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City of Ottawa thanks OLG for $5.5m donations and support

The City of Ottawa held an event earlier this week at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre to express gratitude for the support provided by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) Corporation. OLG annually donates more than $5.5m to community projects throughout Ottawa, with the renovation of the facility being one of the projects this year.

OLG’s funds come from revenue from slots and table games at the Rideau Carleton Casino, the future home of Hard Rock Ottawa. The funds are placed into the city’s general revenue account and are then used to invest in initiatives that benefit Ottawa residents.

The Senior Municipal Relations Manager at OLG, Kathleen Devine, summed it up: “When you play at an Ontario casino, you play for Ontario”.

A portion of the funding from April 2022 to March 2023 was invested in recreation infrastructure projects, such as playgrounds, community centres, and arenas. 

Enhancements to city facilities for cultural services, long-term care, and Ottawa Fire Services were made possible through the funding. Other funded initiatives include upgrades to Richmond Arena, Pinecrest Recreation Complex, and Splash Wave Pool.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said: “Investing in our recreational facilities and community projects enhances community pride, fosters a sense of ownership and encourages people to come together. The funds received from the OLG will continue to help upgrade, maintain, and enhance facilities like the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre and many others.”

Since the Rideau Carleton Casino started offering slots, the OLG has provided the City of Ottawa with almost $100m in gaming revenue.

Casino Rama raises record-breaking $466k for Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

The Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) Foundation hosted its annual gala on November 18 for the 22nd year. Casino Rama Resort presented the ‘Cirque Under the Stars’ evening, which ended up being the charity’s most successful gala to date, raising $466,507.

The Soldiers’ Annual Gala has raised over $1.5m over the previous 21 years of hosting, which has been instrumental in purchasing surgical equipment, monitors, and life-saving pediatric equipment.

This year’s event took place in the Entertainment Centre at Casino Rama Resort. Due to high demand, the OSMH Foundation and gala committee increased the event’s capacity. The OSMH Foundation reported almost double attendance compared to the previous year, with nearly 600 visitors.

Casino Rama treated the guests to food and cirque-inspired entertainment, including acrobatics. They raised money for the cause by purchasing raffle tickets, live and silent auction items, and making direct donations. 

This year’s larger capacity meant a more significant impact for the hospital. Perry Esler, President and CEO of the OSMH Foundation, pointed out that “every dollar raised is measured in the impact it makes on the quality of healthcare at Soldiers”.

The support from sponsors, donors, and guests at this year’s gala will fund the purchase of new Centrella Smart+ Beds for the hospital, as the OSMH plans to replace 30 of its current beds to enhance patient care and assist with recovery. The beds will ensure patients are more comfortable and will upgrade the organization’s quality of care.

The OSMH Foundation has expressed gratitude to everyone who made the evening a success, including Casino Gama Resort for hosting, BMO Nesbitt Burns for being headline sponsors, the volunteer gala committee, and everyone who attended.

Foundation Board Chair at OSMH Raquell Ness said: “It is inspiring to see such a tremendous commitment to our hospital and to providing support for our community” and that they “look forward to the impact it will have on enhancing the care that Soldiers’ provides”.

Caesars Windsor donates $10,000 to local children’s centre

Caesars Windsor has donated $10,000 to the John McGivney Children’s Centre (JMCC) in Windsor, Ontario. The funds will primarily be used for translation services in over 26 languages, which cover all the services available through JMCC.  

The donation comes from the Caesars Windsor corporate giving program, known as Caesars Windsor Cares. Since 2002, Caesars Windsor Cares has donated more than $76,000 to various projects and programs. 

Susanne Tomkins, Caesars Windsor’s Manager of Public Relations & Communications said: “With our rich, diverse, cultural community, it is our honour to donate to a program supporting families at the John McGivney Centre. This program aligns with our own principles in creating a diverse and welcoming environment for all.”

Speaking about the importance of the translation services Caesars Windsor Cares is supporting, Jennifer Jovanovski, CEO of JMCC, said: “Translation services are critical to our work as we strive to enrich the lives of children and youth with special needs by helping them reach their full potential.”

According to Jovanovski, the demand for translation services has increased over the past five years. There was a 1322.67% increase in visits requiring these services from 2019 to 2022, with 75 visits compared to 1,067. Jovanovski also noted how the cost of running these translations has increased by 562.87% from $6,658 to $44,134.  

Jovanovski commented on the contributions of Caesars Windsor Cares: “We are extremely grateful for this donation, and for Caesars Windsor Cares for believing in the work we do at the John McGivney Children’s Centre over the years.”

Last month, Caesars Windsor hit headlines when OLG announced it would accept Requests for Proposal from other companies interested in operating the casino site, as Caesars Entertainment’s agreement ends in August 2025. There is an option to extend the operating agreement by six to 12 months, but it is unclear whether Caesars Entertainment is amongst the bidders for the new agreement.

National Addictions Awareness Week 2023 combats gambling stigma

Canada’s National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) 2023 is in full swing, running from Nov. 19-25. This yearly initiative, organized by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), aims to raise awareness about addiction and reduce the stigma that surrounds it. It also includes raising awareness of the harm associated with gambling addiction.

NAAW is a time for Canadians to learn more about addiction and how to support people looking for help. It allows people to engage in discussions, share valuable information, and promote resources. In particular, gambling addiction concerns are addressed by organizations that take part in NAAW events, recognizing the considerable impact this can have on individuals and communities, both socially and economically.

This year’s NAAW theme is “Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusion”, which focuses on supporting new ideas around prevention and treatment and listening to people who have struggled with addiction.

In line with the theme, Canada’s largest province-wide health system, Alberta Health Services (AHS), is expanding access to treatment and support for Albertans no matter where they live.

Events set to take place later this week include the Substance Use Health Resource Fair hosted by the Umbrella Project and Carleton Wellness. The fair will take place from 11:00 to 16:00 on Nov. 22, and also look at gambling awareness and harm reduction.

Health Canada, in a statement from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, underscored the importance of compassion in addressing addiction:

“No one chooses to develop an addiction. It is a medical condition that affects the brain, and like any medical condition, it is treatable, it is deserving of care and it should be discussed with compassion.”

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recognizes the unique challenges of addiction, proposing six practical tips to guide CAF members towards healthier choices, including promoting substance-free activities and encouraging help-seeking.

National Addictions Awareness Week is not only about acknowledging the problem but also showcasing ongoing efforts to support those affected. Communities across Canada are encouraged to engage in events to raise awareness and destigmatize addiction, aligning with the collective goal of achieving a healthier and more inclusive society.

The Tree of Peace Friendship Centre kicked off NAAW with a wellness walk in downtown Yellowknife on Monday afternoon. Christina Moore from the centre said they are “hoping to motivate individuals who are struggling and showing them that recovery is possible and they’re not alone in their journey.”

Rivalry Ultimate Fan creates NBA engagement powered by Low6

Online sports betting and casino platform Rivalry and sports gamification company Low6 have teamed up to unveil a new fantasy basketball app, Rivalry Ultimate Fan.

The free-to-play app combines elements of trading cards and collectibles, allowing users to open digital packs of NBA players, create lineups, and compete to win fantasy contests throughout the 2023-24 NBA season.

“Rivalry Ultimate Fan applies our Gen Z playbook to the world of fantasy sports to engage the next generation of basketball fans and strategically position our brand within a new vertical,” Rivalry Co-founder and CEO Steven Salz said in a press release.

“Expanding further into the traditional sports segment enables us to introduce the unique betting experience we’ve built to a new community of players and realize the operating leverage we see in other parts of the business among a broader audience.”

“Rivalry’s expertise and understanding of Millennial and Gen Z customers is very much aligned to Low6’s product development. We’re confident our award-winning fantasy game will drive acquisition and engagement for Rivalry among a new audience while maintaining their commitment to innovation and one-of-a-kind experiences in betting,” added Low6 CEO and Co-Founder Jamie Mitchell.

Players will be able to win various prizes for winning fantasy contests, including NBA merchandise, gift cards, and promotions for Rivalry’s sportsbook and casino products. Rivalry is also working with its content partners to livestream Ultimate Fan pack openings throughout the basketball season, attempting to capitalize on streaming trends to attract new players to its platform.

The app is the latest collaboration between Rivalry and Low6 after the companies developed a free-to-play Pick’em game for two major esports events, The International (TI) 11 and the 2022 League of Legends (LoL) World Championship.

Adding to its experience in the professional basketball industry, Low6 renewed its partnership with the Sacramento Kings in October with a return for its “Call the Shots” prediction game. The game, integrated with the franchise’s fan app, allows fans inside the Golden 1 Center to win discounted food and beverages, merchandise, and autographed jerseys for predicting events in-game.

 

Gambling streamer placed on Quebec’s gambling self-exclusion list

Leading gambling and gaming streamer Félix Lengyel, also known as xQc, was removed from a Montréal casino by security on Saturday in an alleged breach of responsible gambling regulations. Lengyel argued the move was directly linked to a Radio Canada article from 2022, which claimed that the streamer had admitted to a gambling addiction.

The 28-year-old, the fifth most-followed streamer on Twitch, was visiting a Québec casino with family for his birthday and enjoying some games when security removed him.

Speaking on his new streaming platform Kick, Lengyel said that he was banned by “online systems” in the province following the article’s publication, leading to “these [security] guys dragging me out [of the casino].”

The Radio Canada article from September 2022 said that Lengyel had confirmed that he was someone with a “gambling addiction.” In an April 2022 livestream, Lengyel said, “All I do is gamble; everywhere I go, I just gamble. It’s all I do; I think it’s fun. I’m addicted. I have one of the most addictive personalities.”

This led Québec’s gambling regulator to preemptively add him to the province’s self-exclusion list, banning him from all online operators, land-based casinos, and from purchasing lottery tickets.

The article also featured quotes from a fan of the streamer who had watched several of his livestreams. The fan, Enneric Chabot, spoke of the influence that xQc’s streams on gambling had on his addiction, leading to him losing nearly C$68,500 in a month. Controversy over the platform’s gambling content led Twitch, owned by Amazon, to ban gambling content in October 2022.

Fellow streamer and friend of Lengyel Adin Ross confirmed in a livestream this week that xQc intends to move to Miami soon, outside the purview of his provincial gambling ban. This will allow the Laval native to travel to land-based casinos in the Sunshine State and states with legal online casino gaming.

The Twitch streamer, whose content primarily focuses on gaming, including Overwatch, and his gambling exploits, signed a deal with Kick, owned by Stake’s founder, Ed Craven, worth over $100 million in June. Despite signing the deal with Kick, Lengyel continues to stream on both Twitch and Kick.

Rivalry well-capitalized after $14m shareholder investment

Rivalry has confirmed that it has secured C$14m in funding in the form of convertible debentures to help it seize new opportunities in 2024. 

The millennial and Gen-Z-focused operator secured the funds through an existing institutional shareholder who has given the company a series of convertible debentures that can be turned into stock equity upon maturity. 

Under the terms, each convertible debenture is made up of a $1000 principal amount of 10% convertible debentures in Rivalry, set to mature in three years. The shareholder, who remains anonymous at the time of writing, will have the option to convert the debentures into equity upon the maturity date – November 14, 2027. 

Should this happen, the conversion price has been set at $1.40 per subordinate voting share. 

This move allows Rivalry to access more capital as it aims to grow its business throughout 2024. The firm has recently launched a new casino platform, a magazine and is still operating its esports betting platform. 

Rivalry expects to be a profitable business in H1 2024 and seeks additional liquidity to ramp up its marketing efforts and seek geographic expansion. 

“We are very pleased to receive the support of a long-standing institutional shareholder of Rivalry with this investment,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. 

“Rivalry’s unique product mix and position in the marketplace has brought the business to the inflection point it’s reached today. We’re deeply confident in the underlying trends the business is showing and maintain our expectation to achieve profitability in H1 2024.

“Strengthening our balance sheet positions the company to maximize the opportunity in front of us. The capital will enable Rivalry to accelerate the development and release of new products, expand marketing efforts, and extend into new geographies and verticals, setting us on a path where we can pursue growth and profitability at the same time.”

FansUnite focuses on being cashflow positive into Q4 and beyond

On the back of FansUnite’s Q3 financial results, which showed a 5%-12% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, the company held its Q3 investor call Wednesday. CEO Scott Burton and CFO Graeme Moore spoke about the company’s performance while answering questions concerning FansUnite’s future.

The Vancouver-based company reported revenues from continuing operations ranging between $4.5 million to $4.8 million in Q3, a 5% to 12% increase from the same period in 2022. Gross margin also increased compared to 2022, increasing from 50% to 56%-59% in 2023. Total adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2023 increased at a rate of $1.2 million year-over-year.

However, year-to-date revenue decreased from $17.5 million in 2022 to $17.2 million in 2023. One of the critical reasons for the decrease was the impact of the launch of legal sports betting in New York in Q1 of 2022. This led to a record-breaking quarter for the company. Changes to affiliate marketing in New York, including alterations to marketing regulations in bars, led to a poorer performance in 2023.

During the call, company executives indicated that FansUnite is continuing its strategy to become cash flow positive. “We are cash flow positive in Q3 if you look at continuing operations. Q4, we will be truly cash flow positive, and we anticipate every quarter going forward being cash flow positive,” Moore highlighted.

“A lot of the strategy is what we’ve been achieving in the last nine months. If you look at what we’ve done with McBookie and Chameleon. We’ve let 61 people go, which is approximately 60% of our full-time staff. If you compare what our headcount was at the beginning of March to now, that’s very significant savings in headcount, which is our most significant cost center.”

One of the main ways the company has tried to reach its goal of being cash flow positive is through moving away from digital assets. This included selling Chameleon source code, which previously supported the DragonBet platform (formerly owned by FansUnite), to Betr.

The report indicated that Betting Hero was the key contributor to the company’s revenue, generating $4.8 million in Q3. “[BettingHero] has always been a lean team. It [has an] entrepreneurial mindset that we love, so we’ll continue working with them to optimize everything and make sure we’re adding to their significant skillsets,” Moore said.

Moore also highlighted how alternative revenue was being brought in by the Betting Hero through bespoke research, providing nearly $300,000 of revenue.

“Two new revenue streams have emerged. One is the bespoke research market. It contributed $288,000 in this three-month period, which is really strong. It is also really high-margin work. The second revenue stream is the HeroHotline. [We are] making sure when this launches fully, we’ll have a sustainable revenue stream. We haven’t hit that stage yet, but [we] are really impressed with the progress.”

Reflecting on the company’s future, Burton said, “We are now in a much stronger position, Q4 and Q1 will, I think, put us in a really strong position.” The CEO indicated that the strategic plan for the company was to eliminate the company’s debt in the next 12 months.

Casino de Montréal launches AR experience powered by Moment Factory

The Loto-Québec licensed Casino de Montréal has opened the ARcade, an AR experience powered by Moment Factory, a multimedia entertainment studio. The ARcade features players moving through an interactive space using multimedia and video game technology.

“With this concept created in our Montreal studio and presented to the public for the first time, we offer a new way to have fun and create human connections through multimedia and innovation. With ARcade, Casino de Montréal’s visitors can engage in a playful and interactive competition where they use their bodies to control the game,” said Moment Factor General Manager of Signature Ticketed Experiences Jonathan St-Onge.

Two play areas have been installed in the casino, which is based in the Pavillon du Québec, with each area supporting a minimum of four players. There is a choice of six games available, and players can adjust the difficulty level to whatever they feel is suitable, with a choice to play for either 30 minutes or an hour. While players will be left to their own devices to play, a team of hosts is on hand for any questions or issues.

“We’re very proud to welcome Moment Factory at Casino de Montréal, a one-of-a-kind place in the city. ARcade gives our customers a chance to enjoy a different form of entertainment, in addition to our shows—whether free or in the performance hall—and our restaurants. The activity is original and perfect for groups looking for a fun time unlike any other,” added Loto-Québec Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Casinos and Gaming Halls Kevin Taylor.

While the ARcade is the most significant change to the casino space, plenty more changes happened while the gaming experience was installed. In fact, the whole first level of the Pavillon du Québec was redesigned with some further additions. These include 20 more games to play and a bar. There is also a food menu that has been specifically tailored to match the space.

There is also space for a DJ to perform a few times a week. The aim was to create an entertainment space without games of chance that can be enjoyed alongside the traditional casino offering.

CGA launches new initiative on player protection and health

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is not the only group putting tremendous thought and taking tremendous care with player protection.

The Canadian Gaming Association is taking the initiative and launching a new program called the CGA Commitment and Strategy to Promote Player Health and Wellbeing. The effort aims to produce responsible gambling guiding principles for the association. The group will also promulgate an advertising and marketing code of conduct.

Part of that process includes involving Ad Standards Canada, which will help CGA develop the advertising code. The group is a non-profit group that has spent more than 60 years self-regulating advertisements in the country to ensure fair and honest practices in the industry.

Dec. 5, the CGA will host a day-long event at the offices of the accounting firm MNP in downtown Toronto. The day will include the following:

  • A workshop led by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) to develop guidelines around RG
  • A presentation from IPSOS on new research
  • Meeting with Ad Standards Canada to outline the road map to creating advertising standards

In addition to members, the Dec. 5 event will also include broadcasters, regulators, the Crown corporations, and responsible gambling advocacy groups such as the RGC.

On Dec. 6, CGA will hold a workshop on navigating Canada’s regulatory landscape followed by the CGA’s annual meeting.

Those interested in attending can register here.

The efforts come on the heels of CGA members and President and CEO Paul Burns meeting with the AGCO to discuss the proposed advertising regulations for Ontario.