Europe’s First Historical Horse Racing Venue Opens In Malta
National Lottery plc, a fully owned subsidiary of IZI GROUP has today inaugurated another multi-million-euro investment in a state-of-the-art gaming venue that will operate under the newly established IZIBINGO brand. The new facility will feature the first Historical Horse Racing (HHR) installation outside of the USA and will serve as a European showcase for this innovative product as IZI GROUP endeavours to expand this concept internationally.
IZIBINGO is a new gaming and entertainment centre that will encompass the widest portfolio of gaming products. The centre will feature a renovated 312-seater Bingo Hall, 120 Historical Horse Racing Terminals and a dedicated Sportsbook facility.
The inauguration of this new venue and the introduction of HHR is the culmination of months of hard work and has been possible through the strategic alliances that IZI Group has forged with world class providers of such technologies including world leader International Game Technology (IGT) and Exacta Systems LLC (EXACTA), a subsidiary of Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), the corporation behind the world’s most legendary horse race – The Kentucky Derby.
“The introduction of Historical Horse Racing and the launch of IZIBINGO is the result of months of diligent effort by the Group,” Chief Executive Officer of IZI Group Johann Schembri commented. “Our vision to provide a gaming experience that is unparalleled both locally and internationally has been the driving force behind this initiative. Our alliances with world leading technology partners have allowed us to bring to the market the most compelling product mix in a modern setting like no other. Moreover, we are thrilled to launch the first ever Historical Horse Racing installation outside the USA, with our partners, EXACTA and IGT. Our partnership with these world class leading technology companies also opens important opportunities for the Group to internationalise its presence,” he concluded.
This new investment was officially inaugurated by the Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Enterprise, and Strategic Projects, who commended the forward-looking strategic approach of IZI Group and its commitment to invest and deliver new concepts and technologies in the market. The Minister highlighted that “This investment is more than just a new facility; it represents a groundbreaking concept that brings a wide array of gaming entertainment products under one roof. IZIBINGO will create jobs within the land-based gaming industry and strengthen IZI Group’s presence, now employing 550 people full-time. This project underscores Malta’s potential to become a showcase for innovative gaming products with prospects for international expansion.”
The inauguration of IZIBINGO and the unveiling of the first-of-its-kind Historical Horse Racing installation outside the USA, was welcomed by both EXACTA and IGT, who both had words of praise for the commitment that IZI Group showed in delivering this project in a record timeframe. Top officials from both companies were present in Malta for the inauguration.
“Expanding our Historical Horse Racing footprint to Malta is an exciting growth milestone for IGT and a testament to the quality and global relevance of our HHR content and hardware portfolio,” said Nick Khin, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Gaming. “By offering HHR-versions of IGT games such as Prosperity Link and Cleopatra to players at the IZIBINGO gaming and entertainment centre, National Lottery plc is providing some of the most exciting game content available in a format that players enjoy.”
“The IZI Group and IGT have been exceptional partners, ensuring a seamless implementation of our Connect System from start to finish. This milestone marks the beginning of a promising future for our expanding HHR global footprint, powered by our unique open architecture and the renowned customer support that Exacta is known for,” said Jeff Clifford, Vice President of Sales and Revenue at Exacta Systems.
The launch of IZIBINGO comes at a time when IZI Group is celebrating milestone events, including two years since taking over the operation of the national lottery of Malta, 15 since taking over the operations of the Dragonara Casino and ten years since launching IZIBET. The launch of IZIBINGO opens up new opportunities for National Lottery plc as it eagerly anticipates further enhancements to its overall product portfolio, while exploring new avenues for growth, and continuously making positive contributions to society and the local economy.
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