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World Pool returns to UK and Ireland with launch of £50,000 jockeys’ charity prize

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World Pool, the largest globally commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will make its UK seasonal bow at Newmarket Racecourse on Saturday 4 May, where a brand new £50,000 initiative is being launched for jockeys.

For the first time the opening two Classics of the UK Flat season will both be World Pool events, with the QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday 5 May becoming a new World Pool race this year and joining the 2000 Guineas run the day before.

Guineas weekend will also see the start of a new World Pool initiative, the World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship, where jockeys will compete to accumulate points across World Pool fixtures in the UK & Ireland.

For the winning jockey of every World Pool race in the UK and Ireland, points will be awarded based on the World Pool win dividend. The concept of this point system offers a level playing field for all jockeys, from leaders to rising stars, and their chances of winning are dictated by the public as reflected by their World Pool odds.

Beginning with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, the competition will conclude on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 19 October, with the winner receiving £50,000 to be donated to a charity of their choice.

A further new addition to the World Pool calendar this year will be the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday 26 May. The Tattersalls Gold Cup, run on the same day, will also be a World Pool race for the first time, with prize money increased from €450,000 in 2023 to €500,000 this year.

Following the successful introduction of World Pool Moment of the Year in 2022 in Great Britain and Ireland, this will continue in 2024 covering all full World Pool meetings and will reward stable staff with cash prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong for four people in 2025 to the overall winner.

One World Pool Moment of the Day will be selected at each full World Pool meeting with the winning groom receiving HK$40,000 (or equivalent – £4,000 in the UK and €4,000 in Ireland).

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “It’s fantastic to be returning to the UK and Ireland with an extended World Pool fixture list this year now featuring the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, and we look forward to making these historic fillies’ Classics available to customers from around the world.

“In addition to the popular World Moment of the Day initiative, we’re excited to announce the new World Pool UK & Ireland Jockeys’ Championship, which will provide a different dimension and further competition to World Pool racedays right up until QIPCO British Champions Day in October.

“It’s a unique competition, with a jockey’s points being determined by World Pool win dividends, and a great initiative as there’s £50,000 up for grabs for the leading rider to donate to a charity of their choice. We are committed to giving money back to racing and good causes, and this seemed the perfect way to do that.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “It’s always an exciting time of year as the Flat season gets underway and we’re delighted that both the UK’s first Classics are World Pool events. City Of Troy has the potential to be a global superstar and we look forward to his seasonal reappearance being watched and bet on by 28 countries who play into the UK’s first World Pool event of 2024.

“Racing fans in the UK and Ireland will be able to access the huge global pools at tote.co.uk, on the Tote App and at racecourses which means excellent value is on offer, while the sport benefits from this increasingly important revenue stream.”

Martin Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the media interests of The Jockey Club, Goodwood, and York Racecourses, said: “RMG looks forward to another exciting World Pool season in UK and Ireland, and will continue to work closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote and our racecourses to grow both the sport’s revenues and global appeal.”

Amy Starkey, Managing Director, Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and thank them for their support as we deliver three exciting World Pool days across the QIPCO Guineas Festival and the Betfred Derby Festival.

“For the first time in the UK, we have worked alongside World Pool to host a nine-race card on QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day. This will include the first Classic of the season, whilst we are also delighted to feature the following day’s three-year-old Classic Fillies’ race, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, as a World Pool race for the first time.

“World Pool enables strong reinvestment back into British racing and working alongside them to secure these additional races is an important step as we continue to strengthen links with Hong Kong, engage more fans with British racing and strive to grow our sport.”

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of the Curragh Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with World Pool in 2024 with the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup on 26 May and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby meeting on 30 June included in the programme.

“We had a very positive first experience with World Pool last year and look forward to building on it this year, bringing our racing to a wider audience. Irish horses have enjoyed great success internationally in recent years and we are delighted to be showcasing our best races through World Pool.

“Inclusion in World Pool has enabled us to increase prizemoney at the Curragh in 2024 and we look forward to developing this relationship further in the future.”

 

Upcoming UK and Irish World Pool events in first half of 2024: 

 

May

Saturday 4: 2000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (F)

Sunday 5: 1000 Guineas Day – Newmarket Racecourse (S)

Saturday 18: Lockinge Stakes Day – Newbury Racecourse (P)

Sunday 26: Irish 1000 Guineas Day – Curragh Racecourse (P)

 

June

Saturday 1: Derby Stakes Day – Epsom Racecourse (F)

Tuesday 18: Queen Anne Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Wednesday 19: Prince of Wales’s Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Thursday 20: Gold Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Friday 21: Commonwealth Cup Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Saturday 22: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Day – Ascot Racecourse (F)

Sunday 30: Irish Derby Day – Curragh Racecourse (F)

 

*F: Full meeting – World Pool coverage on all races in the relevant meeting
P: Part meeting – World Pool coverage only on selected races in the relevant meeting

S: Single race – World Pool coverage only on this race in the relevant meeting

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2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award

AGS Wins 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award

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AGS has announced that it has been named a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award winner. Recognized for its commitment to fostering an exceptional, people-first culture, AGS ranked in the Top 28% of companies in the 500-999 employee category, placing the company in the Top 100 of companies in this size category across America.

The USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes organizations for their commitment to creating outstanding workplace environments that prioritize employee engagement and satisfaction. AGS’ strong performance in this year’s awards is based on authentic employee feedback gathered through a confidential survey conducted by a third-party, HR research and technology company.

“We’re really proud to be recognized as a Top Workplace. What makes this award so meaningful is that it comes from feedback directly from our employees across all of our U.S. offices. It shows the commitment, passion, energy and teamwork they bring every day. At AGS, we’re all about creating a culture where people can thrive, grow, and be themselves—and this award just proves that we’re doing something right. I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve built and the culture we’ve created together,” said David Lopez, CEO of AGS.

The 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award adds to AGS’ impressive list of accolades, including being recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024 for Oklahoma, Las Vegas, and Atlanta, as well as earning the prestigious Best and Brightest Companies to Work For 2024 award both nationally and in Atlanta.

AGS’ dedication to its people-first culture is reflected in its ongoing focus on employee engagement, professional development opportunities, competitive benefits, and work-life balance. These efforts have helped AGS create an environment where employees are motivated and empowered to perform at their best.

The post AGS Wins 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA Award appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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BCLC Launches “What’s played here stays here” Campaign

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BCLC’s new “What’s played here stays here” campaign is issuing an important reminder to British Columbians who choose to gamble – specifically that all net profit its operations generate stays in B.C. to help fund critical services like education, health care and community programs.

The campaign also reinforces that all other gambling websites operating in B.C. are illegal and take away funds from critical community programs and services.

“Across B.C. and Canada, we’ve seen incredible groundswell around the importance of buying and supporting local, and that’s no different for British Columbians who choose gambling for their entertainment. We want our B.C. players to know they can find a world-class gambling experience in their own backyard, whether it’s at one of our 33 casinos, 3,400 lottery retailers, or online at PlayNow.com, and that the proceeds from their play with BCLC make a positive impact at home in their community,” Pat Davis, President and CEO of BCLC, said.

Along with illegal online gambling websites, BCLC also competes with Washington State and Las Vegas casinos, all of which aggressively market to B.C. residents.

“BCLC continues to raise awareness that these gambling options do not support B.C.’s economy and take away funds from vital provincial and community-based programs and services. In a time when British Columbians are standing united, we want to reinforce that playing together with BCLC helps make B.C. even better,” Pat Davis added.

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AGS

AGS – Pioneering the future of omni-channel gaming

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Zoe Ebling, VP of Interactive at AGS

In today’s rapidly evolving gaming landscape, the potential to deliver entertaining experiences across both digital and physical platforms has become a real advantage, especially in markets where land-based still reigns supreme. Suppliers that operate both in the land-based and online sphere, have a real competitive edge. This is something that AGS has recognised and therefore positioned itself at the forefront of omni-channel gaming. By combining the best of both worlds, innovative online offerings with the proven success of land-based gaming, AGS is setting new industry benchmarks that many competitors have yet to achieve.

Unique capability

Omni-channel gaming isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires a specialized approach that bridges the gap between online players and brick-and-mortar players in environments where both exist. AGS’s strategy is built on the understanding that while many suppliers excel in either digital or land-based sectors, very few can successfully merge the two.

Having a portfolio that spans both realms allows suppliers to blend time-tested content with innovative digital features, resulting in a richer, more dynamic experience that drives player loyalty and boosts in-game engagement.

Traditional gaming floors have long been a cornerstone of player engagement, and AGS has built on this foundation by adapting its best-selling titles for the digital space. This approach is working particularly well in North America, where players are often already familiar with the games offered on the casino floors, and appreciate a similar experience on their digital devices. But the portfolio is also performing well in mature European markets where video slots are more prominent, highlighting the appeal that the flair of Vegas has around the globe.

Merging innovation with expertise

At the heart of AGS’s omni-channel evolution is its forward-thinking interactive studio. Operating as a distinct entity while enjoying robust support from the broader AGS infrastructure, the interactive team embodies the agile startup mentality that fuels rapid innovation.

This dedicated division has been instrumental in orchestrating coordinated efforts between online and land-based teams to deliver integrated solutions. One such example is the first-of-its-kind simultaneous launch of its Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey® game at Caesars Atlantic City and Caesars Palace Online Casino in 2024. This pioneering move has been followed by additional omni-channel event opportunities with other operators, underscoring the appeal and strength of having games live in both verticals at the same time.

Through regular cross-departmental collaboration, the studio has now refined processes that allow for synchronised development timelines and optimised game placement strategies, ensuring that every launch not only meets but exceeds player expectations.

Shaping the future of gaming

The success of AGS’s omni-channel initiatives is more than just a series of isolated achievements, it signals a broader shift in the industry. As player preferences evolve and technology continues to advance, the integration of online and physical gaming experiences will become an increasingly important tool for operators and suppliers alike.

Despite hundreds of new online games being launched every week, many with innovative mechanics and features, there is still great value in the more traditional content offered on casino floors.

A large demographic of online players prefer this type of content, cementing the opportunities presented for land-based suppliers to venture into the digital realm, by bringing their proven classics to online casinos.

Although it still has its challenges, the expertise, time and resources invested into developing a game for cabinets indicates that the supplier really believes in the content and porting it online should be a natural part of that process.

For game developers operating in both the online and land-based spheres, the advantages are significant. This dual-market approach not only offers a competitive edge over online-only studios, but also ensures that titles originally popular in casinos continue to dominate the slot rankings for years to come.

 

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