Press Releases
XB Net pens multi-year global distribution deal with Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago

XB Net, the leading provider of premium content for North American horse racing, has agreed to a new distribution deal and a multi-year contract renewal option with Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago, Illinois.
The agreement heralds another milestone partnership in XB Net’s progressive portfolio of content rights, data, odds and signals around one of the United States’ most historic racetracks, particularly as it embarks on a $400 million redevelopment to add sports betting, casino-style gaming and other entertainment amenities to the new Hawthorne Casino & Race Course.
Accordingly, Hawthorne Race Course forms part of a wider network of over 60 North American tracks whose steady stream of rapid-cycling content is proven to increase digital dwell-time for XB Net’s clients and their customers. Moreover, the deal helps to immediately leverage the 50 thoroughbred race-days that comprise Hawthorne’s traditional fall/winter meetings and will build momentum for further fan engagement in 2022 when Hawthorne is the only race track in the Chicago area, which is the third-largest media market in the US.
Elsewhere, Hawthorne’s CDT time zone naturally clocks on for core UK and European racing audiences, generating increased fan engagement at peak leisure times. Its daily schedule of compelling coverage, which neatly complements Europe’s domestic racing action, provides operators with a trustworthy source of rapid-settling betting content from 18:00 CET. This engaging action, which also features regular Harness racing meetings, is proven to retain eyeballs and promote betting activity during competitive digital-entertainment cycles, driving new revenue streams for a wide range of international clients.
XB Net’s definitive end-to-end solution, corralling wide-ranging content that covers approximately 75% of all U.S. racing, opens the door to many of the world’s best-quality courses and most prestigious horse races. Other notable highlights include the Pegasus World Cup, two legs of this summer’s recent Triple Crown (comprising the Preakness and Belmont Stakes) and the season’s flagship finale at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar (5-6 November).
John Walsh, Assistant General Manager at Hawthorne Race Course, said: “This close collaboration with XB Net will expand the international reach and appeal of Illinois thoroughbred racing. The distribution of our content to both mature and emerging markets requires strong partnerships that will showcase the very exciting future of Hawthorne and racing at Chicago’s hometown track.”
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, added: “Securing this long-term partnership with Hawthorne emphasizes XB Net’s dedication to racing and our broader status as the leading international provider of North American racing. This deal is another strong endorsement of our business model and the collective power of our multi-faceted betting services.
“As ever, betting increases the entertainment value from the consumer perspective. However, with XB Net’s fair allocation of capital to where the entertainment value is, we’re seeing the whole Illinois ecosystem improve, returning the value to racing stakeholders, the owners and the racetracks themselves. It’s great to see during a very challenging economic period.
“Our underlying resolve is to support Hawthorne Race Course’s efforts to distribute its horse racing content and wagering on a global scale, now encompassing both fixed-odds (in approved markets) and pari-mutuel betting opportunities. We’re confident these milestone developments can further benefit horse racing’s consumer economy, both at home and abroad.”
XB Net remains the pacesetter for live North American horse racing content, providing rights, betting data, live broadcast and video streaming on behalf of its growing global portfolio of partners. Harnessing low-latency feeds from more than 2,500 meetings, showcasing over 25,000 races per year, North American racing is helping global operators seamlessly adapt to a demanding schedule for live sports.
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WSOP Circuit Returns to Latin America – Qualify Exclusively at GGPoker

GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, is excited to announce the launch of online satellite tournaments for the upcoming WSOP Circuit Panama 2025 live poker event.
This exciting event will put Latin American poker back in the spotlight and is set to bring together the continent’s top players from November 6 to 16 at the prestigious Hilton Panama Hotel and the exclusive StarBay Casino.
Featuring 12 official World Series of Poker gold ring events, a full schedule of side tournaments, VIP activities, international media coverage, and a stunning seaside location, WSOP Circuit Panama promises to be one of the year’s most spectacular stops for both professional and recreational players.
Gregory Chochon, Chief Operating Officer of the World Series of Poker, added:
“We are proud to see the WSOP Circuit continue to grow internationally. Latin America is a passionate and fast-growing poker region, and events like WSOP Circuit Panama bolster our mission to bring the WSOP gold ring experience to players around the globe.”
GGPoker players can qualify via a 12-week online satellite series, with 20 guaranteed packages worth $2,500 USD each. Each package includes a $1,700 Main Event entry and $800 for travel expenses. Satellites start at just $5, giving players across Latin America the chance to live the full WSOP experience in Panama.
Online Satellite Schedule on GGPoker (ET time):
Day |
Time (ET) |
Tournament Name |
Mon–Sat |
3-4-5-6-7 PM |
WSOP-C Panama – $5 Daily Satellite |
Sunday |
12-1-2-3-4 PM |
WSOP-C Panama – $5 Daily Satellite |
Mon-Sun |
8 PM |
WSOP-C Panama – $33 Package Qualifier |
Sunday |
4 PM |
WSOP-C Panama – $22 Last Chance Satellite |
Sunday |
7 PM |
WSOP-C Panama – $215 Weekly Final |
WSOP-C Panama Satellite Stats (over 12 weeks):
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$5 Satellites: 1,296 tournaments
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$33 Qualifiers: 312 tournaments
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$22 Last Chance: 12 tournaments
-
$215 Weekly Finals: 12 tournaments
Guaranteed Packages ($2,500 each):
-
Weeks 1–4: 1 package per week
-
Weeks 5–12: 2 packages per week
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Total: 20 guaranteed packages
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Total Prize Value: $50,000 USD
In addition to winning a coveted WSOP Circuit gold ring, each ring event winner in Panama will also receive a $5,000 WSOP Circuit Championship package, which includes:
-
$2,750 entry to the Mystery Bounty WSOP Circuit Championship
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6-night stay at Atlantis (Coral or Royal Towers)
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Complimentary buffet access during the stay
“WSOP Circuit Panama is a unique opportunity for players across Latin America to enjoy a world-class poker experience in an extraordinary setting,” said Juan Carreño, GGPoker Representative.
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NetGaming Goes Live on Caesars Online Casinos Across Key North American Markets

NetGaming, an emerging force in online casino content development, is proud to announce the official launch of its premium casino titles on Caesars Entertainment’s online casino platforms across Michigan, New Jersey, and Ontario. As part of this launch, NetGaming’s engaging portfolio, including fan-favorite titles Wicked Wins – Fortune Pick, Zeus’s Thunderbolt 5000, and American Wonder Reels are now live with Caesars in Michigan, New Jersey, and Ontario, with additional jurisdictions to follow soon.
This partnership brings together NetGaming’s creative game design and Caesars’ expansive online casino presence, giving players across North America access to immersive and high-quality slot experiences. The integration of NetGaming titles into Caesars’ online casino platforms represents a significant milestone for the studio as it accelerates its growth in North America.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, said: “We are delighted to see our games live with Caesars, one of the most iconic names in the gaming industry. The launch in three major markets is just the beginning, and we’re excited about expanding further across North America. Our games are designed to entertain, and we’re confident they will resonate well with Caesars’ diverse player base.”
Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital added: “We’re grateful to our partners at NetGaming for supporting our ongoing mission to deliver an enhanced gaming experience on our online casino platforms. We have consistently been impressed by the creativity of their game portfolio and look forward to continuing to offer innovative content that enriches our players’ experience through this partnership.”
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COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR ACR POKER’S MASSIVE DUAL VENOM TOURNEYS WITH $10 MILLION GUARANTEED AND HUGE BOUNTIES

$8 Million NLH and $2 Million PLO events start this weekend, with top bounty prizes of $500,000 and $200,000 respectively
ACR Poker is turning up the heat this Sunday with the return of its flagship Dual Venom tournaments, featuring a combined $10 million guaranteed and massive mystery bounties.
The action kicks off with the first of five Day 1 flights for the $8 million NLH and $2 million PLO Mystery Bounty Venoms, starting this Sunday at 12:05pm ET. Players can build momentum by combining their stacks ahead of Day 2 on Monday, August 25th at 1:05pm ET, where all remaining players will already be in the money. Those who make it to the Final Table will battle for the Venom titles on Tuesday, August 26th at 4:05pm ET.
Alongside massive guarantees, both events boast huge bounties. In the Venom NLH, knocking out just one opponent could unlock a top bounty of $500,000, with the tourney winner projected to take home around $600,000. The Venom PLO, which ties ACR Poker’s biggest Omaha tourney ever, offers a $200,000 top bounty and an estimated $200,000 top prize for the champion. Every knockout in both tourneys earns players a minimum bounty of $5,000.
“Big bounties, massive guarantees – the Dual Mystery Bounty Venom tourneys are coming in hot,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “The action kicks off this Sunday, so don’t miss out. Satellites start at just $0, so players of all bankrolls can take a shot. Let’s make it a big one – see you at the tables.”
While the buy-in for both tournaments is $2,650, players can still qualify for much less. Hundreds of low-cost qualifiers are up for grabs starting from $0 via Venom Fever Satellites. Plus, the Venom Vault and the Poison Path offer players more chances to unlock $2,650 Venom tickets.
Fans can tune in to watch the Venom NLH Day 1A action on ACR Poker’s Twitch channel this Sunday, featuring ACR Pros Chris Moneymaker, Rob Kuhn and Jon Pardy. The Final Table live stream follows on Tuesday, August 26th.
For more Mystery Bounty action, players can join ACR Poker’s new Daily Mystery Bounty tournaments for a shot at Mystery Bounty Chests packed with surprise rewards, with top bounties worth up to 10% of the prize pool.
For further details on the Dual Venom tournaments and other promotions, visit ACRPoker.eu.
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