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/.
