Latest News
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2 hours ago
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The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced a new equine anti-doping & medication control initiative, underpinning their common commitment to the regulation of medicine use and zero tolerance of doping in horseracing on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Out of Competition Testing (OOCT) is a critical component of an effective, modern anti-doping strategy in sport. Both jurisdictions have increased OOCT in recent years, increasing access to and testing of Thoroughbreds at all stages of their careers. Building on this and reflecting their shared focus on participant safety and wellbeing, and the integrity of horseracing, the IHRB and BHA are now formally conducting joint OOCT operations across both jurisdictions. The inspections commenced last week with almost 250 samples taken from more than 120 horses that are entered for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival in an operation across 14 training premises in Ireland over the last two days, which saw the Head of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare and a Senior Veterinary Officer from the BHA join forces with the IHRB’s Deputy Heads of Veterinary Operations and Policy and other IHRB Authorised Officers.
The IHRB and BHA have agreed that when working jointly in Ireland, they will be operating under IHRB Standard Operating Procedures, and all samples will be considered as IHRB samples. When IHRB Veterinary Officers operate in Britain, it will be under BHA protocols and BHA jurisdiction. In both instances, there will be transparent exchange of any adverse results or screening findings that arise from these tests, with all samples being tested by LGC Laboratory, one of six laboratories worldwide which is recognised as a referenced laboratory by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
Dr Lynn Hillyer, Chief Veterinary Officer for the IHRB, said: “The IHRB Strategy 2024-2027 commits us to close engagement with international horseracing bodies and benchmarking ourselves against best international practice. This new venture shows stakeholders and the racing public that we collaborate as professionals across both sides of the Irish Sea, sharing best practice and resources and demonstrating equally stringent regulatory processes and standards to the extent that our anti-doping and medication control programmes are interoperable.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with our BHA colleagues in this way and see it as a positive step forward that reinforces the point that there is no room for anything other than the highest standards of integrity and welfare in either jurisdiction.”
James Given, Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare said: “The BHA welcomes the collaboration with the IHRB to demonstrate to stakeholders and the public that horses running from either side of the Irish sea in each other’s races do so under the same level of scrutiny.
“Not only will our Medication Control and Anti-Doping (MCAD) team have access to more information about visiting horses, but there will be opportunities for our wider team to share ideas and best practice in other areas of our work.
“Like the IHRB, this is aligned with our aims around international collaboration, the response to racecourse accidents and the overall improvement of equine safety and welfare.”
Latest News
Playson boosts market share in Switzerland with Swiss4Win by Casino Lugano
Published
19 mins ago
on
March 4, 2024
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Swiss4Win player base set to benefit from a selection of Playson’s top-performing slots
Playson, the fast-growing digital entertainment supplier, has expanded further across Switzerland in partnership with Swiss4Win, the online casino brand of tier one operator Casino Lugano.
The major deal with one of Switzerland’s most well-known casino brands follows a strong year of growth in the market for Playson. As part of the agreement, Swiss4Win’s players now have access to a trio of creative releases, including Energy Coins: Hold and Win, Royal Joker: Hold and Win, and Book of Gold: Multichance.
Casino Lugano was launched in 2002 and built on its popularity as a safe and Swiss made casino by launching online brand Swiss4Win. It currently offers slots, live casino, table games and tournaments.
Playson continues to pursue further European growth with momentum in the year ahead and this latest deal in Switzerland shows the high demand for its rich games’ portfolio across the continent.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “We are thrilled to enjoy further growth in Switzerland with this major partnership. It is an honour to continue growing in the country with a tier 1 operator like Casino Lugano. We are confident that Swiss4Win’s renowned position in the market, combined with our energetic and engaging slots, will create an attractive proposition that players greatly enjoy.”
Paolo Sanvido, CEO at Casino Lugano, said: “Playson’s slots are in high demand in Switzerland, and we are delighted to integrate a selection of their games on www.swiss4win.ch. We are sure our players will enjoy discovering the Playson slots we now offer and look forward to discovering what the future holds for our partnership.”
Latest News
Octoplay goes live with tier one operator ComeOn Group
Published
34 mins ago
on
March 4, 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The sought-after supplier integrates its online slot titles across the operator’s network of regulated casino brands
In-demand online casino game development company, Octoplay, announced they have entered into a partnership with leading igaming operator ComeOn Group, whose casino brands will now offer its premium games to players for the first time.
The direct integration has seen a selection of titles built on Octoplay’s proprietary game server go live across selected brands in the operator’s casino portfolio. This encompasses the newest releases from the supplier, featuring the latest hit, Eternal Clash, as well as Eggsponential and Lollicat.
ComeOn Group is an international tier one operator that has earned its reputation for delivering player experiences that are of the highest quality with emphasis on creating a safe environment for their player base. ComeOn and Octoplay will continue to work together to meet the expectations of the regulated markets they operate in and to deliver best-in-class entertainment experiences for their customer base.
Ralitsa Georgieva, Business Development Director at Octoplay, “We’re excited to partner up with ComeOn Group as they share our commitment to providing enjoyable and safe entertainment experiences for players globally.”
“Partnering with an operator such as ComeOn Group means our portfolio of games will reach a wider audience, allowing us to tap into key regulated markets worldwide.”
“We are confident that ComeOn Group’s customer base will find value in the captivating experience our games deliver.”
Cristiano Blanco, Chief Product Officer at ComeOn Group, added: “We are excited to join forces with Octoplay as this partnership is evidence of our commitment to bringing the absolute best content into our portfolio of games. “We have a good synergy with Octoplay as we have a common view on what it means in terms of quality of games produced that we will make available to our customer base across our network of brands.”
Octoplay was established with a straightforward goal: to create the most thrilling and enjoyable slot games globally. Remarkably, within just a year of its launch, the company successfully forged partnerships with some of the industry’s largest operators.
Africa
ESA Gaming amplifies African presence with Betika collaboration
Published
52 mins ago
on
March 4, 2024
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Innovative games provider, ESA Gaming has unveiled its latest partnership with Betika, bolstering the presence of its EasySwipe™ portfolio across Africa.
The agreement will see ESA Gaming integrate its innovative EasySwipe™ game suite, tailored to meet the preferences of African players with a collection of ultra-lightweight, mobile-first titles.
The portfolio features high-performing titles such as Goal Mine and Pirate Mine, accompanied by the latest video slots like 12 Deadly Spins and Candy Drops, as well as the thrilling crash-style games, Rocket Racers and Big Fish Bonanza.
Established in 2016, Betika stands as a top-tier betting platform in Africa, offering its users a diverse selection of Sportsbook, Casino, and Virtual games across key markets such as Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Following its recent collaboration with Kiron Interactive, the supplier further solidifies its foothold in the continent with this latest announcement.
Thomas Smallwood, Head of Marketing at ESA Gaming, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with a leading operator like Betika, marking a significant stride in broadening our presence in Africa.
“With 18 titles currently available, and more on the horizon, our portfolio promises an unparalleled gaming experience that we believe local players will truly relish.”
Peter Stagles, Head of Gaming at Betika, added: “This partnership introduces a fresh wave of dynamic and non-traditional games to our platform.
“We’re excited to embark on this journey with ESA Gaming and further elevate the experience for our audience.”