Latest News

Frankie Dettori joins World Pool for his final season

Published

2 years ago

February 24, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, has joined forces with Frankie Dettori for the 2023 season, the legendary jockey’s final year in the saddle.

The partnership will see Dettori provide regular blogs and content ahead of World Pool racedays in 2023, starting at The Saudi Cup meeting this weekend where all six Group races on Saturday will be commingled globally.

World Pool ambassador Dettori said: “I’ve got a lot of different places to visit on my final year in the saddle, so it’s great to be working with World Pool who have also increased their reach to other countries and racetracks in 2023. From The Saudi Cup to Dubai and then onto all the major days in the UK and Ireland, it will hopefully be a very exciting season for all of us.”

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “Having Frankie on board as a torchbearer in the final year of an incredible career is absolutely brilliant for World Pool. It’s a huge year for Frankie and it’s the same for World Pool after a record breaking 2022, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with a global icon who has done so much for the sport of horse racing.”

Speaking about his rides at The Saudi Cup on Saturday, Dettori said: “I’ve got rides in four of the big Group races, including in The Saudi Cup itself. The prize money is fantastic and hopefully we can come away with some of it.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on TRAWLERMAN in the Red Sea Turf Handicap. Winning the Ebor at York on him in the summer gave me a great thrill, so hopefully he’s in the same kind of form for this. If Subjectivist is still the same great horse he was when winning the Ascot Gold Cup two years ago, then we might find it tough to win, but he’s been off the track for a long time.

“In the Saudi Derby I’m teaming up with Bob [Baffert] on HAVNAMELTDOWN. He’s a horse that ticks a lot of boxes, but this is his first start over a mile and that’s the only thing we can’t be sure about. He’s got plenty of speed, likes to be at the front and should run a big race if he stays.

“ELITE POWER comes into this off the back of five wins and he is just a very tough sprinter. I’m confident he’s a good horse, but it’s hard to assess his chances against plenty of unknown opposition.

“I’d love to win The Saudi Cup in my final year, and COUNTRY GRAMMER is a very solid contender. He never runs a bad race, has plenty of experience and proved he handles conditions when second last year. The Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup have always been his targets and he couldn’t have felt better when winning the San Antonio Stakes in December.”

World Pool has extended its reach in 2023 with last Saturday’s Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington the first Australian meeting to be part of World Pool. The Saudi Cup makes its debut this Saturday and, for the first time, World Pool will be in operation at Newbury Racecourse in the UK with two races added to the World Pool season on Lockinge Stakes Day on 20 May.

Irish Derby Day is also set to feature amongst 18 UK and Irish events on 2 July, a day which will also include the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg-Horn, marking the first World Pool race from Germany.

In 2022, World Pool betting turnover hit a new high of HK$6 billion (approx. £622m), up from HK$4.8 billion (approx. £498m) in 2021, across the 21 racedays that were commingled, while Derby Day at Epsom recorded the single highest day of turnover with HK$66.1 million (approx. £6.8m) – *note: turnover is recorded in HK$, and approximate pound sterling figures are therefore based on current exchange rates.

Latest News

The Countries with the Most Interest in Gambling

Published

2 hours ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

A new analysis by gambling experts Casino Deps has revealed the countries with the highest levels of interest in gambling, ranked by their average monthly search volumes per 100,000 people. The findings provide a fascinating glimpse into the global appetite for gambling, highlighting regional trends and cultural influences that have contributed to their heightened interest.

The countries with the most interest in gambling

Rank	Country	Population	Total Average Monthly Search Volume	Total Average Monthly Search Volume Per 100,000
1	Netherlands	18,092,524	156,480	864.89
2	Malta	532,956	2,050	384.65
3	Sweden	10,551,494	40,530	384.12
4	Poland	38,762,844	145,940	376.49
5	Denmark	5,948,136	21,780	366.17
6	Iceland	387,558	1,400	361.24
7	Singapore	5,789,090	19,980	345.13
8	Norway	5,519,167	18,570	336.46
9	New Zealand	5,172,836	16,070	310.66
10	Lithuania	2,854,099	8,580	300.62

The Netherlands takes the top spot, with an average of 864.89 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Dutch citizens exhibit the highest relative interest in gambling out of any country in the world. This heightened interest is likely due to The Netherlands’ liberal approach to gambling regulation and the popularity of online casinos.

The term “Online casino” was the most searched term in The Netherlands, with an average monthly search volume of 75,000, followed by “Casino games” and “Online gambling”, both with 21,000 monthly searches.

Malta ranks second, with an average of 384.65 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Despite Malta’s small population of just over half a million, Maltese residents’ interest in gambling reflects the country’s status as a hub for the online gaming industry, hosting many gambling operators and licensing authorities due to its favourable tax laws.

Search data shows a relatively even distribution of interest across different game types, with “Poker,” “Roulette,” and “Blackjack” each averaging a monthly total of 250-300 searches.

Sweden places third, with an average of 384.12 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Sweden’s regulated online gambling market and cultural acceptance contribute to residents’ high interest in gambling.

“Online casino” has the highest average monthly search volume in Sweden at 11,000, while the 3,700 average monthly searches for “Free spins” suggests a specific interest in online casino promotions.

Ranking fourth is Poland, with an average of 376.49 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Poland’s gambling laws have become more accommodating in recent years, which has contributed to a heightened interest in online betting and casino platforms.

With 40,000 average monthly searches, “Blackjack” is by far the most popular casino game in Poland, ranking significantly higher than “Poker” and “Roulette” with 16,000 and 15,000 searches, respectively.

Denmark places fifth, with 366.17 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Denmark’s heightened interest in gambling is reflected in the country’s well-regulated gaming market that ensures safe and accessible gambling options for its residents.

“Poker” is the most searched term in Denmark with 4,900 average monthly searches, ranking higher than the leading term across all countries, “Online casino”, with just 3,500.

Ranking sixth is Iceland, with an average of 361.24 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Iceland’s relatively high interest gambling is likely due to limited access to local establishments, pushing people toward online casinos.

“Blackjack” is the most popular search term in Iceland, with an average monthly search volume of 350.

In seventh place is Singapore, with 345.13 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. The largest country in the top 10 in terms of residents, with a population of 5.8 million, Singapore’s affinity with gambling can be attributed to the popularity of integrated resorts such as Marina Bay Sands.

Unlike most countries, “Baccarat” is the top search term among citizens of Singapore, with an average monthly search volume of 4,600. Norway ranks eighth, with 336.46 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Norway has a strict state-controlled monopoly on the gambling industry, with only two legal operators, Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto. The restrictive nature of the gambling industry pushes Norwegians to seek out more diverse experiences, despite the government’s best efforts to block these sites.

“Poker” is the casino game that Norwegians are most interested in, with an average monthly search volume of 7,500.

Ranking ninth is New Zealand, with 310.66 searches per 100,000 people. Widespread cultural acceptance, along with the country’s rich sporting heritage popularity and of sports betting activity, drives gambling interest in New Zealand.

“Blackjack” with 3,100 average monthly searches, and “Roulette” with 1,800, both rank above “Poker”, with just 1,600, as the casino games residents are most interested in.

Rounding out the top 10 is Lithuania, with 300.62 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Lithuania only recently fully regulated its online gambling market, with key changes occurring on July 1 2022, when it became possible to obtain a dedicated online gambling license without needing to have land-based venues. These changes have likely contributed to the surge in interest surrounding the industry.

“Poker” is the most popular search term with an average monthly search volume of 2,000, followed by “Free spins” with 1,300, as residents look toward online casinos to secure the best promotions.

Amanda Wilson, CMO of Casino Deps commented on the study, “This analysis sheds light on how cultural attitudes, population size, and regulatory environments shape gambling interest across the globe.

“Countries like the Netherlands and Malta, with supportive gambling industries, naturally rank high, while nations with restrictions, such as Norway and Iceland, exhibit high relative interest due to seeking out alternatives outside their respective economies.”

The post The Countries with the Most Interest in Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Playson cranks up the heat in 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win

Published

2 hours ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Purple chillies unlock an additional game field in an exciting first for the award-winning slot studio

Playson, the renowned digital entertainment supplier, is ready to grant sizzling rewards in its latest release 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win, with the fiery title elevating bonus play with a trio of eye-catching features.

Set against the backdrop of a toasty campfire, Playson’s iconic jester marks his return accompanied by lavish chilli Bonus and Jackpot symbols and an array of classic fruit icons.

Scorching yellow, purple and green chillies take centre stage, holding the key to the title’s coveted bonus game with each offering varied features to maximise player’s chances of securing sizeable returns.

All chilli icons that land during base play are collected by their corresponding chilli sat above the reels, whilst the combination of chilli bonus symbols gathered determine the feature awarded.

In an exciting first for Playson, the Double Chillie feature represented by the purple chilli, sees an additional game field added during the Bonus Game, with all Bonus and Jackpot symbols that land immediately added to the second game field. Fortunate players who fill the 15 cells on both fields will see them score a mouth-watering double 1,000x Grand Jackpot.

The Extra Chillie feature, belonging to the yellow chilli, sees the number of respins during the Bonus Game increased to four with each new bonus symbol resetting the number of free spins. Green chillies unlock the Multi Chillie feature which sees multipliers as high as 5x added to the reels with multipliers that hit the same cell collectively gathered for an increased chance of fiery rewards.

The title’s bonus game is further boosted by a series of in-game jackpots with purple, blue and green labelled chillies reflecting mini, minor and major jackpots offering rewards up to 100x.

3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win reinforces Playson’s commitment to enhancing its games portfolio with more features and experiences for players to enjoy worldwide.

Tamas Kusztos, CCO at Playson, said: “We’re delighted to bring 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win to market with its inspired bonus game elevating game play with the chance to unlock a dual game field and double Grand Jackpot of 1,000x.

“Stunning graphics and audio blend perfectly with the return of our iconic joker and we are confident our classic approach with meticulously designed features will lead to thrilling gameplay for players.”

The post Playson cranks up the heat in 3 Chillies and Joker: Hold and Win appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Fast Track has shifted its online presence to fasttrack.ai

Published

2 hours ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Fast Track has migrated the company’s digital presence to a new domain: fasttrack.ai.

Please note that all employees, official communications, and company news will now be sent from email addresses ending in @fasttrack.ai. If you are a partner, currently in communication with us, or planning to get in touch, please update your records to ensure you continue receiving timely and relevant information.

For more information, please visit fasttrack.ai.

The post Fast Track has shifted its online presence to fasttrack.ai appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.