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BRIT & IRISH WORLD POOL BETTING DAYS GROW 44% IN 2022

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Great Britain and Ireland’s 17 World Pool days grew 44% in 2022 with a Gross Turnover of £521 million, up from £363 million in 2021.

Each of the World Pool racedays, commencing with QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day and running through the major summer festivals, concluding at QIPCO British Champions Day, have enjoyed significant double-digit growth. The final World Pool day of the year was QIPCO British Champions Day which saw Gross Turnover growing 43% to £27.9 million compared to 2021 levels.

The growth in World Pool has been generated through more bet types being available, along with closer collaboration on optimising the race programme to ensure strong field sizes of 7+ horses wherever possible. This ensures all bet types are available to racing fans around the globe which, combined with more investment in marketing and production, has grown turnover and increased the financial returns World Pool makes to the sport.

World Pool was created by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and is a collaboration of over 20 pool betting operators from around the globe.  The result is huge liquidity, and a multi-million pound betting experience for racing fans. Not only does World Pool help further internationalise the sport and shine the global spotlight on participating racecourses, but it also generates critical betting revenue and increased media rights for the underlying racing industry.

Exceptional Value for British and Irish Tote customers on World Pool days

In the UK and Ireland, World Pool is accessed via the Tote. Bets can be placed on World Pool events at the racecourse, online at tote.co.uk (or tote.ie for Irish customers), as well as at the Tote App or via bookmakers, the majority of whom accept Tote bets online and in shops.

All customers betting with the Tote, both online or at the racecourse, not only benefit from World Pool, but also benefit from Tote Guarantee which ensures all Win bets will always match the Starting Price, or exceed it if the pool price is bigger. Customers betting directly with the Tote online receive an extra 10% boost on winning bets via Tote+.

The Tote once again offered customers exceptional value across the six races at QIPCO British Champions Day:

  • Tote+ Win beat SP in 4 of the 6 races (and matched on the remaining 2 with Tote Guarantee in place)
  • Tote+ Win overround was 107% vs the industry Starting Price overround of 121%
  • Tote+ Exacta beat Forecast on 5 out of 6 races
  • Tote+ Trifecta beat Tricast on 2 out of 6 races, with the Tote+ Trifecta paying £39,094 versus a Tricast of £10,659 in the final race

Across the summer World Pool has provided unique and exceptional value to British and Irish customers:

  • Tote+ SP has beaten industry SP 73% of the time
  • A £10 bet on all winners across the 17 World Pool days with Tote+ would generate £2,333 more than placing those bets at Industry SP
  • Tote+ overround was 104% compared to 121% industry SP
  • The Tote+ Exacta has beaten the Forecast 85% of the time
  • The Tote+ Trifecta has beaten the Tricast 74% of the time

Annabel Willis and Alpinista crowned World Pool “Moment of the Year”

On QIPCO British Champions Day, Annabel Willis was presented with a cheque for £34,000 in the paddock at Ascot ahead of racing for her to share with her colleagues at Sir Mark Prescott’s yard.

After thousands of votes, Annabel and Alpinista were the most popular choice with racing fans for the filly’s stunning performance in the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks at the Ebor Festival in August.

The other three finalists, as decided by an industry panel, were all presented with a memento at Ascot:

  • Reg Todd who led up Dark Shift to win the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. Reg has worked for Charlie Hills for over 30 years – and this was his first time leading up a Royal Ascot winner.
  • Ricky Hall who led up Baaeed when he recorded his stunning 10th consecutive win in the Juddmonte International at York.
  • Satrejeet Jhingree who led up Highfield Princess when she landed her second Group 1 in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

All 16 members of racing staff who won World Pool Moment of the Day through the season received £1,000 and a bottle of champagne.

Global collaboration continues to grow World Pool  

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “We are delighted to see British and Irish World Pool days grow so strongly this year with the sporting action proving increasingly popular with racing fans, who appreciate seeing the best horses and jockeys competing at a wide variety of fantastic racecourses. We have enjoyed working in collaboration with our racecourse partners, Racecourse Media Group and the UK Tote, and we look forward to continuing to work together as we make plans for the 2023 season.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “Everyone at the UK Tote is enormously proud to be part of World Pool as it continues to grow, thereby increasing both the financial return it contributes to British and Irish racing and the excellent value it creates for racing fans betting with the Tote. The implicit ambition of World Pool is to ensure an additive and more sustainable funding mechanism for horseracing, with wagering customers enjoying an improved value proposition.

“I would like to thank the teams at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, our racecourse partners and Racecourse Media Group for ensuring the 2022 World Pool season was such a success in Britain and Ireland. I would also like to offer my appreciation and thanks to the connections of horses who have won and competed in World Pool races this year given the support of owners, trainers and jockeys is an essential part of World Pool’s growth in 2023 and beyond.”

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Representatives from AGRESE and LOTESE Visits Lottopar

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On July 3rd and 4th, the Paraná State Lottery (Lottopar) received at its headquarters representatives from the Sergipe State Public Services Regulatory Agency (AGRESE) and the Sergipe State Lottery (LOTESE), on an institutional visit aimed at exchanging experiences and technical in-depth study on the regulation, operation and control model of state lottery activity.

During the two-day event, visitors learned in detail about the regulatory framework built by Lottopar, the systems adopted to ensure the traceability and security of operations, the criteria for accrediting operators and laboratories, and the responsible gaming and anti-money laundering policies implemented since the organization’s founding.

“We are delighted to welcome AGRESE and LOTESE. We believe that the development of state lotteries necessarily involves this type of technical cooperation, where successful experiences can be shared and adapted to the needs of each federative entity. The Lottopar model is constantly evolving, and it is a pleasure to be able to contribute to other states that, like Sergipe, demonstrate a commitment to serious, safe, and responsible regulation,” Lottopar CEO Daniel Romanowski said.

The exchange of information between states is essential for consolidating a safer, more efficient national lottery environment aligned with international best practices. The visit also reinforces the importance of joint action between regulatory agencies and state lotteries in formulating effective public policies.

AGRESE CEO Mr. Luiz Hamilton Santana de Oliveira said: “The institution is very honored and pleased to have hosted this technical visit, as it was a very productive two days, where we were able to further enhance our knowledge. We will implement what we learned and saw here into our regulations back in Sergipe.”

Adriana França Coserva Hide, CEO of LOTESE, said: “On behalf of Loterias de Sergipe, I would like to express our deep gratitude to the Lottopar team for the warm welcome and, most importantly, congratulate them on the exemplary work they have been doing. We were impressed by the level of excellence, professionalism, and commitment to social well-being that permeates Lottopar’s entire structure and operations. This exchange of experiences was extremely enriching and reinforces our conviction that cooperation between state public lotteries is a fundamental path to strengthening the sector in Brazil. We leave here inspired and even more committed to the mission that unites us.”

The agenda concluded with technical visits to Lottopar’s strategic departments and the headquarters of accredited partners, focusing on practical observation of operations. New joint initiatives are expected to be established soon, solidifying a virtuous cycle of cooperation between Brazilian public lotteries.

The post Representatives from AGRESE and LOTESE Visits Lottopar appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Alinda van Wyk

Super Group Raises Full-Year Revenue and EBITDA Guidance After Record Q2, Announces Intention to Exit U.S. iGaming

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Super Group, the holding company for leading global online sports betting and gaming businesses Betway, a premier online sports betting brand, and Spin, a multi-brand online casino offering, provided an update for its second quarter performance, raised 2025 guidance and announced its intention to exit from the U.S. as part of an ongoing strategic review to streamline operations and enhance long-term shareholder value.

Super Group’s positive momentum over recent quarters continued in Q2 2025, with solid revenue growth across all markets. This was driven by strong sports results, improvements in pricing models, more efficient risk management, a full calendar of sporting events, record deposit levels, and ongoing robust customer engagement and retention across both casino and sports in key markets.

As a result, Super Group announced that Q2 2025 is expected to be the strongest quarter in the Group’s history. This continued and diversified strength increases confidence in the full-year outlook for 2025, and the Group is raising Ex-U.S. guidance accordingly:

• Total revenue is now expected to exceed $2.0 billion vs. prior guidance of $1.925 billion

• Total Adjusted EBITDA is now expected in excess of $480 million vs. prior guidance of $457 million

Neal Menashe, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very pleased with our performance in the second quarter, reflecting continued momentum and discipline across our core markets and further validating the strength of our operating model and brands. We remain focused on driving profitable and sustainable growth through consistent execution and continue to be super-confident in the long-term growth potential of our business.”

Super Group Announces Intention to Exit U.S. iGaming

The Group also announced that it intends to exit its U.S. iGaming operations, following a comprehensive evaluation of its global priorities, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the U.S. unit’s financial performance. The Group is currently evaluating its strategic options in this regard.

Neal Menashe said: “This is a difficult decision, particularly because our U.S. team has worked hard and made progress over recent quarters. Nonetheless, recent regulatory developments combined with ongoing assessment of capital allocation requirements have led us to believe that our stringent hurdle for return on capital will likely not be met in this market any time soon. We therefore intend to focus capital and resources on markets where we see the greatest opportunity for scalable, sustainable, profitable super growth, with a disciplined emphasis on operational efficiency.”

Alinda Van Wyk, Chief Financial Officer, said: “Various strategic exit options are under consideration. We are still early in the process but nonetheless would expect to incur a one-time cash restructuring cost of approximately $30 million – $40 million in connection with such an exit and are actively pursuing multiple efforts to minimize the impact thereof. Further details regarding these potential costs will be shared during our second quarter earnings release.”

Further insights into the Group’s performance and strategic outlook will be shared at the Investor Day on September 18, 2025, in London, UK.

The post Super Group Raises Full-Year Revenue and EBITDA Guidance After Record Q2, Announces Intention to Exit U.S. iGaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Hard Rock Heals Foundation

Hard Rock Heals Foundation Gives $250,000 in Grants to 50 Community Charities Around the World

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The Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the charitable arm of Hard Rock International, announced the distribution of $250,000 in grants to 50 local nonprofit organizations across the globe. These $5000 grants are part of the foundation’s annual commitment to help strengthen the communities in which Hard Rock operates through targeted support of impactful, grassroots initiatives.

The 2025 Hard Rock Heals Foundation Grant Program supports three focus areas:

• Mental health awareness and research

• Prevention of human trafficking and promotion of human rights

• Children’s wellness and education

The deserving, locally based organizations selected this year span 15 countries and over 40 cities, reflecting the brand’s global reach and deep community connections. From autism awareness in the Maldives and childhood educational support in Mexico, to youth wellness in Austria and support for people experiencing homelessness in Florida, the 2025 recipients exemplify purpose-driven work that uplifts communities.

“Since 2016, the Hard Rock Heals Foundation has supported hundreds of local programs focused on healing and hope. This year’s grant recipients, whether serving children, combating homelessness, or standing up for human rights, embody the spirit of our mottos: ‘Love All – Serve All’ and ‘Take Time to Be Kind,’” said Tracy Bradford, President of the Hard Rock Heals Foundation and Seminole Hard Rock Support Services.

The program empowers each Hard Rock property to nominate one charity annually. Examples of 2025 grant recipients include:

The Bowery Mission (nominated by Hard Rock Cafe New York) – Serving New Yorkers experiencing homelessness

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia (nominated by REVERB by Hard Rock Atlanta) – Granting life-changing wishes to critically ill children

Maldives Autism Association (nominated by Hard Rock Hotel Maldives) – Providing resources for children and families with autism

Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay (nominated by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa) – Supporting survivors of human trafficking

Cruz Roja Española (nominated by Hard Rock Hotel Marbella) – Offering essential care and education to underserved children

CAREER WARDROBE (nominated by Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia) – Empowering women through professional development.

The post Hard Rock Heals Foundation Gives $250,000 in Grants to 50 Community Charities Around the World appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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