Sportech Racing and Digital, a division of Sportech PLC, is pleased to announce the renewal and extension of the Company’s agreement with longtime client Emerald Downs Racetrack and Casino in Washington State.

The multi-year extension to the Totalisator Services Agreement was reached upon conclusion of a competitive bidding process.

Sportech Racing and Digital (“Sportech”) delivers Tote Services to Emerald Downs Racetrack and Casino (“Emerald Downs”) with Sportech’s Quantum™ System software and services from the Global Quantum™ Data and Operations Center. A local team of operations specialists support the Tote equipment installed at Emerald Downs to ensure smooth betting operations.

Emerald Downs will also adopt new Sportech technologies, including the new white label on-track mobile betting service. The new mobile option is a key component of a flexible new betting software platform that presents an intuitive user interface across a range of racetrack platforms including on-track mobile, teller service, self-service, and roaming teller service.

Bob Fraser, Vice President of Operations for Emerald Downs, remarked, “Emerald Downs value the partnership we have built with Sportech over many years and look forward to continue working together to offer our patrons the best possible betting experience when they visit our track.”

Bill Russell, Sportech’s Director, Sales and Business Development for North America, stated, “Sportech is thrilled to extend our partnership with Emerald Downs in their 25^th season of live racing. We are also excited to introduce our new betting software platform for the first time in North America through Emerald Downs’ new on-track mobile. We value the trust Emerald Downs places in Sportech as a key technology partner and are committed to delivering solutions that satisfy their players and streamline their operations.”

Sportech PLC, an international betting technology business, is pleased to announce the commencement of a new multi-year international commingling agreement with UK Tote Group and the formal handover to UK Tote Group of a proprietary digital platform, www.tote.co.uk, developed jointly with Sportech.

The new international commingling agreement will enable UK Tote Group to utilise Sportech’s worldwide Quantum™ commingling ecosystem to access horseracing and other sporting pools across the globe. Such access supports their international growth aspirations including the recently announced enhanced partnership with The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

In addition to the new international commingling agreement, Sportech formally handed over a proprietary digital platform on which Sportech has worked closely with UK Tote Group over the last year to jointly create and deliver. The new platform gives UK Tote Group cutting edge digital technology in a fully containerised, cloud based solution to grow their online business. The new digital platform is directly connected to Sportech’s worldwide commingling ecosystem, bringing a myriad of opportunities for the deployment of additional Tote products from international operators.

Richard McGuire, Chief Executive of Sportech, said: “Sportech has invested heavily to develop its Quantum™ global ecosystem and to improve the quality of its international business. The global market for pool betting is in excess of US$100 billion and UK Tote Group has an impressive team with ambitious plans. Sportech is delighted to extend its relationship with UK Tote Group to support their global initiatives.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of UK Tote Group, said: “This agreement with Sportech demonstrates further commitment to our international development plans and a desire to see our pools betting operation lead the way in technological innovation to help grow betting on horseracing around the world.”

Sportech Racing and Digital, a division of Sportech PLC, unveiled new technologies for retail pari-mutuel betting at the 38^th Asian Racing Conference taking place this week in Cape Town, South Africa.

Deemed Sportech’s ‘next generation’ terminal betting software, the new platform is an agile, efficient, future proof solution that functions seamlessly on a range of third-party hardware products, allowing betting operators to declare independence from proprietary hardware.

Conference participants from around the world are viewing demonstrations of the new software platform, which can be used to offer the full range of on-track and retail betting services including teller electronic point of sale (ePOS), roaming teller ePOS, full self-service, and on-track mobile self-service.

The software platform delivers the teller-based and self-service functionally with real-time connectivity to Sportech’s Quantum™ System Tote.

Despite its flexible nature, Sportech’s new betting software sacrifices nothing in terms of usability or features. With an interface crafted by experts in gaming UI design, it presents an exciting departure from more typical betting interfaces, with a significantly enhanced user experience and intuitive workflow.

Sportech PLC, the international betting technology business, announced that its Sportech Racing and Digital division have secured a new contract with the Irish Greyhound Board (“IGB”) that both extends their Tote Services agreement for a new multi-year term and upgrades IGB’s current Series 7 Tote to Sportech’s state-of-the-art Quantum™ System.

Quantum™ is the most widely deployed Tote betting software in the world and will offer IGB unprecedented access to new pools and new markets, with its expansive and ever-growing list of pools and bet types and unmatched global commingling capabilities.

Joe Lewins, Director of Tote and Wagering at Irish Greyhound Board, stated, “The Irish Greyhound Board is happy to be making this important investment in our betting operation with the upgrade to Sportech’s Quantum™ Tote and look forward to delivering an overall improved betting experience to our players. Sportech have been an excellent technology partner to IGB for many years and we look forward to a continued productive relationship.”

In addition to the current functions available to all Sportech clients who use Quantum™, the contract with IGB will involve further development by Sportech’s team of product developers to incorporate features key to greyhound racing operations.

Bruno Gay, Sportech’s Vice President of Sales and Business Development EMEA, remarked, “Sportech are very pleased to extend the power of Quantum™ System to IGB and to offer them the pools, market reach, and operational tools to help them maximise their potential. We look forward to a continued strong business partnership with IGB that harnesses Sportech’s technologies to elevate the betting experience for their players.”

Sportech PLC, the international betting technology business, announced that it has strengthened its product and commercial teams with the addition of key individuals who will work across the Group’s B2B divisions.

Paul Rietdyke will lead Sportech’s new Product User Experience and Design department to help elevate clients’ online digital experiences to the next level. With extensive experience across a range of sectors, Paul has developed world class digital experiences for numerous clients including UK-based agency work for Arsenal FC, Everton FC, Liverpool FC and the Saudi Football league, as well as engagements with Think Money Group and Sportpesa.

Leon Hosking joins the Sportech team as Product Manager, bringing additional knowledge of the betting industry to Sportech’s product development initiatives. Leon’s most recent role was as trading and operations specialist for Sportpesa where he was responsible for the offerings of the UK, Italian and .com websites, advising the trading, payments, marketing, customer integrity and CRM departments. He also held a product owner role for bespoke horse racing products. Leon has held senior roles at Skybet, Totesport and Coral in risk, trading, odds, training and development.

Finally, Chris Rogers joins the Sportech team as Commercial Manager. Chris will combine his deep industry knowledge and strong commercial and account management skills to help support the continued growth of Sportech’s product range. Chris has extensive experience in the betting and gaming industry, most recently handling trading, marketing, CRM, acquisition, and responsible gambling for Leo Vegas group’s UK-facing sportsbooks. Chris has also worked for prestigious names in the gaming industry including Coral and Betfred.

Sportech Venues, Inc., a division of Sportech PLC, announced that the Connecticut State Budget signed by Governor Lamont on June 26, 2019 included legislation that clarifies and strengthens Sportech’s exclusive license to conduct off-track pari-mutuel betting in the State of Connecticut.

Sportech Venues, Inc. holds the exclusive license to offer off-track betting in the State of Connecticut and does so through its 15 venues and online betting services.

This budget legislation closes a loophole and thus legally prohibits unlicensed online operators from taking wagers from Connecticut residents.  This law becomes effective as of 1 October 2019.

Ted Taylor, President of Sportech Venues, Inc., said, “Sportech have invested heavily in our Connecticut business on the basis of our exclusive license to offer off-track betting there. We are pleased that the State of Connecticut recognized Sportech’s exclusive license with this legislation to close a loophole that deprived Sportech of legitimate revenues but also, by virtue of uncollected pari-mutuel taxes, deprived the State of Connecticut of tax proceeds. This was a good result for both Sportech and for the people of the State of Connecticut.”

Sportech PLC, the international betting technology business, announced key new management team changes in the Group’s B2B division.

Raj Sanjanwala has been appointed Group Chief Technology Officer to manage and advance the Group’s technology strategy across all B2B business lines. Raj joined the company as a developer in 1987 and has assumed increasingly more significant responsibilities over the course of his engagement, including most recently as Director of Global Tote Development.

Andrew Lindley, co-founder of recent Sportech acquisition LOT.TO, has been appointed Group Chief Operating Officer. Andrew has served as General Counsel for the UK Tote, has founded successful lottery betting and technology businesses including Lottoland.com and LOT.TO, and has served as non-executive director on several media and public company boards including Turf TV and SiS.

Julian Bewley, co-founder of LOT.TO, has been named Group Chief Commercial Officer. Formerly part of the founding team at CelebPoker, Julian brings digital technical innovation and transformation knowledge coupled with strong marketing and business development skills to the new Sportech role. Julian has held advisory and executive roles at various sports, gaming and technology companies, including ZEAL Network, 32Red and Caesars Palace.

Rounding out these appointments are additional enhancements to further strengthen Sportech’s Technology group.

Lewis Theobald, formerly of LOT.TO, has been promoted to Chief of Digital Development to shape the Group’s digital transformation strategy in Tote, Sports and Lottery.

Mark Bacha has been promoted to the role of Director, Tote Development and Systems Analysis to expand and enhance Sportech’s leading international commingling capabilities and core Tote engine.

Brett Underhill has been promoted to Director, Tote Development and Support to drive development of Sportech’s client portal and back-end reporting systems as he continues to support Sportech’s EMEA Tote client base.

Finally, Sportech Racing and Digital welcomes Steve Gore as Director, Systems Infrastructure to focus on providing secure, scalable solutions to Sportech’s global client base.

Sportech Racing and Digital, a division of Sportech PLC, is pleased to announce that it successfully delivered the new “Ascot World Pool”, a global commingling project undertaken by Sportech for Betfred Totepool, Ascot Racecourse, and Hong Kong Jockey Club during the 2019 Royal Ascot meet.

The World Pool is a pari-mutuel betting pool designed to maximize liquidity by combining tote betting from global outlets, including Ascot’s on-course tote, Betfred’s UK Totepool and the Royal Ascot pool hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The Ascot World Pool project is powered by Sportech’s Quantum™ System, the world’s most widely deployed pari-mutuel betting system, and delivered with hosting and operational services from Sportech’s Global Quantum™ Data and Operations Centre.

Raj Sanjanwala, Chief Technology Officer of Sportech, said: “The World Pool initiative is indicative of what Sportech does best.  We listen to our client’s ambitions and work closely with their teams to cooperatively deliver a seamless global solution. In this case, working with world-class partners Betfred Totepool, Ascot Racecourse, and Hong Kong Jockey Club to execute the solution live on the world stage, ultimately delivering a terrific result. Royal Ascot, I suspect,  was just the opening chapter of the potential for pools that deliver increased liquidity for our combined worldwide client base.”

The World Pool project demonstrates Sportech’s sustained commitment to its pari-mutuel pools betting business, to preserving the ease of betting for a global betting audience, and to leveraging Quantum™ System’s flexible methods for merging local and remote product to further expand the solution globally.