Total Performance Data teams up with leading Stateside supplier for ground-breaking in-running product
17th August 2020 – XB Net, the leading provider of premium content for North American racing, has announced a ground-breaking new partnership with Total Performance Data (TPD), the definitive source of in-running data for horse racing.
Thanks to Equibase’s GPS rollout, the pair are launching an “in-running” industry-first for North American horse racing. This product undertakes to revolutionise live betting by delivering reliable pricing on a popular sport which has traditionally struggled to maintain pace with a broader sportsbook marketplace, where over 70% of turnover is generated in-play. Now, however, TPD and XB Net have combined to produce a dependable in-play offering that crystalises accurate odds for the most solid in-play, fixed-odds pricing available.
The feed fuses the PA starting price with the best of automated trading via TPD’s astonishing range of consequential in-running analytics, including stride length, stride frequency and sectional timings enabled by saddle-cloth GPS tracking. These variables are accordingly harvested in-play by TPD’s machine-learning trading tools whose algorithms train themselves on race pace for precise pricing that delivers a distinct step-change in live fixed-odds wagering.
This landmark deal promises to usher in a bright dawn for in-play betting on horses, providing operators and their customers with the following benefits:
- In-running prices available on existing PA Media XML/DTD integration
- Win-only in-play betting from XB Net racecourses, with further markets in due course
- 1,500 race days per year and rising
- Improved in-running engagement, featuring:
- Accommodating after-the-off “late money”
- Live tradeable prices until the final furlong, sometimes even the wire
- Cashout-integrated functionality in-play (fair-margin, lowest latency)
- Price-smoothing and visual-tracking graphics to enhance the user experience
This new in-running pricing feed now capitalises on its position to deliver deeper engagement for horse racing fans and improved digital dwell-time for operators. Demo feeds are already trialling successfully with a number of high-profile operators, helping create fresh revenues streams against the backdrop of a progressively homogenised betting landscape.
The announcement adds yet more muscle to XB Net’s leading end-to-end solution which grants its clients access to many of the planet’s most prestigious races, with rescheduled marquee events like the Preakness Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup still to come across a packed timetable this autumn.
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, said: “The cat is well and truly out of the bag when it comes to the significance of in-play turnover for sports betting. So, it was high time racing narrowed the gap with a legitimate and robust product of its own. Working with TPD’s team of analytical experts has allowed us to finally deliver that new product for North American racing.
“This isn’t about incremental gains. It’s an automated product revolution which belatedly gives the operators and customers the live service that they’ve been demanding for a long time. TPD has seamlessly incorporated its API with the PA Media’s benchmark XML language, ensuring total peace of mind and speed of integration for any operator looking to add this breakthrough feed.”
William Duff Gordon, CEO at TPD, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with XB Net in the States to provide the only fully automated in-play solution on the market. As with any live sport, you must have a service that keeps up in-play, harnessing the most accurate and lowest-latency data feeds to secure genuine market innovation. Our prices process the key variables in real-time, and leverage neural networks to create the best possible in-play price.
“XB Net’s unparalleled racetrack coverage in North America – coupled to their strong heritage in managing content rights, data and odds – meant that they were the logical partners in a shared vision that challenges an outmoded mindset around horse racing trading. Deeper audience engagement is simply our combined aim. So, we’re confident this in-play solution will bring a welcome new dimension to anyone following racing stateside.”
ENDS
Editor’s notes
About XB Net:
XB Net is the leading provider of live North American horse and greyhound racing content. It manages the content rights, data, odds and signals (broadcast and video streaming) on behalf of a broad portfolio of global partners, allowing them to integrate and deploy ground-breaking technologies to drive new revenue streams. Working with many of the world’s leading fixed-odds, spread-betting and commingled wagering companies (such as Flutter Entertainment, Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports, Codere, OPAP, Playtech, William Hill and GVC) XB Net enjoys successful partnerships across Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia.
About Total Performance Data:
Total Performance Data delivers race-timing technology and real-time positioning information, deployed around the world. Using the latest GNSS technology, designed and developed in the high-tech cluster surrounding Cambridge University, TPD’s Race Pace positioning data streams live-racing calculations to on-course and off-course audiences. In-race, real-time positions are transmitted within fractions of a second; facilitating speed, stride length and split-time calculations while the race is in progress. TPD is the exclusive provider of race positioning data from 37 racecourses worldwide – www.totalperformancedata.com.
Warrington-based operator confirms its dedication to top-class horse racing with renewal deal with leading Stateside supplier
10th August 2020 – XB Net, the leading provider of premium content for North American horse and greyhound racing, has announced the renewal of its ongoing distribution deal with Tier-1 operator, Betfred.
The deal extends XB Net’s provision of live pictures, data and betting services from an unrivalled network of over 50 North American tracks (approximately 90% of U.S. horse racing) enabling Betfred to flexibly populate its programming timetable with a robust pipeline of rapid-cycle betting opportunities that are proven to increase digital dwell-time for both new and existing customers.
The Warrington-based operator owns and operates over 1,500 betting shops in the UK, alongside its industry-leading online and mobile products in the UK and Spain. Betfred is also is now branching out into greenfield opportunities with its subsidiary Betfred USA Sports, cementing its position at the forefront of a rapidly developing North American landscape.
Accordingly, deploying XB Net’s end-to-end solution has allowed Betfred customers access to many of the planet’s most prestigious horse races, with reordered flagship events like the Preakness Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup still to come amid a packed autumn schedule, alongside a progressive portfolio of Stateside greyhound tracks.
XB Net is the market leader for live North American racing content, managing international rights, data, odds and 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 now reliably driving new revenue streams across worldwide markets as operators fill the void on a disrupted timetable for live sport.
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, said: “It’s a real validation for Betfred, a name so intrinsically linked with top-class horse racing, to have re-enlisted our services and confirmed its unswerving commitment to the enduring appeal of thoroughbred racing. Their support in bringing live North American racing to an engaged, recreational client-base has also helped grow the influence of our bespoke betting products. This continued collaboration is fitting tribute to all the XB Net team’s hard work over the past 12 months.”
Craig Reid, Trading Director at Betfred, added: “We’re delighted to extend our evolving partnership with XB Net who provide a one-stop shop for North American racing, both in our 1,500 shops and online. It is high-quality content and complements our schedule well.”
ENDS
Editor’s notes
About XB Net:
XB Net is the leading provider of live North American horse and greyhound racing content. It manages the content rights, data, odds and signals (broadcast and video streaming) on behalf of a broad portfolio of global partners, allowing them to integrate and deploy ground-breaking technologies to drive new revenue streams. Working with many of the world’s leading fixed-odds, spread-betting and commingled wagering companies (such as Flutter Entertainment, Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports, Codere, OPAP, Playtech, William Hill and GVC) XB Net enjoys successful partnerships across Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia.
New York Racing Association agrees exclusive broadcast and content rights with leading Stateside supplier after Belmont Stakes success
3rd August 2020 – XB Net, a product of 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s world-class data and media management service, has agreed to exclusive new deal terms with the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to bolster their ongoing partnership for the content rights, data, odds and signals from a host of top-class racecourses.
This agreement comprises broadcast and video streaming distribution rights from NYRA which feature over 1,000 days of racing each year from 18 racetracks, and showcase marquee venues such as Belmont Park, Aqueduct, and Saratoga – the three largest thoroughbred tracks in the state of New York.
The contract incorporates exclusive international broadcasting rights for the United Kingdom & Ireland, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, thereby broadening the appeal and scope of North American racing via XB Net’s growing global group of partners.
This breakthrough partnership also leverages natural synergies in content-provision between NYRA and The Stronach Group’s 1/ST RACING venues, including Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, whose innovative content and betting services XB Net represents. Their flagship television simulcast program has been seen to good effect on Sky Sports and its At The Races digital channels in recent months, providing viewers with high-class nightly coverage.
XB Net’s broader provision of live pictures, data and betting services from an unrivalled network of over 50 North American tracks (accounting for roughly 90% of U.S. horse racing) enables its operator partners to flexibly fill their daily programming schedules with a steady stream of rapid-cycle betting opportunities that are proven to increase activity and engagement for new and existing customers alike.
1/ST TECHNOLOGY is the digital arm of The Stronach Group, horse racing’s largest racing and gaming company and the leading provider of premium content for North American horse racing.
Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer & President of NYRA Bets, said: “NYRA is pleased to expand our partnership with XB Net to further broaden the international reach of North American thoroughbred racing. Sports fans and bettors around the world can look forward to even more coverage of top quality racing from the best venues in the United States.”
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, added: “It’s great to see NYRA and the 1/ST RACING racetracks working in unison to return value back to North American racing in these challenging times. Securing this long-term collaboration confirms XB Net’s commitment to the sport and our wider status as the leading international provider of North American racing. This deal is a ringing endorsement of our business model and the combined diligence of our multi-faceted team.
“During the present pandemic, North American racing has been one of very few elite sports that has been able to maintain both a solid timetable and a high bar for quality and data integrity with fast-settling content that can fill the gaps for live sport, wherever you set your scene on the map. Record engagement levels around the Belmont Stakes proved another eloquent case in point – it’s fantastic to see the sport’s popularity surge.”
ENDS
Editor’s notes
About XB Net:
XB Net, a subsidiary of 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, is the leading provider of live North American horse and greyhound racing content. It manages the content rights, data, odds and signals (broadcast and video streaming) on behalf of a broad portfolio of global partners, allowing them to integrate and deploy ground-breaking technologies to drive new revenue streams. Working with many of the world’s leading fixed-odds, spread-betting and commingled wagering companies (such as Flutter Entertainment, Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports, Codere, OPAP, Playtech, William Hill and GVC) XB Net enjoys successful partnerships across Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia.
Monarch Content Management is the simulcast buyer and sales agent for a group of twelve tracks (including Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Del Mar, Monmouth, Tampa Bay Downs and Pimlico Race Course) which fall under The Stronach Group’s 1/ST RACING family of racecourses.
About 1/ST TECHNOLOGY
1/ST TECHNOLOGY, a division of The Stronach Group’s 1/ST brand, is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company. It is committed to the growth and success of the industry globally through business-to-consumer and business-to-business product innovation, extensive professional service offerings, the broadest integration of hosts for commingled pari-mutuel and fixed odds betting and the continued evolution of the world’s preeminent totalisator systems. Additionally, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY provides service and support to all Stronach Group racetracks, technologies and corporate offices by centralizing effort, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY’s world-class products – AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix – are among the most trusted names in gaming, technology and horse racing. In 2019, these products were aligned under a singular management team to create a superior workflow and leverage subject matter expertise to devise best-in-class solutions. For more information visit www.1st.com.
Revamped sportsbook leverages the growing retention power of North American horse racing for UK operator
21st July 2020 – XB Net, the leading provider of premium content for US horse and greyhound racing, has announced its latest partnership with GentingBet, the UK sportsbook arm of Genting Casinos.
The deal exploits XB Net’s delivery of live pictures, data and betting services from a peerless network of over 50 North American tracks (approximately 90% of U.S. horse racing) allowing GentingBet to flexibly fill its programming schedule with a prolific pipeline of rapid-cycle betting opportunities which are proven to enhance engagement for new and existing fans of the sport.
GentingBet has recently streamlined its sports-betting services by launching a new user interface across the brand’s web and mobile platforms to improve the customer experience. Its sportsbook is operated in partnership with FSB Technology whose proprietary platform provides clients with everything required to run a responsible sports betting business across online, mobile and retail.
XB Net is the proven pacesetter for live North American racing content, managing international rights, data, odds and 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 engaging more and more bettors as worldwide operators plug the gaps on an uncertain sporting calendar.
Now working with many of the world’s leading fixed-odds, spread-betting and commingled wagering companies (such as Flutter Entertainment, Bet365, Codere, William Hill, Playtech, OPAP and GVC) XB Net enjoys a growing geographic footprint in mature and emerging markets across the UK & Ireland, Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia.
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, said: “From Malaysia to New York and Mayfair, Genting is a global brand whose expertise and customer care is second to none. So, it’s fantastic to partner with their revamped UK sportsbook, which has quickly recognised the merits and utility of North American racing. Although domestic racing is back in full swing in the UK, those viewers and bettors who were drawn to North American racing during the lockdown have largely been retained which is a big boost to our product.
“After all, wherever you set your scene on the world stage, delivering the right content at peak leisure-times remains paramount during a period of slim pickings on any sports betting tab. XB Net’s wide range of low-latency racing solutions and racetracks deliver that flexibility. While our popular nightly broadcasts with the Sky Sports team have brought welcome insight and familiarity for many new viewers to North American racing.”
Billy Cook, Head of Sportsbook at GentingBet, added: “Our customers have seen the added fun and value that US racing brings to their betting experience, providing a trustworthy and regular flow of quick-fire betting opportunities which fit the bill whether they’re interested in watching one race or the entire card. As we saw with Royal Ascot transitioning perfectly to top-notch evening meetings stateside, high-class 24/7 programming is now the new normal for our UK bettors, thanks to this breakout partnership with XB Net and their expertise in wagering solutions.”
ENDS
Editor’s notes
About XB Net:
XB Net is the leading provider of live North American horse and greyhound racing content. It manages the content rights, data, odds and signals (broadcast and video streaming) on behalf of a broad portfolio of global partners, allowing them to integrate and deploy ground-breaking technologies to drive new revenue streams. Working with many of the world’s leading fixed-odds, spread-betting and commingled wagering companies (such as Flutter Entertainment, Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports, Codere, OPAP, Playtech, William Hill and GVC) XB Net enjoys successful partnerships across Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia.
Leeds-based operator confirms its commitment to horse racing with renewal deal with leading Stateside supplier
23rd June 2020 – XB Net, the leading provider of premium content for North American horse and greyhound racing, has announced the renewal of its ongoing distribution agreement with tier-one operator, Sky Bet.
The deal extends XB Net’s provision of live pictures, data and betting services from an unrivalled network of over 50 North American tracks (approximately 90% of U.S. horse racing) enabling Sky Bet to flexibly populate its programming schedule with a consistent pipeline of rapid-cycle betting opportunities that are proven to increase digital dwell-time for new and existing customers alike.
Sky Bet – whose parent company, The Stars Group, recently merged to form industry power-house Flutter Entertainment – accordingly bolsters its progressive portfolio of international betting rights for racing. XB Net’s end-to-end solution grants access to many of the planet’s most prestigious horse races, including the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, the Pegasus World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup, alongside a suite of storied Stateside dog tracks.
XB Net is the pacesetter for live North American horse racing content, managing international rights, data, odds and 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 now reliably driving new revenue streams across worldwide markets as operators fill the void on a disrupted timetable for live sport.
During the current COVID-19 crisis, North American racing has been one of very few top-class sports which has been able to sustain both a solid schedule and high bar for quality and data integrity with fast-settling content that can be seamlessly pressed into service in any slot or time zone.
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, said: “It’s a real fillip to announce the renewal of our distribution deal with Sky Bet, a brand synonymous with longstanding racing success in the UK. Their support in bringing live North American racing to an engaged, recreational client-base has helped grow the appeal of our bespoke betting products. This continued collaboration is a validation of all our XB Net team’s hard work over the previous 12 months.”
Leading spread-betting firm extends its distribution deal for premium pictures, betting data and odds ahead of Triple Crown weekend
18th June 2020 – XB Net, the leading provider of premium content for US horse and greyhound racing, has announced the two-year extension of its ongoing partnership with sports spreads and fixed-odds betting firm, Spreadex.
The deal sees the St Albans-based operator renew the rights on XB Net’s wealth of live pictures, data and betting services across an unrivalled network of over 50 North American tracks, allowing Spreadex to flexibly load its daily timetable with a deep well of fast-settling betting opportunities that are proven to drive digital dwell-time and diversify revenues.
Spreadex’s popular daily markets will continue to feature aggregated performance markets, race-by-race index spreads and binary fixed-odds markets. While XB Net’s end-to-end solution opens up many of the world’s most prestigious horse races, including this weekend’s Belmont Stakes, the Preakness Stakes, the Pegasus World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup, alongside a suite of storied dog tracks in Florida.
Saturday night’s Belmont Stakes raises the curtain on a U.S. Triple Crown rescheduled in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. A stellar card, kicking off at Belmont Park just hours after the final race at Royal Ascot, reaches its climax with the Belmont Stakes (22:42 BST) where the undefeated Tiz The Law has captured the betting market and local fan attention at the famous New York track. Winner of the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Tiz The Law has already booked his spot at the Kentucky Derby on 5th September, with the Preakness, the final jewel in the Triple Crown and another XB Net flagship race now set for 3rd October.
XB Net is the pacesetter for live North American racing content, managing international rights, data, odds and 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 converting untapped audiences as global operators plug the gaps on an interrupted calendar of live sport.
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, said: “It’s a real validation of our team’s hard work that a name as respected as Spreadex has renewed our full package of pictures, data and content rights. North American racing has been one of very few top-class sports which has been able to maintain a robust timetable and a high bar for top-notch, rapid-cycle content that can be used to fill the void across any slot or time zone.
“Although high-class horse racing has happily returned to the UK, those viewers and bettors who were drawn to North American racing during the lockdown have largely been retained which is very encouraging. This weekend’s Belmont Stakes in New York, whose undercard is also screened live on Sky Sports, can again prove the point by picking up the bit from the final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday evening. Maybe the Queen and Queens aren’t so far removed after all!”
Shaun Howells, Sports Room Manager at Spreadex, added: “We’re thrilled to be renewing these distribution rights in our ongoing alliance with XB Net, whose one-stop shop for betting services has opened our customers’ eyes to the excitement and accessibility of stateside racing, creating extra revenue streams in the process. With many of our clients located in the UK, there are natural leisure-time synergies to be had with North American racing, We’re delighted to see that levels for engagement and retention have improved as a result.
