The strategic agreement between PGE and Dragonfish will not only assist in strengthening South African horseracing as an international brand but should contribute to stakes in this country through potentially increased profitability for PGE.

In terms of the agreement, South African races will be screened live on the internet through Dragonfish licensees and 888.com, whose customers will be able to take tote bets on these races with TAB utilising their Dragonfish licensee or 888 accounts.

Dragonfish offers a market-leading e-payments service and back-end software that allow swift integration into 888’s shared wallet, cashier and customer support systems.

PGE’s agreement with Dragonfish is also a boost for the partnership between PGE and Racing UK (RUK), a group of 30 UK racecourses. PGE holds the international broadcast rights to RUK races, which will also be web streamed live on Dragonfish licensee and 888 platforms to customers resident outside the UK and Ireland.

PGE’s racing content will accordingly be exposed to 888’s huge online global customer base and PGE plans to add horseracing content from other countries to Dragonfish licensees and 888 platforms into the future.

The agreement will enable Dragonfish to provide a comprehensive sports-book and online gaming offering through PGE in South Africa when the necessary regulations are in place.

Gabi Campos, Managing Director of Dragonfish, commented: “Horseracing is the largest sector in worldwide sports betting, and we are delighted to work with a global leader in this area. Phumelela has a huge user-base in South Africa, and this deal will ensure that they have the best tools available with which to provide their customers with a cutting edge online gaming offering.”  

Rian du Plessis, Group CEO, Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited, said: “As a recognised world leader in harnessing the latest technology to globalise horseracing, we are very happy to sign with a partner that can provide us with market-leading technology to expand our offering worldwide. Working with Dragonfish going forward will help us to diversify our online offering and build on our current success.”

About Phumelela Gold Enterprises (PGE):
- Phumelela Gold Enterprises (PGE) is a joint venture between South African horseracing and tote betting operators Phumelela and Gold Circle. PGE is managed by JSE-listed Phumelela and owns the domestic and international broadcast and information rights to South African horseracing. PGE also sets fixtures for all South African racecourses and owns and manages Tellytrack, South Africa's domestic horseracing TV channel.
- PGE has acquired the worldwide betting-related broadcast rights to 30 of the UK's 60 racecourses (the Racing UK rights), including 10 of the 12 "Super" tracks from Racing UK (RUK).
- PGE, in partnership with Racing UK and the UK Tote (Totesport), offers a daily racing-betting package to the global market on South African-based TV channel Racing International, which is beamed via satellite across six continents.

About Dragonfish:
- Dragonfish is the brand name for 888 Holdings Plc's B2B business and is a separate division within 888.
- Dragonfish is a leading provider of Total Gaming Services - Games & Technology; Operations; Marketing and ePayments - with a unique heritage within one of the world's leading B2C brands, 888. Games covered by Dragonfish include Casino, Poker, Bingo, Sports and Quickplay
- Dragonfish has unsurpassed operations and marketing knowledge in the gaming industry.
Please see http://www.dragonfishtech.com for further details, or contact through sales@dragonfishtech.com

About 888:
888 Holdings is one of the world's most popular online gaming entertainment companies and is licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar, where its main headquarters are located. Included among its many online gaming establishments are Casino-on-Net and Pacific Poker