Terminal to help shine a light on the challenges faced by individuals living with gambling harm, particularly within the British South-Asian community. This powerful film provides a much-needed narrative that speaks to the heart of the issue, allowing us to reach new audiences and foster a deeper understanding of the realities of gambling related harm and the stigma faced by many which prevents them from reaching out for help. At Gordon Moody, we are dedicated to offering life-changing support, and we hope this film will spark meaningful conversations for those that the film resonates with.”

Writer/Director of Terminal, Sunny Bahia, said: “Terminal is not just a film, it’s a conversation starter. Gambling addiction is a hidden struggle that often goes undiscussed, especially in communities where stigma and silence prevail. My goal with this film was to create a piece that is both artistically compelling and also socially relevant whilst remaining true to my own experiences with gambling harm. Having the support of Gordon Moody on this project has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I hope the film opens doors for more awareness, more support, and ultimately, more lives saved.”

Lead Actor, Jaz Singh Deol who plays Rav, said: “Portraying a character who develops and struggles with gambling addiction was both challenging and deeply meaningful. Preparing for the role has opened my eyes to an issue that affects millions, yet remains largely invisible. I hope this film helps break the stigma around addiction and encourages more people to seek help. It’s been an honour to bring this important story to life and to collaborate with Gordon Moody.”

Gordon Moody is hosting an exclusive private media screening and panel discussion on Thursday 10 April. The screening will take place at the Birmingham Odeon Cinema from 2 pm.