Press Releases
2021 VIRTUAL SPORTS SEASON BEGINS WITH VIRTUAL GRAND NATIONAL
For the fifth consecutive year, Inspired Entertainment, Inc. is producing the Virtual Grand National race to predict the outcome of the 2021 Grand National Steeplechase, to be broadcast nationally in the UK at 8:00 p.m. BST on Friday, April 9. The race is the latest in a series of re-creations of some of the world’s great sporting events produced by Inspired.
Inspired has previously produced virtual contests based on of some the world’s most iconic sporting events, including the Kentucky Derby Triple Crown Showdown, The Lexus Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate. The Virtual Grand National, which has been developed in conjunction with Carm Productions, will launch the 2021 Virtuals season for Inspired, as it looks ahead to future events.
Inspired, the pioneer in Virtual Sports, has the largest array of Virtual Sports available 24/7, providing a consistent stream of sports betting content. Its multi-award-winning Virtual Sports use cutting-edge technology to create lifelike graphics which mimic the experience of real sports betting.
“We have gained worldwide recognition for our virtual events, which have continued to be popular even as live sports have returned,” said Brooks Pierce, President and Chief Operating Officer of Inspired. “Last year 4.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the Virtual Grand National, broadcast in place of the real event, driving significant social media attention.”
“The technology used to produce the Virtual Grand National is a unique predictive offering that can be used for many other sports events,” said Steve Rogers, Chief Commercial Officer, Virtual Sports for Inspired. “We utilize a vast array of data points, including historical performance of participants, within our software to seek to predict who will win the 2021 Grand National, widely considered to be one of the most unpredictable events in the world.”
Last year’s Virtual Grand National, won by Potters Corner, raised approximately £3 million for National Health Service charities and €300,000 for medical charities in Ireland through donations from Inspired and all bookmaker operators as part of the fight against COVID-19.
“We are delighted to be working with Inspired on the Virtual Grand National for a fifth consecutive year,” said Rob McLoughlin OBE, Carm Productions, who devised the TV format for UK and international broadcasters. “Last year the virtual race took center stage, as the live race was cancelled due to COVID-19, and the viewership numbers demonstrated the popularity and interest level in such virtual events. The public support for the Virtual Grand National and NHS Charities was overwhelming, as millions helped raise much needed funds for our brave heroes in the NHS by joining in the fun of one of Britain’s greatest sporting events.”
Virtual Sports are popular worldwide and appeal to a wide variety of players, providing new revenue streams for gaming providers that can be easily integrated into existing sportsbooks and websites. Trailers and demos of the latest Virtual Sports offerings are available at www.inseinc.com/virtuals/.
Latest News
IWG and Atlantic Lottery Replace Subcontract with Direct Supply Agreement
Offers Atlantic Lottery greater self-sufficiency when collaborating with IWG
Instant Win Gaming (IWG), a leading supplier of eInstant games to NASPL and WLA-member lotteries announced today a new, five-year direct contract to supply its InstantRGS (remote game server) and its InstantGames to Atlantic Lottery.
Since 2017, IWG has supplied eInstants to Atlantic Lottery through a subcontract with their iLottery platform provider. However, following substantial growth of their eInstant category, Atlantic Lottery elected to contract directly with IWG.
With a direct contract in place, Atlantic Lottery is assured greater self-sufficiency when collaborating with IWG on game development and innovation. Further, a direct relationship streamlines roadmap planning and deliveries including day-to-day game operations and support.
A direct contract is the primary way that lotteries source games from IWG.
Rhydian Fisher, IWG CEO, said: “Atlantic Lottery has been a valued partner of IWG for many years, and this new agreement will streamline the way in which we deliver and support our eInstants. AL’s decision to move to a direct contract is consistent with how the vast majority IWG’s lottery partners contract with their critical suppliers such as IWG.”
Robert Lalonde, Director of iGaming Product at Atlantic Lottery, said: “It is imperative to our business planning at Atlantic Lottery that we establish direct contracts with our primary eInstant suppliers. IWG has been a trusted supplier to us since 2017, and we’re excited to be taking our partnership forward with this new agreement.”
partnerships
Enteractive Strengthens Growth in North America with Bettor Capital Investment
Company Adds Bettor Capital as a Strategic Investor to Expand Enteractive’s Industry Leading Reactivation Services in the High Growth North American Market
Enteractive, the leader in player conversion and reactivation services to online sportsbook and casino operators, has welcomed Bettor Capital, the investment firm focused on backing best-in-class technology suppliers to the real-money gambling industry, as an investment partner, boosting opportunities for continued rapid growth within the U.S. market.
With Bettor Capital’s established expertise in supporting growth in the global online gambling sector, Enteractive looks forward to accelerating business development efforts in key growth markets such as the U.S. and Canada. The partnership is described by the Company as a limited/non-controlling investment that supports Enteractive’s existing global strategy.
“We’re thrilled to bring Bettor Capital on board as a strategic investor as we continue to expand within the North American market”, said Enteractive’s CEO Mikael Hansson. “We have built a strong relationship with the Bettor Capital team and believe that they will bring significant value alongside our existing investors”.
“We are excited to partner with Mikael and the Enteractive team to expand their global business. As online gambling markets, such as the U.S., mature, operators are increasingly focused on player retention and reactivation alongside new customer acquisition. Enteractive’s proprietary software powers real one-to-one conversations with players that delivers demonstrable and meaningful ROI for operators as they re-engage customers that may be considered to have churned; with a responsible gambling approach baked into this model, this is a clear win-win for the industry. As a result, Enteractive has established a global blue chip customer base and market leadership position that has the Company primed for continued growth, especially in large and high growth markets such as North America.” said Dave VanEgmond, Managing Partner at Bettor Capital.
Since its foundation in 2008, Enteractive has established itself as the global leader in online sportsbook and casino player conversion and reactivation. The Company’s proprietary technology platform, the (Re)Activation Cloud, allows Enteractive’s agents to engage with online sportsbook and casino players on a one-to-one basis, driving player retention and reactivation at scale for its operator customers. The Company has dozens of operator clients globally and has established a strong presence in the North American market since opening its first U.S. office in 2022, working with some of the dominating players including Rush Street Interactive, Penn Entertainment, Playstar and Resorts Digital Gaming.
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