In-play Betting Rolled Out on Irish Racing
2 minutes Using GPS data provided by CourseTrack, operators including Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill and BV Group brands such as BetVictor will now offer in-play betting with real-time pricing on Irish races.
In-play betting on Irish racing is being introduced by several major bookmakers, with industry leaders describing the move as a necessary step to keep pace with innovation across the wider sports betting market.
Using GPS data provided by CourseTrack, operators including Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill and BV Group brands such as BetVictor will now offer in-play betting with real-time pricing on Irish races.
In-running betting was first launched across British tracks represented by Racecourse Media Group in January 2023. The service will now extend to all 26 Irish racecourses under the existing media rights agreement between RMG, Sports Information Services and the Irish tracks.
The system relies on lightweight GPS trackers fitted into each horse’s saddlecloth. These transmit live positional data via mobile networks to RMG’s production centre, allowing bookmakers to generate dynamic in-running prices.
Beyond betting, the data is already used for sectional timing and broadcast enhancements, including measuring top and average speeds, furlong splits, total distance covered, distance remaining and each runner’s in-race position.
Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Suzanne Eade welcomed the development, highlighting the need for racing to evolve alongside other sports.
“The expansion of the in-play betting service for Irish horseracing is very welcome news. We have already seen over the lifetime of the current media rights agreement with RMG how the data offering for Irish racing has made great strides.
“As sportsbook and pari-mutuel offerings for other sports continue to innovate, so must racing, and this is another positive step in that regard for Irish racing.”
RMG chief executive Nick Mills echoed that sentiment, stressing the importance of betting engagement in sustaining the sport.
“There has been a concerted effort to evolve and grow the sport of racing, not just from a viewing and broadcasting perspective but from a betting standpoint too. Our operator partners have played a hugely influential role in improving racing, and their trust in our solutions enables us to reinvest more back into the sport.
“Some of our most valued partners will now offer real-time pricing on Irish meetings, giving bettors new ways to engage with the sport.”
