Thoroughbred racing and entertainment giant 1/ST is bolstering its product offerings.
On Tuesday, the Ontario-based company acquired advance-deposit wagering (ADW) platform DRF Bets from Daily Racing Form (DRF) parent company Affinity Interactive.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
1/ST acquired DRF Bets through its technology division, which houses online sports betting brands 1/ST Bet and Xpressbet. 1/ST is integrating DRF Bets into Xpressbet with the brand having full operational control of the ADW platform. 1/ST is also rebranding DRF Bets as part of its acquisition of the platform. The product is rebranded as 1/ST BET PRO.
“This is a pivotal moment for Affinity Interactive and DRF,” said Affinity CEO Scott Butera. “This strategic transaction allows us to sharpen our focus on DRF’s core strengths—premium racing data, expert handicapping, and compelling content. We are now better positioned to collaborate with a broader array of racetracks, wagering platforms, and sportsbook operators as an independent and innovative media and data company.”
The transition from DRF Bets to 1/ST BET PRO requires no heavy lifting for customers as 1/ST BET PRO accepts the user credentials of DRF customers. 1/ST BET PRO also maintains existing promotions and benefits acquired by customers while wagering with DRF Bets.
1/ST partners with a major American sports organization
The horse racing company secured a deal with NASCAR in February to provide parimutuel wagering to bettors in markets across America. As part of the pact, 1/ST provides real-time updates and a catalog of betting markets for major NASCAR events. It leverages its AmTote Spectrum fixed-odds betting platform to provide parimutuel wagering.
The platform handles more than $5 billion in wagers annually.
1/ST also recently landed a partnership with Goodwood Racecourse in the U.K. to provide winning horses and their ownership teams with automatic entry to the 2025 Qatar Nassau Stakes and 2025 Qatar Sussex Stakes, which takes place next month.
1/ST partnered with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing in January to offer winning horses direct entry into marquee races, including the California Crown in September.
