Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs Upgrade Their Betting Services with Sportech Racing and Digital

Sportech Racing and Digital announces that it has been selected by Ellis Park as its new provider of pari-mutuel betting technologies and services. This agreement follows another new tote services contract signed earlier this year with Kentucky Downs.

Sportech began providing totalisator services to Kentucky Downs just before commencement of its record-breaking live meet under a contract that includes Sportech’s BetJet® terminals.
Sportech will commence with tote services for Ellis Park in January 2017. As with Kentucky Downs, Sportech will deliver betting services to Ellis Park with its world-class Quantum™ System– the world’s most widely-deployed pari-mutuel betting software – operated from Sportech’s state-of-the-art Global Quantum™ Data and Operations Center.

Patrons of Ellis Park will also enjoy an upgrade in the betting technologies available to them, including Sportech’s new BetJet® SL 2.5 self-service terminals and the Sportech Tablet for wireless account betting.

Ellis Park’s President, Ron Geary, stated, “We evaluated our options and were impressed with Sportech Racing and Digital’s technology, their track record, and their independence. We are looking forward to a smooth transition to the new technologies and to offering our players an overall improved betting experience.”

Corey Johnsen, President of Kentucky Downs, stated, “We have been very happy with our first live meet working with Sportech and have been pleased with not only their technology and their service, but also with their cooperation and professionalism. Our on-track handle was up 48% and Sportech was an important part of that improved customer service. We look forward to continuing to work together to give our players a fantastic experience.”

Andrew Gaughan, President of Sportech Racing // Digital said, “We are happy to welcome both Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs to the Sportech family and to expand our operations footprint into the state of Kentucky. This year we have experienced tremendous growth in our overseas business, particularly in Europe and Asia, but we are steadfastly committed to strengthening our footprint in North America and to delivering innovative products and services that meet the high demands of that market.”

Sportech Racing and Digital Secures New Contract with Tote Ireland

Sportech Racing and Digital announces that, following a competitive bidding process, it has been awarded a new contract with Tote Ireland to strengthen and expand the suite of pari-mutuel betting technologies and services utilized by the twenty-six horse racing tracks in the Republic of Ireland.

Sportech has been the technology and service provider to Tote Ireland since 1999, with operations and support provided from one of Sportech’s key operational centers located in Athlone, Ireland. The new contract has an initial term of five years plus five one-year options.
Under the new contract, Sportech will provide an upgrade to Tote Ireland’s Quantum™ System – the world’s most widely deployed pari-mutuel betting system – to deliver even more features and functionality to Irish punters. Sportech will continue to provide hosting and enhanced system operations from its Global Quantum™ Data and Operations Center in the USA. Sportech will also continue to provide the daily maintenance, operations, and support of the tote equipment installed at Tote Ireland’s racetracks under a logistics, service, and maintenance agreement.

Tim Higgins, CEO of Tote Ireland, commented, “Tote Ireland have a long and productive business relationship with Sportech and with their Ireland-based team. We look forward to enhancing the services offered to our players and to achieving further operational efficiencies in both on-site logistics and system operations.”

Andrew Gaughan, President of Sportech Racing and Digital, stated: “It is very gratifying to know that after many years our partnership with Tote Ireland remains robust and fruitful and that our technologies and services continue to be embraced by Tote Ireland as the way forward in an ever-increasingly competitive marketplace.”

Departing Director Statement – Rich Roberts

The following information is provided in accordance with Section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006.

Rich Roberts’ resignation from the Sportech PLC Board was accepted on 14 July 2016.

He was subject to a twelve month contractual notice period and will receive a payment in lieu of such notice period. He will continue to work with the Company until 1 September 2016 for no additional remuneration in order to ensure a successful handover of his duties.

He will be eligible for a pro-rated bonus in respect of the 2016 financial year, dependent upon meeting certain performance criteria, payable at the same time as performance bonuses for 2016 are paid to active employees.

Long-term incentive awards granted in 2014 and 2015 will, to the extent the relevant performance criteria has been met and pro-rated for the proportion of the performance period served, vest at the normal vesting date. No award was granted in 2016.

Save as set out above, no payments for loss of office have been made to Rich Roberts.

Full details of the remuneration payments made to Rich will be set out in the 2016 Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Bump 50:50 Announces its First MLB Contract with San Diego Padres

Bump 50:50 announced that it has been selected to provide the technologies and services to conduct 50/50 charitable raffles by the Padres Foundation.

The Padres Foundation is Bump’s first contract with an MLB team-affiliated charity, however Bump has helped generate amazing 50/50 raffle results at baseball events before. Earlier this spring, Bump technology generated a two-game jackpot of $290,000 – a Quebec and MLB 50/50 raffle record – for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, which hosted exhibition games featuring the Toronto Blue Jays.

The proven Bump 50:50 package includes point-of-sale software and hardware, a triple-redundant central system for real-time raffle processing, and services that include monitoring and immediate support. In addition, The Padres Foundation staff will benefit from Bump’s proven implementation and operations package, which has helped drive the success of 50/50 raffle programs for customers throughout North America.

Dan Tanenbaum, President of Bump 50:50, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome our first Major League Baseball team charity to Bump 50:50. The $290,000 two-game jackpot result at the Montreal MLB exhibition demonstrates just how effective the Bump 50:50 technology and support package can be and we’re excited to put them to work in San Diego to help support the charitable mission of the Padres.”

Departing Director Statement

The following information is provided in accordance with Section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006.

As previously announced, Peter Williams resigned as a Non-Executive Director of the Company on 17 May2016.

The Company confirms that Peter Williams received pro-rated Board, Audit and Remuneration Committee fees up to and including 17 May 2016 at the rates set out in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report & Accounts. No other remuneration payment will be made by the Company to Peter after he ceased to be a Non-Executive Director of the Company, nor will any payment for loss of office be made.

Sportech announces terminal sales in Latin America and Europe

Sportech Racing // Digital, announces that it has entered into agreements for the sale of new betting terminal technology to key customers in South America and Europe.

Sportech will provide the new BetJet® SL 2.5 self-service betting terminal to Club Hípico de Santiago and Valparaiso Sporting Club in Chile. These Chilean thoroughbred racetracks are long-standing Sportech customers, with Quantum™ System pari-mutuel betting software and a digital platform for Internet betting. The BetJet® SL 2.5 will offer Chile’s customers convenient self-service betting with cash, accounts, and vouchers, and will feature the intuitive ClearBet user interface, which has helped Sportech deliver some of the best self-service results in the industry.

In Spain, Sportech will provide new WAVE™ betting terminals to Hipodromo de la Zarzuela to replace the racetrack’s legacy terminals. The update is part of a global renovation plan at the Madrid thoroughbred racetrack, timed to coincide with its 75th anniversary celebration. The new terminals compliment other renovations that have modernized the racetrack facility, sparking public interest and attracting new fans of horse racing and outdoor entertainment. This technology update also follows last year’s migration of racetrack tote operations to Sportech’s Quantum Data Center Europe, with its wide range of state-of-the-art services.

Complimenting the new terminals will be a new and exclusive feature designed in collaboration with Hipodromo de la Zarzuela that will enable the use of one-day paperless vouchers. Racetrack customers will now be able to use their own smartphones or tablets to bet at the racetrack without the need to carry paper tickets or queue at teller windows. Sportech is a leader in producing patented mobile betting technologies that facilitate a move away from paper tickets, as exemplified by this new digital voucher feature, as well as by the company’s Digital Link™ mobile betting app.

Andrew Gaughan, President of Sportech Racing // Digital, stated: “These sales speak not only to Sportech’s strengthening global presence, but also to the quality of our betting technologies. The adoption in particular of self-service betting, and tools like the paperless voucher, are perfectly consistent with Sportech’s goal of helping our customers move toward a paperless betting experience using the players’ own mobile devices to ultimately make betting more convenient and efficient.”

Sportech’s Bump 50:50 Enters the Texas Charitable Raffle Market

Bump 50:50, a division of Sportech Racing // Digital, announced that they have been selected by the foundations associated with the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and the Dallas Stars of the NHL to provide the technologies and services to conduct 50/50 charitable in-game raffles.

The Dallas Mavericks Foundation and the Dallas Stars Foundation are the first Sportech Bump 50:50 customers from the state of Texas, where legislation recently permitted charitable 50/50 raffles on professional sporting events.

Bump 50:50 will deliver point-of-sale software, hardware, a triple-redundant central system for real-time raffle processing, and support services that include monitoring and immediate support.

The Bump 50:50 team will also provide a suite of services to assist with the marketing program design and coordination, sales team training, reporting, and data analytics – that has helped other Bump 50:50 customers shatter fundraising records.

The 50/50 raffles will be held at all Mavericks and Stars home games held at American Airlines Center in Dallas, offering fans easy and convenient ways to participate through roaming ticket sales staff as well as through kiosks. Real time jackpot updates will be displayed via mobile devices, kiosk locations, and in-arena digital assets.

Floyd Jahner, President of the Dallas Mavericks Foundation and COO of the Mavericks commented, “We have a big opportunity to offer our fans a fun and easy way to participate in the mission of our Foundation, by supporting women and children in need in DFW through charitable giving. We are confident that the 50/50 raffle and the Bump 50:50 team can help us achieve our goals by raising funds and spreading awareness for the Dallas Mavericks Foundation.”

Jason Farris, Dallas Stars Foundation President and Dallas Stars COO, commented, “We’re excited to work with the Bump 50:50 team for the launch of our new charitable in-game raffle. Empowering professional sports teams’ non-profit foundations to raise money at their respective home games will have a significant impact on local communities. With the new avenue to receive donations through charitable raffle ticket purchases, we will be able to better support our current initiatives and create new ones that will benefit children across North Texas.”

Dan Tanenbaum, President of Bump 50:50, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome The Dallas Stars Foundation and Dallas Mavericks Foundation to the Bump 50:50 team. We look forward to bringing the excitement of 50/50 raffles to the fans of the Stars and the Mavericks and to helping them share in the joy of supporting the teams’ charitable initiatives.”