Chester & Betfair Deliver First Wifi Racing Deal

Chester Race Company and Betfair have announced a new two-year partnership that will see the bookmaker become the Racecourse’s Official Wi-Fi and Digital Gaming Partner for the 2014 and 2015 seasons at both Chester and Bangor-on-Dee racecourses.

The announcement follows a successful O2 Wi-Fi trial at Chester Racecourse during the 2013 season, which – according to Betfair – revealed significant insight into how racegoers interact through Wi-Fi and digital media during a race day. 

The partnership will be known as the ‘Always on Campaign’ and is powered by O2 Wi-Fi. 

The announcement is the second digital partnership revealed by Chester Races in the past week, after confirming a deal with ZNAP to become the world’s first cashless racecourse. 

Richard Thomas, chief executive of Chester Race Company said: ‘There have been many attempts to integrate and use Wi-Fi at racecourses, but none have engaged with a company that has the gravitas of O2, and that is key to making the campaign successful for both parties.’

‘O2 Wi-Fi is a leading international telephony and communications company and understands the importance of developing a technical architecture for public Wi-Fi which ensures the solution is simple to drive uptake and usage.’

‘The rich customer data harvested through Wi-Fi and Chester Race Company’s bespoke CRM system allows the Company to fully understand footfall, consumer behavior and allows detailed data interrogation, allowing the Company to strategically inform Betfair on how to communicate and reward existing customers as well as how to activate new ones.’

The deal also involves traditional sponsorship of four races at the Boodles May Festival, commencing 7th May, including the £60,000 ‘Betfair Price Rush Huxley Stakes’ and the £75,000 ‘Betfair Cash Out Dee Stakes’. 

Betfair will also support entire cards on racedays at Chester and Bangor-on-Dee in September.

Andy Holmes, sponsorship and activation manager with Betfair, added: ‘Innovation has always been key to Betfair and that same innovation is central to our continued growth. We consider free Wifi powered by a trusted network as crucial to our on-course customers enjoying a day at the races. Betfair are delighted that Chester share our vision and commitment to drive sporting sponsorship and customer experience into the new age that we live in.’