Horse Racing Ireland and the Association of Irish Racecourses have finalised a deal with Attheraces.
The agreement gives Attheraces exclusive non-terrestrial picture and interactive betting rights in the UK and Ireland until the end of 2008.
They can also include Irish racing content, on an exclusive basis, in any product delivered into international pool betting outlets as well as in channel form to international pay television platforms.
HRI and AIR will in-turn receive payment based on betting figures from Attheraces. Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of HRI said: “We are delighted with the feedback from coverage of Irish racing to date and together with our arrangements with SIS for exclusive betting shop coverage world wide this ensures that Irish Racing is available on all major betting platforms.”
Kavanagh concluded: “we look forward to working with Attheraces over the coming years to showcase the quality of our horseracing industry.”
Jerry Desmond, Chairman of AIR is also looking forward to the widespread coverage of Irish Racing, both at home and abroad. He said: “the benefits, I believe, will be twofold. Firstly, there will be a financial benefit arising from any resultant growth in world wide betting on Irish Racing and, secondly, the increased awareness of the product, particularly at home, should help to further boost attendances at our racecourses.”
This deal will hopefully result in a lucrative revenue stream from interactive betting. This money added to revenue already received from both on-course and off-course bookmakers and the yet-to-be-agreed betting exchange payments could in the long-term enable Irish Racing to stand alone without Government funding.
