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UK TOTE GROUP AND HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB SIGN LANDMARK FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT
Today, the UK Tote Group and Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announce a significant new five-year agreement which will enable them to further integrate their relationship until at least the end of 2028.
The new terms will enable the UK Tote Group and HKJC to continue to build on the existing collaborative partnership which has developed significantly since the purchase of the Tote by UK Tote Group in October 2019.
One of the major successes to date has been the development and continued growth of World Pool. This is now in its fifth year, with 28 pool betting operators from around the globe commingling into a single pool operated by the HKJC for 25 high profile race meetings, including 18 in the UK and Ireland. World Pool results in enormous liquidity and a multi-million pound betting experience and better value for racing fans.
The new agreement between the parties sees the UK Tote become the exclusive pool partner for World Pool in the UK and Ireland. This will ensure collaboration on exciting developments, including new bet types and further improvements to the customer experience. World Pool is generating new funds and significant financial returns for British and Irish racing via media rights payments for participating racecourses. These funds are being used to invest into prize money to support British racing’s feature meetings. The funds generated by World Pool can be expected to accelerate as World Pool grows in future years.
In 2023 there will be 25 World Pool days, including 18 in Great Britain and Ireland between May and October, offering over £31 million in prize money. Last year, World Pool saw record global turnover of £650 million, with £521 million bet on the British and Irish race days, an increase of 44% on the previous year.
With deepening collaboration between the UK Tote and the HKJC, Tote customers in the UK and Ireland, via tote.co.uk and tote.ie plus the Tote Apps, will continue to enjoy betting into multi-million pound pools on top class racing from Hong Kong’s two racecourses, Happy Valley and Sha Tin, including FWD Champions Day in April and the LONGINES Hong Kong International races in December.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club said: “The UK Tote is our principal commingling partner, and we are very pleased to be extending our relationship for the next five years with this new agreement. The UK Tote has been instrumental in the growth of World Pool over the last four years and this new agreement underpins our very valued partnership. We look forward to continuing to work with John Williamson, Alex Frost and the whole Tote team to build on the strong platform we have created to develop the pool betting experience for racing fans around the world.”
John Williamson, Chairman of UK Tote Group said: “This is a very significant moment for the UK Tote, and for British and Irish horseracing, as we continue to develop and extend our partnership with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This new agreement enables us to accelerate our plans to grow World Pool which is proving an increasingly important revenue stream for the sport. As our partnership continues to go from strength to strength, we will continue to showcase Hong Kong’s world-class racing to a global audience, while collaborating around technology advancements and innovation, including new bet types to ensure we are collectively providing as compelling pool betting experience as possible for our customers.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Winfried and his outstanding team at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. By signing this agreement with them, we want the UK Tote to be true to its founding principles of being on the side of both horseracing and the customers, through collaboration with our international racing and pool betting partners.”
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Sterling Lotteries selects Yaspa as its primary open banking payments partner
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Yaspa, the award-winning Pay by Bank fintech, today announced a new partnership with Sterling Lotteries, the UK’s market-leading External Lottery Manager (ELM). Sterling has selected Yaspa as its primary open banking payments provider for prize-led fundraising, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient supporter payments across its charity lottery programmes.
Sterling powers weekly lotteries and raffles for 800+ UK charities, from local organisations to national causes. By integrating Yaspa, Sterling can offer a streamlined Pay by Bank experience that confirms entries in real-time, reduces processing costs, and strengthens fraud protection, thereby freeing up more funds for impact.
Yaspa’s Head of Commercial, Amie Kadhim, said: “Sterling sets a high bar for reliability, security, and supporter experience. We’re proud to power their next chapter with instant bank payments that help charities move faster, enhance engagement, and achieve more with every donation.”
The partnership aligns with Sterling’s ongoing modernisation of the charity lottery model, bringing the convenience supporters expect, while improving cashflow and operational efficiency for fundraising teams. Entry confirmation is immediate and funds settle instantly, helping charities plan with confidence and reduce admin overheads.
Richard Dixon, Managing Director at Sterling, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Yaspa to deliver an open banking solution that represents a true sector-first innovation. From the outset, it was clear that Yaspa shares Sterling’s vision for using technology to drive meaningful change in the charity lottery space. Open banking has transformed retail and financial services and now we’re bringing that same innovation to fundraising. It’s faster, more secure, and significantly more cost-effective for charities. By harnessing open banking, we offer charities a bold, efficient, and future-proof way to engage supporters, especially digital-first donors who expect a seamless experience.”
Key benefits for Sterling and its charity partners include:
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Instant payment settlement and immediate entry confirmation
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Lower processing costs compared with traditional methods i.e. debit and credit cards
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Reduced fraud and chargeback risk, utilising bank-grade security
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A smoother, mobile-first, user journey for supporters
The post Sterling Lotteries selects Yaspa as its primary open banking payments partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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RocketPlay wins Best Customer Service at European iGaming Excellence Awards
RocketPlay Casino has been awarded Best Customer Service at the European iGaming Excellence Awards 2025 — a widely respected industry award celebrating excellence and innovation worldwide.
For RocketPlay, this award marks a major milestone — proof that genuine care, innovation, and consistent performance are noticed and appreciated by the iGaming industry.
“Our goal has always been simple — to create a service that players can rely on,” said Alex Martin, PR Manager at RocketPlay. “Winning this award highlights that our focus on trust, speed, and human connection truly makes a difference.”
This recognition also reflects the daily work of RocketPlay’s 24/7 multilingual support team, which delivers help within seconds and reaches 90%+ one-touch resolution. The casino maintains a CSAT score above 90%, and over half of all inquiries are now handled through AI-powered chat while keeping the tone personal and friendly.
The brand continues to strengthen its reputation across the community, holding top ratings such as 9.8/10 on CasinoGuru, 9.1/10 on AskGamblers, 4.4/5 on Trustpilot, and 4.3/5 on LCB.
RocketPlay remains committed to pushing standards higher — ensuring every player receives fast assistance, transparent communication. We thank the award organizers and the jury for this meaningful recognition.
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Boomerang Partners celebrated Golden Boomerang League winners and engaged booth guests with a gift auction at SiGMA Europe 2025
Boomerang Partners, an affiliate marketing agency and an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, participated in SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome from November 4th to 6th, 2025. The company’s booth generated heightened interest among conference participants throughout the event. It was designed in the signature ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept, effectively connecting sports and modern technologies. The booth was divided into several themed zones dedicated to football, tennis, basketball, and boxing, as well as locations for sports-related activities.
One of the main highlights of Boomerang Partners’ participation in the Rome event was the announcement of the Golden Boomerang League winners. This sports traffic tournament took place from September 1st to October 31st. It involved current and new Boomerang Partners’ affiliate partners. 68 teams, which generated 20+ sports FTDs for brands from Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio over the two-month tournament period, made it to the final draw. On November 4th, the company determined the winners using certified randomization tools. The winners became:
- QQMedia (prize — direct access to the annual Golden Boomerang Awards tournament)
- Apex Media (AC Milan Experience package, including paid flight, accommodation, and attendance at an AC Milan home match at San Siro Stadium in Milan)
- Luis Xavier (AC Milan Experience package, including paid flight, accommodation, and an AC Milan home match attendance).
The CEO of QQMedia commented: “Those who know me understand that I work with some of the largest operators in the industry, but Boomerang Partners will always hold a special place in my heart. What they are building is truly impressive, and I am proud to be part of this journey, witnessing how Boomerang Partners is steadily evolving from an underdog into a true power player.
A big thank you also goes to their entire team, especially the affiliate department, and in particular to Lilli, whose outstanding work, constant availability, and solution-oriented approach deserve special recognition.
The next goal is of course to win the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, and we will give it our all to make that happen.”
Boomerang Partners’ booth guests could play ping-pong with promoters, who were actually professional players in disguise, as well as participate in Soccer Penalty Shootout, bowling, volleyball, tennis, and badminton using Nintendo Switch Sports. For participation and wins, they received chips of various denominations. Chips could also be earned by completing tasks on the Wheel of Fortune, ordering drinks at the bar, and even finding them in the open areas of the SiGMA Rome venue. On November 5th, Boomerang Partners hosted a gift auction at their booth, with chips as a currency. These prizes were raffled off:
- Luka Modrić (AC Milan) signed jersey
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Ray-Ban | Meta Wayfarer smart glasses
- Apple AirPods Pro 3
Those participants who failed to win the auction were in for a surprise. The next day, November 6th, a gift shop with items of varying prices opened at the Boomerang Partners booth. Booth guests could exchange chips for these gifts, which included, for example, AC Milan t-shirts, electric air pumps, instant photo printers, and other prizes.
Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, commented: “Continuing the development of the ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept, we tried to bring numerous sports elements and meanings into the booth atmosphere, thus once again revealing our sports DNA and strategic vector. We traditionally applied the formula that connects business solutions, entertainment, and marketing activities.
We strive to make our booth a place that attracts partners and media, putting considerable effort into preparation, and believe that we have managed to solve the set tasks. We are already preparing for iGB Affiliate in Barcelona and invite you to visit our booth in advance.”
Boomerang Partners are ending 2025 on a major note, but they’re not saying goodbye for long. Stay tuned.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. The agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
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