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New betting service, designed to take on the big bookmakers, sponsors trainer with just 10 horses as she bids to upset jump racing powerhouses at Aintree with Santini to showcase their £1 million Grand National Day challenge
Racingstars, a new peer-to-peer betting service designed to compete with the major bookmakers and encourage responsible gambling has sponsored trainer Polly Gundry for the Grand National as she bids for an Aintree fairytale with Santini.
Exeter-based Gundry has just ten horses in training and sends stable star Santini to make history in the race, as he lines up against runners representing the powerhouse owners and trainers in jump racing.
Racingstars.co.uk have backed Gundry to launch their £1 million Grand National Saturday challenge, giving entrants a day’s worth of entertainment for a fixed price of just £10.
The unique game rewards punters with points per race based on their horse’s finishing position and odds, providing betting fans with a fun way to speculate on every race.
Entrants can buy 50 tokens for £10, allowing them to enter a game for just 10 tokens each. Entries are limited to one per customer per day.
Nathan Thompson, co-founder of Racingstars.co.uk said: “We’re huge racing fans at Racingstars.co.uk so when the opportunity came up to back Polly Gundry for the big race, it was an easy decision.
“Like us, she loves racing, the horses and wants to level the playing field with the bigger outfits so it was a natural fit. We wish Polly, Santini and her owners the very best of luck in the big race and hope he enjoys his spin around Aintree.”
Speaking of the £1 million Grand National Challenge and motivation to launch Racingstars.co.uk, Thompson said: “We’re offering the chance to win £1 million on Grand National Day for a fixed 10 token entry – and you don’t even have to pick the winner of the first race.
“We’re keen racing fans and love a bet, but felt there was a gap in the market for an experience with a set limit on cost that still provided a day’s worth of entertainment. I’m well aware of the fun of a bet but also the need to keep things sensible and wanted to offer a service to help combat problem gambling by limiting what people can spend and when, removing the need to potentially chase losses or deposit multiple times in a day.”
Polly Gundry: “Thanks to Racingstars.co.uk for backing me.”
Racingstars.co.uk are a like-minded team who love racing and want to take on the big players, so it’s a natural fit. I hope one of their players takes down the £1 million challenge on Saturday with Santini winning the Grand National!”
Polly Gundry: “Santini is in good form.”
Santini is cool at the moment. He jumped eight fences of different sorts this morning just to keep his mind on something new and that was all good. He was very enthusiastic. I usually try in the week before a race to keep all of his big muscles moving, but I’ve probably done a little bit less with him this week. We just don’t want to put too much stress on his feet, so we’ve had him walking and trotting on nice fresh grassland as it won’t cause him any jarring or pull the nails around in his feet. I probably still do an hour on him every day and then lead him out twice a day.
Polly Gundry: “I think Aintree will really suit Santini.”
I was really happy with his schooling today. He jumped a rail and then a rail with a water tray before jumping a green fence that we have made up to look like an Aintree fence and he thought it was all good fun which is great going into a race like this. Santini is a very intelligent horse who loves jumping, but he doesn’t like surprises. That’s why we schooled over some unique fences this morning.
As long as the ground is good to soft or softer, that would suit us. He wouldn’t worry about really soft ground, but he also has the most perfect action so good to soft ground would suit him perfectly.
If he is a happy boy doing it, I do think he will stay. He doesn’t quite have the speed of some of the others in the field, but he is a thorough stayer and he wasn’t tired after the Gold Cup. He only raced for two and a half-miles, but he came back in afterwards in the unsaddling enclosure really sprightly. He cries out for a trip.
He is two years older than when he was second in the Gold Cup. The first circuit of the Gold Cup this year was slightly slower this year which didn’t play to our strengths, we have excuses and I think the longer trip and a track that takes a fair bit of jumping might really suit him.
Polly Gundry: “It’s incredibly special to have a runner in the Grand National.”
It’s massively special to have a runner in the Grand National, but I don’t think it will hit me about how special it is until it has happened. You just have to treat it like any other race by getting the horse prepared and in the best shape as you possibly can. It’s down to the horse and the jockey Nick Scholfield. If they enjoy it, they will have a great chance.
It would be an amazing thing for me, my family, all of my connections, everyone in Devon and everyone who has ever supported me if he could win or finish in the top six. People try for years and years to have a runner in the Grand National, let alone something that could finish in the top six. I’m very well aware that I’m trying to punch above my weight, but I’ve got lots of experience having been connected with some lovely horses and also being connected with some great trainers when I was riding. Hopefully, I know slightly what we are aiming at.
Santini also has a nice weight in the race off 11st 2lb and it makes Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes the owners believe that the Grand National was a viable prospect. He is a big horse and he wouldn’t worry about carrying a bit more, but pounds mean lengths in races so it will definitely be a help to him carrying less weight.
I’ve been training for nearly 11 years now, but I’m not the type of person that goes touting about for big-money horses. Partly, because we are located in a lovely area in the East Devon area surrounded by farmers and what I’m really good at is bringing on young horses. It doesn’t mean I can’t train a decent horse, but I get stressed out when I’m training horses under National Hunt rules as I don’t want to get anything wrong. For me, it is not a numbers game. We have great facilities for bringing on young horses, but we don’t have great big gallops like other trainers so we will never be a massive yard as I don’t want to have hundreds of horses. I want to do a good job and I want to continue riding horses – you can’t do both, it simply doesn’t work.
Whilst I think it would be amazing for our little yard and all our supporters who love the point-to-point game and National Hunt racing, it is a huge achievement because the owners Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes have given me the opportunity to train Santini.
Santini is very fond of himself and whilst I’m not saying that Nicky Henderson and Seven Barrows treat their horses as a number as such, there are over 100 horses there. All those big trainers have amazing facilities and a huge number of staff, but it is just different in a smaller yard. Santini knows he is very special so I do think it does suit him being in a small yard.
Polly Gundry: “Of the other horses in the race, I love Snow Leopardess.”
I’ve always liked Delta Work and thought he was a massively talented horse. He won the Cross Country and I thought he would be the winner of the Grand National. He has a big weight, but is interesting. I also love Snow Leopardess because of the story given she has had a foal and then come back. I have kept an eye on her and if the ground got wetter, it would play into her hands a bit more. Whether she has as much class as others in it remains to be seen. There are some horses coming into the race who have class form in their back catalogue but have not been showing it of late.
Polly Gundry: “We travel to Aintree tomorrow.”
The journey to Aintree is tomorrow as there are so many horses running on Friday that Aintree cannot guarantee us a box until 6pm. We just want him to settle in, have a walk round in the evening before he settles down for the night.
We will then ride him on Saturday morning. I’ll ride him on the All-Weather just to stretch his legs and give him a trot round. He is a very good traveller and he enjoys going out and having a nose. He enjoys going anywhere new.
Polly Gundry: “Santini is my baby. He is very spoilt.”
In many ways, I guess Santini is my baby. I like to think all of my horses are very spoilt, but he is very well spoilt in particular. He is always getting treats and loves carrots, apples and I am always trying to keep him amused. We have to restrict his hay and forage but I’m always trying to show him that he has lots of things to look forward to.
After I have ridden him out, we’ll then go and have some lunch with Lizzie and Richard at Aintree. During that time Santini will just chill out. He is such a professional horse who has a huge amount of manners.
I feel quite cool about everything at the moment. Before the Gold Cup, we did two to three hours of work with Santini every day to get his weight down a little bit without galloping him too much. I would say his feet are in great feet today and he has a new set of shoes on and I’m very happy with him. I’m confident and relaxed about the horse as everything has gone to plan. I try not to take any risks that are slightly unnecessary and I’m very happy with where he is. Life is a ball at the moment.
How does Racingstars.co.uk’s Grand National Day £1 million challenge work?
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Register before the first race
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Buy 50 tokens for £10
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Pick the 7 horses which score the highest possible points available to win £1 million
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Horses earn points based on their starting price and finishing position
For full details and to enter, visit: https://grandnational.racingstars.co.uk/aintree/1-million-pound-challenge-on-the-grand-national-day-pdc

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Million Games Launches Million Mine – A Strategic Grid Game Inspired by a Classic
Million Games is pleased to announce the release of Million Mine, a strategic, grid-based casino game inspired by the beloved mechanics of minesweeper. Offering a modern update to the classic format, Million Mine lets players select their difficulty, uncover hidden diamonds, and cash out before disaster strikes.
The game features:
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Customisable grid sizes from 3×3 to 7×7
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Mines selection from 3 to 24 for adjustable volatility
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Instant cashout after any successful pick
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A 96.3% RTP and a high multiplier ceiling
Each tile revealed adds tension and reward, making Million Mine a fast-paced, strategic game of choice and nerve.
“Million Mine is deceptively simple—but a great player experience,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Million Games. “It’s familiar, clean, and highly customisable. We see it becoming a favourite for both casual players and high-stakes explorers.”
Million Mine is now available across all Million Games partner platforms.
The post Million Games Launches Million Mine – A Strategic Grid Game Inspired by a Classic appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator Breaks the 35,000-Game Mark, Reaffirming Its Status as the Largest Content Hub
SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, has announced that its Game Aggregator has surpassed 35,000 active titles, reinforcing its position as the industry’s largest games hub. The platform continues to provide operators with a broad portfolio, backed by 99.999%–100% uptime reliability.
In the first half of the year, the Game Aggregator expanded its content offering by 26%, now delivering over 35,000 active games from more than 300 providers – covering every major game category. Operating in 24 jurisdictions, the product ensures full compliance and accessibility for operators worldwide.
The Game Aggregator equips operators with built-in tools designed to drive engagement and maximise player value. The fully customisable Tournament Tool boosts daily bet volume by 22%, with participants placing twice as many bets and wagering three times more than non-participants. At the same time, Jackpot Aggregator campaigns have been shown to double the average player turnover. These mechanics are more than just features – they are revenue multipliers, seamlessly integrated into the platform.
With slots leading demand, the Fortune Rabbit game and Pragmatic Play external game provider ranking at the top, the Game Aggregator sets the standard for content depth, stability, and business impact.
SOFTSWISS maintains a 100% uptime commitment, with actual availability consistently measured at 99.999%–100%. This ensures operators never lose a session, a bet, or their players’ trust.
“The Game Aggregator is more than just a product – it’s a technology backbone that drives scalable success for our partners. From instant access to premium content to the industry-leading uptime and proven engagement mechanics, we’re giving operators exactly what they need to compete and win,” added Tatyana Kaminskaya, Head of SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator.
With a broad and ever-growing game portfolio, full compliance coverage, and tools that drive real results, the Game Aggregator is helping shape the future of iGaming. In a market where 24/7 performance and player trust are essential, SOFTSWISS isn’t just keeping up – it’s leading the way.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator Breaks the 35,000-Game Mark, Reaffirming Its Status as the Largest Content Hub appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Exclusive Interview: Firesand Shield – Combatting Account Fraud in iGaming
In an era where digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the iGaming industry faces a relentless battle against fraud and cyberattacks. To combat this evolving landscape, European Gaming recently spoke with Chris Blake, Director at Firesand, about their new product, Firesand Shield. This cutting-edge security solution has been developed to tackle the complex tactics of modern fraudsters and hackers head-on.
In this interview, Chris Blake provides an in-depth look at how Firesand Shield was created specifically to combat the rise of account fraud, explaining how these attacks are becoming more automated and stealthy. He details the product’s multi-layered approach that goes beyond traditional bot detection, integrating seamlessly with operator platforms while delivering powerful real-time intelligence. Blake also discusses how Firesand Shield not only protects against fraud but also helps operators meet stringent regulatory requirements in highly regulated markets. Finally, he shares his vision for the future, outlining how Firesand is committed to staying one step ahead of a constantly changing threat environment.
Firesand Shield was developed to combat the rise of account fraud within the iGaming industry. How are these attacks evolving, and what level of disruption are they causing?
Account fraud is becoming more sophisticated. Attackers now use highly automated ‘low and slow’ techniques that avoid detection by mimicking normal user behaviour, which allows them to evade detection, as well as exploit platforms at scale.
In another change, rather than brute force attacks on platforms, we’re seeing credential stuffing attacks powered by breached data and botnets. This is where nefarious actors will use stolen databases of known usernames and passwords to try and gain access to accounts.
The outcome of this is that these attacks can cause significant impacts on operators. Compromised accounts lead to chargebacks, bonus abuse, regulatory issues, and player attrition.
Firesand Shield was built specifically to address these challenges at the level the industry demands. It goes beyond standard bot detection by recognising behavioural indicators that traditional tools miss, using a multi-layered approach that combines analytics, reputation intelligence, and real time risk profiling.
Our proactive, intelligence-led defence ensures that operators have a significant advantage in preventing fraud, maintaining platform integrity, and crucially, preserves a seamless player experience.
How does Firesand Shield integrate with operator platforms and back ends to deliver a seamless solution?
Integration can take part via two methods, that are both unobtrusive to the day-to-day activities of a platform. A classic API integration sees operators connect core user workflows, including login, registration, password reset, to Firesand via RESTful APIs. Firesand returns risk scores based on credential health, unusual behaviour, and IP location mismatches.
In addition, through both OAuth for enterprise SSO and simple username and password logins, we can facilitate access to a live dashboard provides visibility into login trends, potential attacks, and detailed metrics.
How can Firesand Shield help operators reduce regulatory risk, especially in highly regulated jurisdictions like the US, UK, or mature European markets?
Modern regulations demand active threat detection, prevention, and response, not just passive tools like firewalls or CAPTCHAs. There are demands now to prove you can detect, prevent, and respond to credential-based threats that potentially compromise platform integrity.
Firesand Shield supports this with real-time detection of threats, human-led attack identification, and unwanted actors.
As well as identifying potential threats, our built-in dashboards offer real-time reporting, instant access to logs and forensic data, and are created to ensure that all reports are audit-ready, with one-click data exports. This removes the operational burden of post-incident analysis, and allows operators to demonstrate control across their estate, satisfying regulators and clients alike.
It all aligns with best practices under various regulations, such as GDPR, gambling commission rules, and state-level cybersecurity legislation in the US. Firesand Shield is not just a fraud prevention tool, but a powerful compliance ally.
What kind of real-time fraud intelligence and threat response capabilities does Firesand Shield offer for operators managing large-scale player traffic during peak events?
Big sporting events, casino promotions, or game launches are prime targets for attackers. They use the surge in traffic as cover for credential stuffing, account takeovers, and bonus abuse. These aren’t just bot driven, but increasingly human-led or blended threats designed to bypass legacy defences.
Firesand Shield is built for high-volume, high-risk environments, delivering real time results under pressure, and automated mitigation at scale.
With traffic pattern monitoring that detects abnormal spikes in activity, or dynamic reputation scoring, where traffic from known malicious sources can be blocked, the product allows for real time decision making that assists operators. Firesand Shield goes beyond detection, allowing for immediate responses all controlled from our dashboard.
Even during peak events, Firesand Shield ensures system performance is unaffected while delivering the fraud protection and data required to protect players, satisfy regulators, and maintain operational integrity.
With an outlined roadmap of improvements to Firesand Shield, can security software keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of bot-driven fraud attacks?
Absolutely, and it must. The landscape of account fraud, particularly bot-driven attacks, is evolving faster than ever. Attackers continuously adapt, using more advanced automation, machine learning, and even human fraud farms to bypass traditional defences. Static, rules-based systems quickly become outdated. That is why Firesand Shield is built as a living platform with agility at its core.
Our development roadmap is shaped by continuous threat intelligence, client feedback, and industry trends. Upcoming enhancements include:
- Additional bot detection
- VPN detection
- Adaptive risk-scoring algorithms, tuned in real time to each operator’s unique traffic patterns
- Machine learning models that evolve as attacker tactics change
- Expanded breach intelligence feeds to flag compromised credentials faster
- Operator-led rule customisation, allowing real-time tuning without code or downtime
- User hygiene scoring, offering visibility into the health of player credentials across your platform
What makes Firesand Shield different is that it is not just reactive, but proactive and predictive. We’re not waiting for attackers to act. Instead, we are constantly learning from data across the iGaming ecosystem and pushing updates to stay ahead.
Built with regulatory frameworks in mind, we have strived to produce a solution that counters multiple pain points experienced across the industry that can have severe effects on operations if bad actors are successful with their intentions.
For operators and regulators alike, this means confidence that Firesand Shield is not just fit for today, but also ready for what’s next. Security software can and must keep pace, and our roadmap ensures that Firesand Shield leads that charge.
The post Exclusive Interview: Firesand Shield – Combatting Account Fraud in iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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