Taking place from March 11-15, the RMG-run Cheltenham Festival is one of the leading events on the British and Irish racing calendar. Announced yesterday (March 7), the Playtech terminals will allow players to place in-play bets on self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) for the first time.
In total, in-play betting services will be available on almost 16,000 SSBTs across Britain and Ireland. This covers the Cheltenham Festival as well as other events hosted at RMG’s 37 shareholder racecourses.
Playtech’s SSBTs operate across all Betfred, BoyleSports and Paddy Power locations, as well as independent betting shops.
The roll-out has also been supported by Pythia Sports and Quantum Leap Solutions (QLS). Pythia has created pricing options for bookmakers, and QLS the design and navigation on the terminals.
RMG: terminals will drive revenue and engagement
Commenting on the project, RMG CEO Nick Mills said this will support in-person activity at British and Irish betting shops.
“The roll-out of in-play betting on RMG content is another significant step forward for driving revenues and engagement in the sport in betting shops in Britain and Ireland,” Mills said.
“Early indications are that in-play is already proving popular. In-play stakes in independent shops are accounting for nearly 10% of SSBT turnover on RMG content. We will work closely with our partners at Playtech, QLS and Pythia to continue to innovate and evolve the SSBT product.”
Playtech Sports managing director Lee Drabwell also talked up the roll-out. He said: “This is a major step forward in enhancing the betting shop experience by further digitalising betting opportunities through SSBTs.
“Our collaboration with RMG, Pythia, and QLS has elevated and enhanced the in-shop racing experience. With exciting innovations on the horizon, we are optimistic about the bright future this presents for both operators and customers.”
