Mobile betting a hit at Cheltenham

The recent Cheltenham Festival horseracing event in the UK illustrated how popular mobile betting has become, with the numbers setting a new record, according to mobile gambling technology provider Mfuse.

Cheltenham Festival, the most prestigious meeting in the National Racing Hunt calendar, has had its most successful year yet, with record numbers of bets placed via mobile gaming apps. The use of mobile gaming apps at the meeting was found to have increased four-fold over last year’s figures as companies like Ladbrokes and William Hill sought to expand the use of this convenient technology.

Mfuse reports that on the first day of the festival there were more mobile bets placed in a single 24 hour period than during the whole of last year’s four day meet; the equivalent of 3 people every second placing a bet on a mobile gaming app in the run up to the main race of the day.

Forecasts on wagers at the festival based on previous stats were that GBP 200 million would be placed  over the four days, which attracted some 200 000 racegoers. It appears that these will be easily met.

Mfuse chief exec Marcus Wareham commented:  “This is fantastic news for Cheltenham, for racegoers and for people on the move who don’t want to miss out on the fun.  As a horse-racing enthusiast, I am immensely proud that Mfuse is associated with the most famous meeting in the racing calendar.

“The use of mobile gaming apps over the last year has out-paced even our own optimistic expectations.  Racegoers are embracing technology which makes it possible to place a bet wherever you are: at the races or on the sofa.  Our new live horse racing and betting app has clearly been a hit with Ladbrokes’ customers.”

Wareham was referring to his company’s release of what is claimed as the first live horse racing and betting app on a mobile phone in the UK.  The service, available through the Ladbrokes betting app on the iPhone, allows any customer in the UK and Ireland to watch a live stream of their chosen race following a minimum bet of GBP1.