BELFAST-born bookie and online betting pioneer Vincent Caldwell has become the first person from Northern Ireland to be inducted into the SBC Sports Betting Hall of Fame.
SBC, the global gaming news, media and events business, launched the Hall of Fame in 2016 to honour the outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have made significant and lasting contributions to the industry.
Caldwell (60), a global pioneer of online betting firms, currently runs Virtual Software (VS), based in the Isle of Man, which has developed a world-first virtual racing software that creates races in real time.
He is also the current chief executive and chairman of Virtual Live Racing, which has just become an associate member of World Tote Association (WoTA), the prestigious global organisation which brings together leading pari-mutuel/Tote operators.
Caldwell told the Irish News: “It’s been a hugely exciting month. Personally, it’s a great honour to be inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame – and professionally it’s fantastic to see the Virtual Live Racing brand taking its place alongside other leading businesses in WoTA.
“As an associate member, we’re looking forward to bringing a unique insight to WoTA from our perspective as a product innovator.”
Announcing his induction to the Hall of Fame at a ceremony at Stamford Bridge in London, SBC highlighted Caldwell's contribution as a pioneer of internet betting, most notably as the founder, chairman and CEO of betinternet.com, which was launched in 1998.
Just 18 months later the business was valued at £50 million when it became the first online betting company to list on the London Stock Exchange.
Today Caldwell’s success in the industry continues with Virtual Software, the company behind the Virtual Live Racing brand.
Launched last year, VLR was the first in the world to develop, distribute and go live with a unique suite of virtual live racing thoroughbred, harness and greyhound products.
The company uses award winning software developers and special effects experts from the movie and TV industry to create bespoke computer generated real-time, pari-mutuel wagering races.
Its products use HD graphics and realistic race commentary, combined with results based on anonymised past performance.
