Gambling.co.uk: Gambling News Archive

Virtual racing market to touch £500m by 2004

Williamhill.co.uk launches new virtual racecourse

Tuesday 20th April 2004



British online bookie major, William Hill has unveiled a new virtual reality Racecourse, called Greenside Park at its online portal Williamhill.co.uk, which is the first time it has launched its own 'in-house' racecourse and races.

With technical support from Inspired Broadcast Networks (IBN), a UK-based digital entertainment company, and software from Red Vision, the bookie hopes to the new

Virtual racing will lure William Hill’s 250,000 plus online punters.

‘Greenside Park, allows customers to place both their bets along with those on traditional events such as real horse racing, greyhounds, football, golf, F1 etc. Unique to William Hill customers is their ability to place multiple bets on Greenside Park and/or other events, something that no other bookmaker allows at this time, 24 hours a day,’ explains Sheila Preston, William Hill Internet sports book operations director.

Winners at the Virtual Greenside Park Racecourse are selected by a random number generator, which produces a computer-animated race. Customers are able to bet and receive their winnings in the same manner as they would with real live racing according the company.

The company claims that betting shop punters in the UK have shown a 'ferocious appetite' for VR horse racing over the past two years and the simulations market, which is expected to touch £500m by the end of 2004.






Source: OnlineCasinoNews