Sports activities Info Providers (SIS), the racing trade content material large, quietly withdrew its greyhound simulcast operations from the U.S. market on the finish of final yr. The corporate had offered hundreds of races a yr to U.S. operators from tracks within the UK.
Greyhound racing at Wheeling Island, above, which is one among simply two remaining tracks within the U.S. internet hosting reside races. (Picture: The Intermountain)
SIS is collectively owned by a few of the largest gamers within the UK betting trade, together with William Hill, 888, Betfred, and Entain, the latter the biggest shareholder with a 23% stake.
By way of its three way partnership with Enviornment Racing, Entain owns 9 of the 20 licensed British greyhound tracks and the media rights for 5 unbiased tracks.
Canine Days of Racing
The transfer represents one other nail within the coffin for greyhound racing within the U.S. The game is banned in 42 states, and reside racing is now confined to only two venues, Wheeling Island On line casino & Racetrack and Mardi Gras On line casino & Resort, each in West Virginia.
A number of the pari-mutuel venues which have ceased to supply reside races in recent times are nonetheless licensed for simulcast betting and relied on SIS’ companies for greyhound transmissions.
“This was a easy financial choice,” Michele Fischer, VP of SIS Content material Providers, informed On line casino.org through e mail Wednesday. “As extra U.S. states ban betting on any greyhound product, there are usually not sufficient pari-mutuel operators in a position to promote the content material to provide a worthwhile product. It is a very unlucky state of affairs.”
Marketing campaign Group Welcomes Information
Not so for Grey2K USA Worldwide, a marketing campaign group that wishes to see the top of greyhound racing for good. The group’s government director, Carey Thiel, was upbeat in regards to the information Wednesday.
One of many largest corporations on the earth that really owns canine tracks has ended all greyhound simulcasting operations within the U.S. That’s enormous,” Thiel informed On line casino.org. “Throughout America, distant playing on canine racing is being prohibited. We’re sending a transparent message that the U.S. market is not going to be used to prop up the cruelty of greyhound racing.”
Ficher mentioned SIS stays dedicated to the U.S. market, simply not for greyhound racing. It has lately gone reside in New Jersey, Colorado, and Kentucky with its esports product, which it expects to increase into extra states this quarter, pending regulator approval.
It plans to supply its horse racing portfolio to Colorado sports activities books in 2024 as a set odds product, which is authorized below the state’s new sports activities betting legal guidelines. SIS additionally sells pari-mutuel horse racing content material from Australia and the Center East to U.S. operators.
The corporate continues to distribute greyhound racing from the UK, Eire, and Mexico to operators for fastened odds betting in territories the place it’s permitted.
