UK Tote Group seals seven-year pooled betting alliance with Horse Racing Ireland
UK and Irish Tote to share liquidity in international betting combination from 2021
UK Tote Group has sealed a seven-year strategic alliance with Tote Ireland to power the operator’s off-course business from January 2021.
Under the terms of the joint service agreement, the two operators have agreed to share liquidity on pooled betting arrangements from 2021, as well as jointly distributing and promoting Tote betting to international markets.
UK Tote Group will also provide operational expertise to the Irish Tote on its off-course product in the run up to 2021. UK Tote Group has said it is targeting a “stronger and more agile” on-course presence in Ireland.
The agreement follows extensive negotiations between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Tote Ireland and UK Tote Group taking place over several months.
Final approval on the agreement was given at a meeting of the HRI’s board which took place yesterday.
HRI CEO Brian Kavanagh said a change in the betting habits of Irish punters has led to a “steady decline” in the on-course turnover of Tote Ireland, a situation exacerbated during the Covid-19 lockdown.
“This has greatly impacted the ability of Tote Ireland to develop the products necessary to compete in the digital off-course arena,” said Kavanagh.
“One of the crucial attractions of this alliance is that it will allow Tote Ireland to develop a joint offering with the UK Tote Group, which will be highly attractive to international markets,” he added.
All Irish horseracing has been cancelled for over a month following the introduction of the Irish government’s Covid-19 lockdown measures. However, members of the Irish Racecourse Trainers Association have recently called for racing to resume on 1 June.
UK Tote Group CEO Alex Frost said the firm would work to bring “innovation and creative thinking” to the Irish Tote with this latest partnership.
“There remains much work to do but together we have great people with the necessary skills, resources and determination to ensure both Tote Ireland and the UK Tote have a bright future,” Frost said.