Press Releases
70% of UK Punters Have Continued To Bet Throughout Lockdown, Freebets.com Survey Finds
Horse racing was by far the most popular sport to bet on, despite the closure of UK and Irish racecourses; 40% said they bet on Esports and Virtual Sports
Freebets.com, a leading UK betting comparison site, owned and operated by XLMedia today released an informative survey outlining the state of the UK’s online betting market during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The report reveals intriguing insights into the areas that have continued to thrive, with over 70% of British bettors continuing to place bets despite the temporary suspension of almost all major professional sports.
The survey questioned visitors to the freebets.com site between April 6 and April 26, 2020 and found that horse racing was by far the most popular sport to bet on, with 34.5% of respondents saying they were still placing wagers on international racing.
Despite UK and Irish courses being closed as of mid-March, racing carried on in countries including Australia, the US and Sweden.
The survey also showcased the rise in prominence of Esports and virtual sports, as betters embraced these new categories. A significant 40% of players said that they have now betted on these computer-based sporting options.
Stuart Simms, XLMedia PLC Group CEO said, “The results of this survey have been particularly encouraging, illustrating how our customers have continued to enjoy betting on sports at this time. The popularity of Esports and Virtual Sports stand out as the data suggests that these new categories have begun to cement their position as viable betting options.”
Somewhat surprisingly, football also remained an attractive proposition for betting fans as 25% said they were continuing to bet on the beautiful game, even though the only live games were from less popular leagues such as the Belarusian Premier League and Nicaraguan Primera Division.
The full survey results can be found at https://www.freebets.com/freebets-com-survey-online-betting-during-the-covid-19-crisis/.
Latest News
QiH Group completes C-suite hiring spree with new CFO appointment
QiH Group has been in the betting and gaming trade press frequently for its exciting yet steady growth the past few months – mainly in scouting and appointing the best-in-class talent from within the industry.
The latest talent acquisition in the iGaming group’s repertoire is finance and industry stalwart Simon Winder, who joins after seven years with Spotlight Sports Group (SSG). Winder, who has an impressive record in finance, including half a decade with the Football Association as well as time in the music and television industry.
As part of the new C-suite layer in the UK side of QiH’s business, Winder will use his growth-oriented financial expertise to support the business’s rapid growth, set out longer-term finance strategies and work with each department to achieve overall P&L goals.
Jamie Walters, CEO and co-founder of QiH Group, said that Winder’s appointment completes the C-level scaling the business set out to achieve at the beginning of FY 2024-2025.
“We’ve made no secret of the fact that our business is growing fast. FY2023 delivered 75 percent growth in both revenue and profit and 2024 is on track to achieve the same again,” Walters explains. “Simon is an integral part of the formula we need to support this growth and to help take QiH Group into the next phase of our business. Massive thanks to our incredible HR Director, Andrea Talreja, and her incisive and insightful executive search that has brought us the support at C-level that we need to forge ahead.”
Winder, who will take up his post 1 November 2024, said: “After a wonderful and rewarding seven years with SSG, it’s great to be moving to a young company with the reputation for innovation, growth and compliance that QiH Group has. Having watched the affiliate’s progress from the outside these past four years, it will be extremely fulfilling to be part of the action!”
Winder joins newly appointed CMO David Murphy, CTO Sachin Saxena and COO Andrew Lee in managing the company from the London office, but across both the Skopje and London teams.
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For more information on QiH, Simon or to arrange an interview, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
About QiH Group
Founded in 2014, QiH is an innovative and industry-leading digital marketing business in the iGaming industry. With offices in London, UK and Skopje, North Macedonia, we specialise in digital marketing within the iGaming industry in multiple markets around the globe. Our companies include: Digital Adventures, with its suite of iGaming aggregator brands that deliver traffic to the biggest operators in the industry; Wizard Interactive, an affiliate partner for top-tier US-based online casinos looking for high-quality traffic and Tau Marketing Services, a suite of three consumer-facing, multi-geo casino brands run through the Aspire network.
The post QiH Group completes C-suite hiring spree with new CFO appointment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
VIRGIN BET AND PRESENTING STAR NATALIE PIKE BRING ‘WOMEN’S DAY’ TO DONCASTER RACECOURSE
Virgin Bet is excited to announce the second iteration of its ‘Women’s Day’ event, which will take place at the Virgin Bet November Handicap on Saturday, 9th November, at Doncaster Racecourse.
The day will serve as a platform to celebrate women in racing, making it the latest effort in Virgin Bet’s long line of social impact initiatives to help create a more inclusive environment.
Building on the success of the inaugural Women’s Day at Ayr Racecourse last season, this celebration aims to further highlight and honour the invaluable contributions of women in racing.
The event at Doncaster Racecourse is open to everyone, embodying Virgin Bet’s brand mission, ‘A Good Bet’. This campaign emphasises the brand’s dedication to breaking down pre-existing barriers within sports and culture at large.
As part of the day’s proceedings, in addition to enjoying Doncaster’s spectacular race offerings, attendees can attend two panels led by presenter Natalie Pike, with the first starting at 10:45 am in the Exhibition Hall. Combining celebration with insight, these discussions will encourage reflection and spark conversation, connecting racing fans with legendary women transforming horse racing while also addressing diversity in the sport.
Panellists will include:
Panel 1: Women of Horse Racing
- Sophie Green (Trainee Clerk of the Course, Southwell Racecourse)
- Charlotte Russel (General Manager, Go Racing In Yorkshire)
- Rachel Harwood (Executive Director, Doncaster Racecourse)
Panel 2: Creative Inclusivity in Racing
- Dawn Goodfellow (CEO, Racing Welfare)
- Emma Kay (Founder, WalkSafe)
Additionally, as part of Virgin Bet’s raceday sponsorship, a donation will be made to Racing Welfare. Their work ensures the well-being and success of British horseracing’s workforce. Virgin Bet’s support for Racing Welfare highlights the importance of giving back to the community that keeps the industry running.
The Virgin Bet November Handicap marks the beginning of Virgin Bet’s continued partnership with Arena Racing Company (ARC) for a series of key meetings throughout the 2024/25 season. This partnership extends to fellow LiveScore Group brand LiveScore Bet.
Virgin Bet’s Personal Safety Partner, WalkSafe, will also be integrated into the race day. Founded in 2020, WalkSafe was developed to give the public as much information about their surroundings as possible. The app, WalkSafe+, enables users to plan the safest route home, along with a host of additional features to help ensure a safer experience for all.
Racegoers will be able to learn more about the innovative and free-to-download app over the course of the raceday, and get the chance to speak with its founder, Emma Kay, who strives every day to educate and highlight the importance of safety in all walks of life. Emma will also feature on one of the panels, sharing her insights and experiences as part of the discussions.
This second iteration of Women’s Day, now making its debut at Doncaster, serves as a potential alternative to traditional Ladies’ Day. Virgin Bet, in partnership with Doncaster Racecourse, is proud to continue fostering a celebratory environment, reminding everyone that racing truly welcomes all.
Dominic Vye, Marketing Director, Virgin Bet, said:
“Horse racing owes much of its success to the incredible women who contribute so much behind the scenes, and it’s time we celebrate their achievements. At Virgin Bet, as part of our ‘A Good Bet’ brand campaign, we want to make sport more accessible and highlight brilliance, no matter who the subject is, and this initiative is doing exactly that.”
Presenter and ‘Women’s Day Sponsored by Virgin Bet’ collaborator, Natalie Pike, added:
“It’s been amazing to return and once again be part of this fantastic initiative with the teams at Virgin Bet and Doncaster Racecourse. I hope this year’s event will continue to inspire and uplift the incredible women in horse racing. Creating an inclusive and safe environment for everyone in the sport is so important, and I’m proud to help bring attention to that.”
Rachel Harwood, Executive Director of Doncaster Racecourse, continued:
“We are proud to celebrate Women’s Day here at Doncaster Racecourse. This initiative shines a spotlight on the essential role women play in our sport. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to remind everyone that racing is for everyone, and we hope all racegoers feel that sense of inclusivity and belonging.”
“We’re also delighted to have Virgin Bet’s Personal Safety Partner WalkSafe integrated as part of their sponsorships with us. The experience and safety for all spectators at our racecourses is a priority, so it’s fantastic to see this as part of Virgin Bet’s ‘A Good Bet’ initiatives, which aims to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
To purchase tickets, please visit: www.tickets.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
The post VIRGIN BET AND PRESENTING STAR NATALIE PIKE BRING ‘WOMEN’S DAY’ TO DONCASTER RACECOURSE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BMM Testlabs
Panel on the benefits of regulation in the Mexican iGaming market
On November 6, the iGaming industry in Mexico is preparing for a key event in which the benefits and challenges that regulation has brought to the Mexican market will be discussed. Under the title “Benefits of Regulation in the Mexican Market”, this panel will offer an in-depth look at the impact of regulation on transparency, competition and consumer protection, critical issues in the new digital era of iGaming.
The event, moderated by Geraldine Alexandra García Torres, Media Manager of Digital Gaming News, will feature the participation of recognized figures in the sector such as Daniel Magariños, representative of BMM Testlabs, and Hermilo Peregrina Cabrera of Prometeo IT Solutions. Both panelists will contribute their extensive knowledge and experience in regulation and certification in the Mexican market, and will analyze with the public the challenges and opportunities that companies face in an increasingly competitive and regulated context.
BMM Testlabs, who will participate as a Gold Sponsor, underlines with its sponsorship the importance of regulation to strengthen the iGaming sector in Mexico and demonstrates its commitment to progress and transparency in the Mexican market. For its part, Kushki joins as a Silver Sponsor, promoting the dialogue and analysis necessary for the industry.
Daniel Magariños, from BMM Testlabs, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in this digital webinar: “It has been a pleasure to be able to share our comments as a Laboratory on a market like the Mexican one and exchange opinions with a reference like Hermilo and the company Prometeo IT Solutions, with its excellent track record in this market. A relaxed talk with a lot of learning that I hope will be interesting for the attendees.”
For his part, Hermilo Peregrina, from Prometeo IT Solutions, highlighted the relevance of these spaces for dialogue: “Thank you to Conferencias iGaming for the invitation to participate in this panel. Thanks to Geraldine for coordinating us, and it was a pleasure to share ideas and opinions with my friend Daniel from BMM Testlabs, who has extensive experience in international regulations and certifications.”
Sponsor Support
The panel has the support of important sponsors who recognize the relevance of regulation in the development of the iGaming market in Mexico. Among them, BMM Testlabs as Gold Sponsor, and Kushki as Silver Sponsor.
Event Details:
Date: November 6
Time: 10:00 a.m. (Mexico)
Registration: Register here
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this essential conversation for the future of the industry. Secure your place and access a key analysis on the dynamic iGaming market in Mexico!
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