Under the renewed deal, Inspired will keep supplying its portfolio of virtual sports to the global online betting operator while also developing technology intended to make simulated sports betting feel more like wagering on live matches.

One of the first projects tied to the extension will be an upgraded Virtual Soccer product that introduces Bet Builder functionality. The companies plan to release the feature in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the most active periods for sports betting worldwide.

Bet Builder tools allow bettors to combine several outcomes from a single match into one customized wager. In traditional sportsbooks the feature powers same-game parlays, where multiple selections from the same event are bundled together. Bringing that mechanic into virtual sports, Inspired says, should help bettors to design more personalized wagers while keeping them more engaged with the simulated events.

Inspired brings live-style betting mechanics to virtual sports via bet365

Both companies say the aim is to reduce the gap between betting on real sporting events and wagering on computer-generated competitions by introducing familiar sportsbook features into the virtual environment.

“We are delighted to sign this multi-year extension with bet365, reinforcing our long-term partnership and shared commitment to innovation in Virtual Sports,” said Brooks Pierce, President and CEO of Inspired Entertainment. 

“By combining our Virtual Sports expertise with bet365’s global reach and customer insight, we will continue to deliver products that resonate with players and drive value for operators, particularly around major global sporting moments such as the 2026 World Cup.”

bet365 drew attention to the strong performance of Inspired’s virtual content across its international markets and said the upcoming Bet Builder option should make the experience feel closer to betting on real competitions.

“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Inspired,” said a bet365 spokesperson. “Inspired is an established and trusted long-term partner, consistently delivering Virtual Sports content that performs well across our various markets. The introduction of Bet Builder functionality within Virtual Soccer allows us to offer customers a more engaging experience while aligning Virtual Sports more closely with live sports betting mechanics.”

The renewed agreement comes during a period of continued expansion for Inspired’s virtual sports division. In recent updates to investors, the company reported steady growth in its digital segment and pointed out strong demand for virtual sports content among regulated operators worldwide.

Inspired has also been broadening its lineup of simulated competitions. The company recently introduced new virtual games based on hockey, basketball and esports, adding to a portfolio that already includes football, horse racing and other fast-cycle events designed for continuous betting.

Featured image: Canva / Inspired Entertainment / bet365

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Selected Readings From W.E.B. DuBois to Chris Hedges

Tomorrow is ICE Out of Minnesota, a mass protest against ICE and their murder, violence, and oppression of innocent people. The day of collective protest has gotten the backing of unions and politicians, and is a “statewide day of non-violent moral action, reflection: no work, no school, no shopping — only community, conscience, and collective action.” The collective rejection of ICE’s brutal and indefensible assault on Minneapolis is part of a larger wave of solidarity against the federal government. (And if you’re not in Minneapolis, there’s a map of nationwide solidarity actions to join in on.)

But as Michelle Griffith wrote in the Minnesota Reformer, this is much more accurate to describe as a general strike, a tradition of organized, mass resistance that has become rare in the United States. Minneapolis is no stranger to general strikes—there was a massive strike in the city in 1934, part of the larger wave of strikes organized by Teamsters, the ILA, the AFL, and the CIO.

In the spirit of solidarity and a hearty fuck off to ICE, here’s a list of poems, articles, excerpts, and songs about general strikes.

But how many
MACHINE GUNS
Will it it take to cook
ONE MEAL?
It is your SMILE
That is UPSETTING
Their reliance
On ARTILLERY, brother!

From “They Can’t Understand” by Anise, in “The Seattle General Strike” pamphlet

*
“Now the remedy that is to better your condition, and to snatch you from final and everlasting ruin, is placed within yourselves. It is simply – UNITY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION. – Think together, act together, and you will remove mountains—mountains of injustice, oppression, misery and want.”

From “Grand National Holiday, And Congress Of The Productive Classes” by William Benbow,

*
And what of the glowing beyond that is so bright that those who grind the faces of the poor say it is a dream? It is no dream, it is the real, stripped of brain-distortions materialized into thrones and scaffolds, mitres and guns.

From” The Principles of Anarchism” by Lucy Parsons

*
“Solidarity is the answer for the future, which means sacrificing for others as they sacrifice for you. The extent that we will stand up for the rights of others, including at the workplace, will determine whether we will continue to see growing inequality and political instability in our world or we will see the world get better in our lifetimes.”

From “Why Strikes Matter” by Erik Loomis

*
“It is not a lucky word this same impossible: no good comes of those that have it so often in their mouth. Who is he that says always, There is a lion in the way? Sluggard, thou must slay the lion then; the way has to be travelled!”

From “Chartism” by Thomas Carlyle

*
“Call a general strike. Riot. Shut down the city centers. Toss the bastards out. Do not be afraid of the language of class warfare — the rich versus the poor, the oligarchs versus the citizens, the capitalists versus the proletariat. The Greeks, unlike most of us, get it.”

From “The Greeks Get It” by Chris Hedges

*
At last democracy was to be justified of its own children. The nation was to be purged of continual sin not indeed all of its own doing—due partly to its inheritance; and yet a sin, a negation that gave the world the right to sneer at the pretensions of this republic.

From the chapter on the general strike by the enslaved before the Civil War, from Black Reconstruction by W.E.B. DuBois

*
Learn to strike right and learn to vote right. One is essential for your success as the other and both are absolutely necessary to you before you can get anywhere.

From “Railroad Unions General Strike: Debs Says Concerted Action of Rail Unions Can Bring Victory to All Strikers” by Eugene V. Debs

*
“Annie” was shy, but she managed to put on a bold look, and she came forward under the beaming encouragement of a representative of the Sun’s staff, and said: ‘All I can say, boys, is to stick together and we’ll win. That’s all I’ve got to say to you.’”

Annie Kelly quoted in The New York Times during the Newsboys’ strike of 1899, “Newsboys Act and Talk,” The New York Times

*
“In that city of over a quarter million, strangers passed each other on the street and did not have fear, but the opposite.”

From “The 1946 Oakland General Strike” by Cal Winslow

*
“Oh, the FBI is worried, the bosses they are scared/They can’t deport six million men, they know.”

“The Ballad of Harry Bridges”, the great ode to the hero of the 1934 Longshore Strike by The Almanac Singers.

There are solidarity actions across the country, and the ICE Out site has a map where you can find one near you.

The post » “Stick Together and We’ll Win.” How to Get Inspired For the Minneapolis General Strike appeared first on Our Story Insight.

The three games, V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports, will be available to play on desktop and mobile via bet365. Inspired promises players the latest in gaming developments, including cutting-edge motion capture, modern animation techniques, and more.

V-Play NHL is an officially licensed product with the NHL, meaning it features real teams and logos for extra authenticity. The same can be said for NBA Re-Play, officially licensed by both the NBA and the NBPA and using archive footage for an extra dose of reality.

In a slight departure from traditional sports, Re-Play eSports offers fast, always-on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) virtual gameplay, based on official tournament archive footage. The virtual e-sports game is backed with in-game data and video feeds for a realistic experience for users.

The wider virtual sports landscape

All three apps offer in-game betting opportunities for their players and are part of a growing number of officially licensed North American virtual sports products available through bet365.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with bet365 through the launch of these groundbreaking products,” said Brooks Pierce, President & CEO of Inspired. “With V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports, we continue to redefine what’s possible in virtual sports, delivering high-quality, immersive content that resonates with both fans and bettors.”

The launch highlights the ongoing focus from bet365 to expand in the US, with a clear focus here on American sports, teams, and pastimes.

“Inspired continues to lead the way in virtual sports innovation,” said a bet365 spokesperson. “With compelling visuals, official league integrations, and thrilling gameplay, these titles are set to be a major hit with our global audience.”

All three products are now live on bet365’s global platform, available on both desktop and mobile.

Featured image: Inspired Entertainment

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