SeanieMac, Amaya’s BetStars join UK racing Authorized Betting Partner scheme

British racing has added more online gambling operators to its controversial Authorized Betting Partner (ABP) scheme.

On Friday, Amaya Gaming’s new BetStars online sports betting brand announced that it had signed up for the British Horseracing Authority’s ABP scheme, which limits UK racing sponsorship and branding opportunities to operators that remit a significant portion of their online race betting revenue to the sport.

BetStars trading director Ian Marmion said the brand, which launched in the UK in December, felt it was “important that we make our contribution as a new entrant to the sport.” As with other ABP signatories, specifics of the size of BetStars’ contribution to UK racing weren’t disclosed but the BHA had previously set a 7.5% hurdle for ABP wannabes.

BetStars’ announcement came just days after Irish betting operator SeanieMac announced its own ABP deal, which also covers the Apollobet brand the operator acquired last month. SeanieMac subsequently announced a deal to sponsor 40 Jockey Club racing meetings over the next few months.