Distribution deal sees leading racing provider for the Americas extend its scope into Italy’s local pool betting via governing body for horse racing

1/ST CONTENT, the pre-eminent provider of premium North and South American horse racing content and a key division of 1/ST, has continued to grow its international footprint in a new partnership with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) in the run-up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, one of the true highlights on the global racing calendar.

The deal now opens a breakthrough gateway for local pool betting on North American, South American and Turkish racing in Italy – and was soft-launched over last month’s 100th edition of the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, NJ. This milestone renewal, the pinnacle of harness racing and a format of the sport which is particularly popular with Italian racing fans, fostered immediate fan engagement, as reported by MASAF this month via https://www.grandeippicaitaliana.it/.

The agreement kicks off with the 2025 flagship finale at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Del Mar (31 October – 1 November) and brings many of the premier stateside races to Italy, including the Pegasus World Cup (24 January) and the Triple Crown contests of Preakness 151 (16 May) and the Belmont Stakes (6 June). In the aggregate, 1/ST CONTENT’s extensive content portfolio maps approximately 90% of all North American racetracks, alongside South American and Turkish venues, neatly complementing Italy’s domestic sporting action with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content between 18:00 and 05:00 CET.

Italian and North American horse racing currently enjoy a strong reciprocal bond, thanks to three of Italy’s leading jockeys in Frankie Dettori, Umberto Rispoli and Antonio Fresu plying their trade in North America. These three Italian ambassadors were recently introduced to a mainstream global audience via Netflix’s acclaimed Race For The Crown.

1/ST CONTENT’s worldwide experience and customer base for pools betting features the Americas, Morocco, Italy, Singapore, Australia, Turkey, Sweden, France, New Zealand and Hong Kong. As a result, by leveraging 1/ST CONTENT’s unparalleled expertise in capturing and streaming elite live-racing events, bettors across Italy can now enjoy a best-in-breed international racing experience.

Key features of the deal include but are not limited to:

1. Comprehensive Coverage: exclusive signals of all racetracks in the United States, Canada, South America and Turkey, ensuring an extensive and diverse range of racing content for Italian audiences.
2. Cutting-Edge Technology: high-quality, immersive broadcasts, providing viewers with an unparalleled access to live racing and informative content that both engages the seasoned viewer and educates those unfamiliar with the sport.
3. Enhanced Viewer Engagement: accompanying innovative marketing strategies, promotions, and engagement initiatives, enhancing the overall viewer experience and speaking to a dedicated racing community in Italy

Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President International at 1/ST CONTENT, said: “We’re thrilled to be working as a partner with MASAF on a program to rejuvenate their horse racing audience and breathe new life into the Italian industry. Our collaboration marks a cornerstone from which we can build together to ensure that racing is competitive with other betting options and further expands 1/ST’s global reach.”

Remo Chiodi, Director General for Horse Racing at MASAF, added: “This partnership is part of a broader framework aimed at strengthening relations between Italy and the United States in the horseracing sector: it is a path that consolidates ties between the two countries, enhances both our national excellence and international achievements, and opens up new opportunities for growth and exchange. It is a step that also involves breeding and training, while highlighting the image of Italian racing excellence in the United States, represented by our most renowned jockeys competing overseas.

“Thanks to this agreement, major American racing events will be broadcast free-to-air on EQU TV, expanding the television offering and allowing betting on the races within a fully integrated system. After years of challenges, Italian racing is redefining the entire sector to restore our sport to a position of strength, both at home and abroad.”

Studio combines arcade and dice mechanics in ominous release

 Independent slots studio Thunderkick has marked its first foray into a new product vertical with the release of Heads Will Roll.

The crash game, set in an eerie underground vault, tasks players with climbing a multiplier ladder by rolling a die with three possible outcomes: level-up, Fate Mode, or game over.

The level-up icon progresses the player to the next rung of the prize ladder, boosting the available cash out, Fate Mode replaces the standard die, increasing both the number of steps climbed and the chance of landing a game over symbol, which ends the betting round instantly.

Four difficulty variants each present a unique risk level, granting the user complete control over their experience. The likelihood of rolling a game over symbol increases with each difficulty level, as does the maximum multiplier, which ranges from 35x in Easy mode up to 2,400x in Brutal mode.

Once the player moves within one or two steps of the final multiplier, the All or Nothing round is triggered. Played on a red and gold die, the number of sides is determined by the active difficulty level, and there are just two possible outcomes: maximum win or game over.

Following a successful cashout, the multiplier which would have been reached if the player kept rolling is revealed, providing a unique opportunity for the development of game strategy.

Heads Will Roll is Thunderkick’s first venture outside of the slots vertical, demonstrating the studio’s commitment to diversifying its product portfolio in alignment with the latest industry trends.

Mike Collins, Game Product Owner at Thunderkick, said: “There has been a huge increase in the number of players opting for crash and arcade-style games in 2025, with the fast-paced betting rounds providing that instant gratification they are seeking.

“Heads Will Roll marks our first step outside of the world of slots, offering Thunderkick players a distinct, action-packed experience where the player has complete autonomy over how they play.

“While the gameplay moves away from our classic slots, visually, it feels reassuringly familiar, retaining the signature Thunderkick flair.”