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PokerStars Ontario Winter Series boasts $1.7M in guarantees

The Winter Series online poker event hosted by PokerStars is set to run from Jan. 12-29 across several North American markets, including the Canadian province of Ontario. This event offers a diverse range of tournaments with a large pot of guaranteed prize money.

In Ontario, PokerStars’ Winter Series features 120 events, including a $300 Main Event scheduled for Jan. 28, with a guaranteed prize pool of $150,000. The series in Ontario offers a total guaranteed prize pool of $1.7 million.

The Winter Series caters to a wide range of poker players, with buy-ins starting from as low as $3 and reaching up to $2,000. This range is designed to appeal to players with different bankroll sizes, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in the tournament.

Highlight events of the series include a $50 Mini Main Event, with guaranteed prize pools of $25K/$50K, and a $2,000 High Roller event, boasting a $100K guarantee in each jurisdiction. PokerStars also incorporates unique tournaments across the event period, such as 10 special Championship events across all jurisdictions, with winners of these events receiving special edition watches.

In addition to the tournament prizes, PokerStars has included a leaderboard competition with $10,000 in cash prizes distributed among the top 10 performers in each jurisdiction. The overall leaderboard winner will receive US$2,500. These points are earned based on the players’ performances in Winter Series events.

A Depositor’s Freeroll will also be available for those who make a $50 deposit in the lead-up to the series, offering tickets to the $300 Main Event. Moreover, a Bust Out promotion will reward selected players who exit Winter Series events with a bonus for casino and Spin & Go games.

PokerStars Ontario is also running a special Spin & Go promotion. Out of 1,000,000 Spin & Goes, 2,500 will be granted direct entry to the US$300 Winter Series Main Event, giving players an opportunity to qualify for a significant event at a reduced cost.

Eilers-Fantini report casts light on Canadian online casino market

For those unaware of the regular reports from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming and Fantini Research, the two groups aggregate slot and casino game performance across the industry.

The group’s reports on the U.S. market are highly valued and most major operators take part. With that in mind, the group is trying to build similar momentum for Canada.

In its initial report, the Eilers-Fantini research looked at seven online gaming sites with 7,500 game themes and more than 8,200 games across three different provinces.

“While our coverage is currently not near that of our U.S. Report, 7 Casino Sites compared to 33 Casino Sites we feel that the timing of the report, diversity of Operators, and number of data points are sufficient to publish. Repot minimums at the game level remain strict to ensure the accuracy of top-performing titles, the Supplier and new game level analysis provide strong insights for Operators, Suppliers and Investors,” the report began.

Using the data available to them, Eilers-Fantini research drew some interesting conclusions about the state of the market so far, which shares some characteristics with the U.S. market but has some unique traits as well.

Namely, the top slot titles differ precipitously from the U.S.

The highest-ranked Canadian title was Pragmatic Play’s Gates of Olympus followed by IGT’s Cash Eruption. Despite these titles only being available in four and five of the respective seven titles audited, they outperformed Light & Wonder’s Jin Ji Bao Xi Endless Treasure, which was available on every site.

Cash Eruption and Jin JI Bao Xi Endless Treasure are also popular in the states, ranking third and ten respectively.

Pragmatic Play is the studio with the biggest share of gross gaming revenue at 18.6% on the strength of its slots and live casino performance. The other live casino provider, Evolution, was second with 16.1% of GGR. IGT and Light and Wonder rounded out the top four.

The operators cover a mix of provincial lottery operators and Ontario free-market operators, giving a broad glimpse at gaming across the country.

If interested in learning more, subscribing, or participating in the Eilers-Fantini Online Game Performance Database reach out to Rick Eckert at [email protected].

BCLC names Natasha Questel new Chief Social Purpose Officer

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has announced the appointment of Natasha Questel as its new Chief Social Purpose Officer and Vice President of Marketing. Questel’s tenure will begin on Jan. 22.

In her most recent role, Questel served as CEO of One Girl Can, a non-profit organization committed to addressing poverty and gender inequality. Before this, she served as President of Happy Planet Foods, a Vancouver-based company known for its emphasis on sustainable food practices.

In addition to her professional career, Questel is active in volunteer work. She has been involved with Basket Brigade Canada as both a board chair and a working board member. This organization is dedicated to supporting single mothers and other under-represented Canadians through food basket deliveries. Furthermore, she holds a board member position at Aisle, a B Corp-certified period-care brand, where she contributes to initiatives focused on sustainability and inclusivity.

Questel’s insights on breaking down barriers for women in the workplace and promoting inclusivity in Canada have been featured in publications like the Globe and Mail and the Vancouver Sun. Her academic background includes an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and participation in the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive LEAD program. Currently, she is a member of the Young Presidents Association (YPO), a global community of CEOs, and is pursuing the YPO Gold President’s program at Harvard.

“As BCLC continues to mature as a social purpose company working to generate win-wins for the greater good, it’s integral that we continue to embed our ‘reason for being’ into all that we do,” said Pat Davis, President and CEO of BCLC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Natasha to BCLC, where I know that her passion for making a difference, combined with her demonstrated business success, will enable us to innovate and iterate on how we can further improve our business – and influence others to do the same – for the betterment of society.”

EQL Games adds Vibra Gaming to its iLottery Aggregator

Lottery tech provider EQL Games has announced the addition of Vibra Gaming to its iLottery Aggregator platform. The agreement will allow Vibra to expand its operations from the LATAM region to the US and Canada. Starting in early 2024, a range of Vibra Gaming’s themed games will be made available to Canadian players.

Established in Buenos Aires in 2020, Vibra Gaming specializes in aiding land-based operators in their transition to online platforms. Recently, the Argentinian company has become a partner for global operators seeking to enter the Latin American market, thanks to its founders’ decades of experience in Europe’s regulated gaming sector.

The collaboration with Vibra Gaming marks the fourth studio partnership for EQL Games. The iLottery Aggregator, a unique platform tailored for government lotteries, simplifies the process of acquiring content from various studios by establishing a single point of contact for all needs.

Currently, the EQL platform is operational in lotteries across two continents, with further expansion planned in the first quarter of 2024. The initiative reflects EQL Games’ commitment to offering a broad gaming experience to lottery players while also simplifying the operational aspect for lottery providers.

“Adding a talented game studio with the track record of Vibra Gaming is another great milestone for EQL Games and the EQL Aggregator,” said EQL Games CEO Brad Cummings.

“When we’re recruiting game studios for our lottery clients, we prioritize content that expands the idea of what a digital lottery product can be. This vision drives our ability to deliver a diverse portfolio of content for North American iLottery platforms. Our partnership with Vibra Gaming enables us to build on that vision with inventive game content from a top-notch studio.”

“We are excited to team with EQL Games to expand into the U.S. and Canada lottery markets. Our content has been extremely well received in the markets we have entered in LATAM and Europe,” said Ramiro Atucha, CEO of Vibra Gaming.

“This partnership with EQL Games will allow us to bring those games to players of North American lotteries and expand our reach into markets we would not have been able to access otherwise. We look forward to working with EQL Games to help redefine what a lottery game can and should be.”

AGCO releases 2024 horse racing schedule for Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has finalized the 2024 race dates for horse racing tracks across the province, following input from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Ontario Racing.

Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville is set to lead with 222 racing days, the highest among Standardbred tracks. Clinton Raceway is slated for 15 days, Flamboro Downs will host 130 days, and Georgian Downs is set for 39 race days in 2024. Other tracks, such as Grand River Raceway, Hanover Raceway and Hiawatha Horse Park & Entertainment Centre, have also been allocated between 15-48 race days each.

Furthermore, in line with their commitment to equine safety and integrity in racing, the AGCO has implemented restrictions on certain medications for horses participating in qualifiers or workouts. As of Jan. 1, these animals may be tested for and must not test positive for substances such as corticosteroids, analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or local anesthetics.

These regulations aim to ensure that horses compete only when fit to do so, thereby reducing the risk of injury or fatality. Violations of these rules will result in penalties and disqualification, with the AGCO providing guidance documents to clarify the new requirements for licensees.

The regulatory body has also made rule additions to both Standardbred and Thoroughbred Rules of Racing, specifying a minimum $500 monetary penalty and disqualification for any horse testing positive for restricted substances. These steps are part of AGCO’s ongoing efforts to maintain the highest standards of horse racing in Ontario.

Octoplay obtains AGCO supplier permit for Ontario gambling

iGaming developer Octoplay has received a supplier permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into the Canadian regulated gambling market. The approval enables licensed operators in Ontario to offer titles from Octoplay’s slot game portfolio, including popular slots like Pearly Shores and Lolicat, by integrating Octoplay’s remote game server with Ontario online casino operators.

“We are thrilled to have secured this license, being the fourth license we have acquired in 2023. We have been clear about our mission to obtain a licence in every single regulated market, and this is a testament to this,” said Martina Borg Stevens, Octoplay’s Legal Director.

“To be awarded a licence from such a prestigious regulator makes us feel incredibly proud and establishes a strong foothold in [the] North American market, which we look forward to building upon,” Borg Stevens added. “Octoplay has rapidly emerged as an industry disruptor, captivating attention and establishing itself as a rising force. Achieving remarkable success within just one year since its creation, the company has swiftly positioned itself as the next big thing in the market.”

Additionally, Nick Vuchev, Octoplay’s Commercial Director, highlighted the significance of the license for the company’s growth strategy within the iGaming industry.

“Our slot games are in high demand among players in markets across the world. It’s no surprise that operators want to stock our titles, and that’s why we are working hard to secure licences and approvals in all regulated markets,” said Vuchev. “Securing our Ontario licence is a major milestone in this journey, and we look forward to seeing our slots land in the lobbies of popular casino brands in Ontario for the first time.”

Canada’s first sports integrity manager is stepping down

The Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada has announced the first head of the Office of Canada’s Sports Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), Sarah-Eve Pelletier, will be stepping down in early 2024 for personal reasons. The OSIC was created by the Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada to handle abuse complaints in sports following recent calls made by athletes in Canada for more action to counter abuse.

Pelletier was appointed in April 2022, with the OSIC opening its doors two months later in June 2022. The former lawyer and artistic swimmer helped set up and operate the first 18 months of Abuse-Free Sport, the first independent, safe sports program in Canada. Pelletier will remain on the job until her replacement is hired.

“As sport integrity commissioner, I have been driven by a deep motivation to act as an agent of positive change for the Canadian sport community — with athletes at the very heart of it,” Pelletier said Tuesday in a statement. “Since taking on this role, my passion for this mission has never wavered,” she said.

“I am proud of the groundwork accomplished within the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC). I am certain that it will serve as a springboard for the Abuse-Free Sport program’s evolution, one that can only be beneficial to the advancement of safe sport for all.”

The OSIC is designed to handle abuse complaints in sports with jurisdiction over federally funded sports organizations. However, those organizations need to become signatories before the OSIC has oversight, and many sports bodies have yet to take this step and fall under the OSIC’s jurisdiction.

Any sports body that signs with the OSIC is bound by the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), which covers a wide range of abuse, failure to report maltreatment, and misuse of power.

The federal government in 2022 assigned the OSIC a budget of $16 million for its first three years. The OSIC got 193 complaints in its first year, with 66 falling under its jurisdiction. Results for the first four months of its second year show 78 complaints, of which 38 fell under the OSIC’s jurisdiction. A further six are under review.

PointsBet and Strive Gaming announce partnership to enhance iGaming

PointsBet and platform provider Strive Gaming have announced a partnership to develop PointsBet’s online casino product. Strive Gaming’s technology will enable PointsBet to diversify its casino offerings by integrating multiple content providers onto a unified PointsBet platform.

The agreement yields Strive Gaming to provide PointsBet with a broad range of games, including popular North American retail-based options and digital content from European markets. Strive Gaming’s Infinity Engine will also enable PointsBet to provide tailored promotions to players across various game titles, offering personalized casino experiences to different audience segments with real-time contextualized engagement.

In a press release announcing the collaboration, PointsBet officials said it will help the company grow within the Canadian iGaming market. By leveraging Strive Gaming’s technology platform, PointsBet aims to strengthen its internal capabilities and complement its existing technology.

“Through our newly established partnership with Strive Gaming, PointsBet is poised to elevate the online casino experience for users in Ontario. We are committed to delivering superior retention mechanics, a broader selection of games, and an overall enhanced experience, all while adhering to the specific regulatory and responsible gaming requirements unique to our growing market,” said Scott Vanderwel, CEO of PointsBet Canada.

“As the iGaming landscape evolves rapidly, we are excited to continue our expansion in North America and add a top-tier operator like PointsBet,” added Max Meltzer, CEO of Strive Gaming. “Partnering with this incredibly smart and technology-focused business is a testament to the quality of our platform and people. We look forward to working closely with PointsBet to deliver a world-class online casino experience to their users,” he added.

PointsBet has been looking to develop its online casino product in Ontario and hired Brooke Hilton in October to lead its iGaming team. Along with the announcement of Hilton’s appointment, the company also revealed it is implementing more improvements to its iGaming product, including new slot games, progressive jackpots, and tailored promotions.

CGA taps Gissane and Woodgate for new board seats

The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) introduced two new directors to its board, Kurt Gissane and Scott Woodgate, during its annual general meeting on Dec. 6. The CGA also confirmed that Richard Taylor will assume his role as director, having been appointed for another three-year term.

Gissane is the Senior Vice President of Sales for North America at Aristocrat Gaming. He brings over 23 years of experience in the gaming industry, having worked in Australia, Asia, and North America.

In his current role, Gissane is responsible for overseeing several gaming sectors, including tribal gaming, different gaming classes, and emerging markets. His expertise contributes to Aristocrat Gaming’s strategic and operational initiatives in North America.

Woodgate currently serves as Vice-President (Canada) for BetMGM. He brings a diverse background in the content industry. His career includes roles at DAZN, a global streaming service, where he worked as a content and production executive in the UK and New York.

Woodgate also held various leadership and production positions at Rogers Sportsnet and CTV News, covering areas such as editorial, production, and strategy.

The organization’s leadership welcomed the new additions, with CGA President and CEO Paul Burns commenting on the positive impact the two will have on the body.

“We are excited to welcome Scott and Kurt to the Board. Their knowledge and expertise will add immense value as the CGA continues to drive our strategic mandate to advance the evolution of a regulated and responsible industry through collaboration, education, and advocacy. With Scott and Kurt, we are adding the right voices, experiences, and geographical representation to the table,” said Burns.

Ilkim Hincer, Chair of the CGA Board, also thanked the duo for joining the CGA Board and expressed his belief their backgrounds would benefit the organization.

“I want to thank Scott Woodgate and Kurt Gissane for accepting these positions, which will play an important role in supporting the growth and sustainability of Canada’s gaming industry, and I have confidence that their diverse experiences will be valuable to the Association as it delivers on its mandate,” said Hincer.

The Full 2023/2024 CGA Board of Directors:

  • Scott Burton, CEO, FansUnite Entertainment Inc.
  • Danielle Bush, Counsel, McCarthy Tetrault, LLP
  • Bruce Caughill, Managing Director (Canada) Rush Street Interactive
  • Dean Ehrlich, Executive Vice President & Games Business Leader, Everi
  • Neil Erlick, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Nuvei
  • Kurt Gissane, Senior Vice President, Sales Gaming, Aristocrat
  • Jeffrey Haas
  • Mark Harper
  • Ilkim Hincer, Partner, Chair Gaming, Fogler Rubinoff LLP and Managing Director, FR Advisors LP
  • Charmaine Hogan, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Playtech
  • Dale Hooper, General Manager, FanDuel Canada
  • Chuck Keeling, EVP, Stakeholder Relations and Responsible Gaming, Great Canadian Entertainment
  • Carrie Kormos, Chief Marketing & Communication Officer, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment
  • Adriane McGrath, Vice President, Business Development, Konami Gaming Inc.
  • Niaz Nejad
  • Rob Scarpelli, Managing Director, HLT Advisory Inc.
  • Richard Taylor, President, Niagara Casinos
  • Scott Vanderwell, CEO, PointsBet Canada
  • Shelley White, President & CEO, Responsible Gambling Council
  • Scott Woodgate, Vice President (Canada), BetMGM

NorthStar Gaming’s World Cup ad wins advertising kudos

NorthStar Gaming received two awards for advertising campaigns it ran in 2022. The company received a Bronze Award for Innovative Media from the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) and a Silver Award for Fan Engagement from Clio Sports.

Both awards were given for the NorthStar campaign, titled “90-Minute Stat Holiday.” This campaign, conducted primarily during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, proposed a 90-minute statutory holiday for Canadians to support their men’s soccer team during the tournament.

Developed alongside Publicis Groupe partners Leo Burnett, Starcom, and North Strategic, the campaign involved collaboration with “Footy Prime” podcast hosts, including former Canadian men’s national soccer team members Craig Forrest and Jimmy Brennan.

The campaign led to a 50% surge in website page views and a notable 180% increase in soccer wagering. There was a 470% rise in new customers placing their first bets on soccer, and during Team Canada’s games, 14% of all sportsbook wagering was attributed to these matches. NorthStar has used the momentum from this campaign to continue growth in 2023, as shown by a 140% increase in total wagers and a 131% rise in revenue in Q3/23.

“It’s no secret that Ontario is home to a sizable and passionate soccer community; the 90-minute stat holiday engaged and united soccer fans as we all celebrated Canada’s historic return to the world stage,” said Dante Anderson, Vice President of Marketing, NorthStar Gaming.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our innovative media approach and fan engagement strategies. At NorthStar Gaming, we believe in pushing the boundaries of creativity to deliver exceptional experiences to our audiences,” Anderson added.

The Canadian Marketing Association Awards recognizes excellence in Canadian marketing. The Clio Sports Awards celebrates global achievements in sports advertising and marketing.