Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, Sweden’s state-owned gaming operator, has renamed its horse games to Svenska Spel Hästar following a dispute with ATG over the name of its trotting venture. The Patent and Market Appeal Court announced the judgment on 25 January, prompting the company to implement this change. This incident marks another setback for the operator, but it remains well-positioned for further growth.

The Name Change Should Have No Ill Consequences

The transition to Svenska Spel Hästar aims to maintain service continuity while complying with the court’s judgment regarding the name dispute. Svenska Spel remains committed to delivering a top-notch trotting experience for its users, incorporating emerging technologies to ensure lasting customer engagement while remaining true to its safe gambling commitment. 

Svenska Spel Sport & Casino CEO and business area manager Fredrik Wastenson did not hide his disappointment with the court’s ruling, expressing confusion at how the judges considered that descriptive words for a business could have such high protection. He nevertheless acknowledged the decision and vowed to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“We are proud of our fantastic offer on horses, which will be available just like before, but now under Svenska Spel Hästar.”

Fredrik Wastenson, Svenska Spel Sport & Casino CEO and business area manager

Svenska Spel Hästar provides various betting options, including bets on high-stakes games like High Five, Duo, and other formats like Winner and Place in French competitions. The platform also allows users to follow all races live. An upcoming highlight of the French trotting season, the Prix d’Amérique, is scheduled for 28 January at Vincennes.

Sweden’s Land-Based Sector Continues to Struggle

While the rebranding of Svenska Spel’s horse games is a relatively minor issue for the operator, it may compound with several other recent setbacks. The company recently announced it could close two land-based venues, Casino Cosmopol in Gothenburg and Malmö.  Svenska Spel confirmed it intends to close the two venues while seeking to “limit losses.”

These challenges originate from the decreasing share of the land-based sector within the gaming vertical in the country. The state-owned operator explained that a substantial shift toward the online gambling sector occurred in 2019 with the reregulation of the industry, further exacerbated by the pandemic. However, Svenska Spel has implemented measures to increase revenues, hopefully achieving a more balanced market.

Svenska Spel’s state-owned status means the operator is significantly more resilient to market downturns and can more easily implement measures to tackle rising industry challenges. It also plays a vital role in spearheading gambling harm prevention research and ensuring that the country’s gambling sector remains safe and sustainable.

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The leading supplier of betting services catering to gambling operators across the globe, Sports Information Services (SIS), announced a new partnership, allowing it to significantly grow its horse racing offering. On Wednesday, the company released details regarding its new deal with Korea Racing Authority, growing its live racing content with the addition of premium horse racing fixtures from Korea.

Per the new agreement, SIS will gain access to more than 200 fixtures annually from Seoul as well as Busan. This will grant access to 1,800 races, significantly expanding the company’s Asian content offering. Thanks to the new collaboration, SIS will not only expand its live racing content but leverage the access to premium horse racing fixtures.

This, in turn, can help create new opportunities for the company with operators across the globe. SIS explained that the new deal with the Korea Racing Authority complements the growth of its offering. Recently, the company completed a similar expansion on an international level, bringing content from South Africa and Australia.

The latest deal comes after another important change was announced by SIS recently. At the end of 2023, the company confirmed it stepped back from its greyhound simulcast operations in the United States.

The Partnership Is Expected to Create New Betting Opportunities

SuHyeong Lee, the Korea Racing Authority’s head of international races and relations, spoke about the strong position SIS holds by offering racing content from across the globe. The head of international races and relations added that the Authority is excited to join forces with the leading supplier of betting services and content. “We firmly believe this will successfully widen the popularity of horse racing from Korea and are sure that our offering will be well received globally,” explained Lee in conclusion.

“SIS is renowned throughout the industry for delivering the best international racing content and we are thrilled to be able to expand the visibility of our racing through this deal.“

SuHyeong Lee, head of international races and relations, at the Korea Racing Authority

Conall McSorley, SIS’ head of international horse racing, EMEA, highlighted the importance of offering quality racing fixtures from Korea. He added that the new deal boosts the company’s offering while at the same time, creating new betting opportunities. Finally, McSorley predicted that the new product would be well received by bettors, as well as operators in different markets.

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The famous horse trainer Bob Baffert was deeply conflicted after one of his horses was euthanized, while another one won the Preakness Stakes, all on the same day. Speaking with the Associated Press, Baffert noted that this day perfectly reflected the twists and turns of the sport.

National Treasure Won the Preakness Stakes

The horse that won the event was none other than National Treasure. Its participation in the event came right after Baffert’s two-year suspension expired. The trainer was originally suspended after the 2021 Kentucky Derby when one of his horses, Medina Spirit, tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug that is not allowed during race days.

National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, effectively trampling Mage’s chance for a Triple Crown. The victory at the $1.65 million race marked a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory for Baffert.

National Treasure’s victory marked the first Preakness race victory for its jockey, John Velazquez. The rider praised the horse for its outstanding performance.

The champion horse paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.60 to show. The favorite to win the race was the Kentucky Derby champion Mage, which ended up finishing third.

The Passing of Havnameltdown Upset the Trainer

While National Treasure’s win certainly made Baffert proud, the prior death of another horse saddened the trainer.

Baffert’s Havnameltdown, a three-year-old colt, injured his left front leg in an undercard race just a few hours before the Preakness Stakes. As a result of its injury, the young horse had to be euthanized, much to Baffert’s dismay.

The trainer revealed that he felt pained seeing the horse get hurt. Because of that, he couldn’t properly enjoy National Treasure’s victory.

The only silver lining is that Luis Saez, Havnameltdown’s jockey, did not seem badly hurt. While he was immediately rushed to a hospital, the X-rays failed to detect a serious injury.

Baffert couldn’t take Havnameltdown out of his head all day, saying that the incident has really affected them.

Luckily, US horse racing deaths are at their lowest level since they started being tracked back in 2009. However, a string of recent incidents has once again highlighted the dangers of the sport and the need to do more to prevent on-track deaths.

As a result, new medication and doping rules will be introduced next Monday, with horseracing authorities hoping to make a change.

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UK gambling firm Betfred has been unveiled as the new sponsor of the St Leger festival following a multi-year deal between the firm and the operator of the event.

The new arrangement between Betfred and Arena Racing Company (ARC) means that the gambling firm will now sponsor three of the five British Classics and will be joining the likes of William Hill and Ladbrokes as a sponsor of Britain’s oldest Classic dating back to 1776.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Betfred’s founder Fred Done outlined that sponsoring the St Leger festival means more than just business for his company – it is a privilege – and he is “proud to be associated with the world’s oldest Classic which is synonymous with great horses like Triple Crown winner Nijinsky, Dunfermline for the Queen and Oh So Sharp for Sir Henry Cecil.”

Under the terms of the deal with ARC, Betfred will sponsor several of the major supporting races among which the Doncaster Cup and Champagne Stakes, and ARC’s chief executive officer Martin Cruddace was more than happy to welcome the firm as the headline sponsor of the St Leger festival.

Fred Done and his team have long been keen supporters of British racing, and the inclusion of this historic race meeting into their sponsorship portfolio is another indication of their commitment to the sport.

Martin Cruddace, CEO, ARC

Betfred will replace Cazoo, the sponsor of the last two runnings of the St Leger festival which is the final British Classic of the season and will take place from September 14 to September 17. The first two Classics, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, will take place at Newmarket this weekend and will be sponsored by Qipco.

The new sponsorship followed less than a month after Betfred was designated as the sponsor of The Oaks and The Derby at Epsom Downs following the three-year deal with another of the major owners of racecourses in Britain, the Jockey Club.

The St Leger festival sponsorship will significantly expand Beftred’s presence in Britain’s horse racing over the next three years and help the brand which was once a prominent sponsor of horse racing in the country to accelerate its return to the sport’s sponsorship top.

In the past, Betfred has associated with sponsorships of the Ebor, Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch handicaps, as well as the country’s jewel in the crown, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but stepped back, when the exclusive license to operate pool betting at racecourses held by Tote, the operator Betfred acquired in 2011, ended in 2018.

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As per SIS’ newest partnership in Latin America, the company will become Gran Premio Hipódromo’s title sponsor. As one of the most important South American racing calendar events, the deal will substantially bolster the developer’s exposure in the region, hopefully presenting new growth opportunities. The agreement also reaffirms SIS’s commitment to horse racing as an integral part of its offerings.

The Chilean Gran Premio Hipódromo represents a perfect sponsorship opportunity for SIS thanks to its lasting popularity across Latin America. According to the new contract, the primary race on 29 April will be named the Clásico SIS. Hipódromo Chile race manager Beltran Montt noted that the upcoming event represented the peak of Chilean racing history, thanking SIS for their patronage.

SIS is a highly valued partner, and we are pleased to have their support to make the day special for all our stakeholders.

Beltran Montt, Hipódromo Chile race manager

This sponsorship builds on SIS’ ambitions to bolster its Latin American presence. In February, the supplier strengthened its partnership with the Valparaíso Sporting Club track, another of Chile’s high-profile horse racing destinations. SIS Content Services VP Michele Fischer reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the region’s horse racing scene, encouraging more quality content for fans worldwide.

Hipódromo Chile provides our clients with great racing all year, and we are delighted to support them on their biggest day.

Michele Fischer, SIS Content Services VP

SIS’ partnership with Hipódromo Chile also has a long-term component, allowing the supplier to distribute the track’s content to its global network of sportsbook partners. Horse racing is a cornerstone offering, thanks to agreements with tracks and clubs across the globe. The supplier takes every opportunity to expand its portfolio, as evidenced by its recent inclusion of six Italian racetracks.

SIS Continues to Excel Worldwide

SIS is well-known for its aggressive growth-oriented strategy, aiming to deliver quality content bolstered with its unique wagering-focused solution. The company’s integrated products offer live streaming with betting triggers and on-screen pricing information. A recent successful foray into eSports further cemented SIS’s position as one of the premier global content suppliers.

A wide-spanning network of sportsbook partners is a testament to SIS’ over three decades of experience. Despite its age, the company still enjoys substantial momentum, demonstrated by its latest deal with Polish operator Go+bet. The deal marked SIS’ first foray into the country, bringing its premium greyhound and horse racing content to an eager new audience.

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The Louisiana Illuminator reported that Louisiana’s casinos may soon be allowed to offer fixed-odds bets on horse racing, according to a proposal that advanced on April 17. 

Louisiana Horse Racing Association Shows Support for Fixed-Odds Betting Proposal

Fixed-odds betting would bring horse racing wagers in line with most other bets at sportsbooks, such as basketball or football games. Under fixed-odds betting, a bet placed with 5-to-1 odds would pay off at that rate no matter what subsequent bets are made on a race. Pari-mutuel bettors compete against each other, which can impact odds as more money is a bet on a horse.

The proposal has received support from the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, with executive director Ed Fenasci stating in an interview that it would attract a growing segment of gamblers to horse racing. 

The legislation also seeks to lower the share of fixed-odds profits that casinos forward to the state’s licensed racing association from 25% to 15% to encourage sportsbooks to participate.

The House Commerce Committee did not receive any opposition to the bill, and it was advanced without issue. If passed, it would mark a significant change for Louisiana’s horse racing industry and could potentially increase revenue for casinos and the racing association.

Louisiana Sportsbooks Profit $37M in December 2022

The Louisiana sports betting industry broke its record revenue in December 2022, bringing in $37 million, with the majority of the revenue generated by mobile sports betting, accounting for $30.5 million, while retail sports betting generated $6.4 million. 

This was the fourth time Louisiana sportsbooks had surpassed $30 million in a month, making it the highest-grossing month for the sports betting industry in Louisiana. Despite a decline in total handle, operators still managed to bring in a profit of $37 million due to a hold of 14% in mobile wagers and 18% in retail tickets, which marked a total win rate of 14.5%. 

Football was a significant contributor to the revenue generated by both mobile and retail sportsbooks in Louisiana, with mobile operators profiting $7.2 million, and retail operators profiting $2.9 million as a result of football-related bets. Even though the state’s revenue was lower in December than in both November and October, it still brought in over $4.3 million in taxes. The revenue loss reported in November was due to a massive payout of $75 million to Texas furniture mogul Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale after placing multiple high-stake bets on the Houston Astros winning the World Series. McIngvale’s major winnings resulted in a revenue decline of 206% in November.

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