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PointsBet taps Brooke Hilton to lead Canadian iGaming team

Australian betting operator PointsBet has announced the appointment of Brooke Hilton as Head of Casino in Ontario to boost its iGaming operations in Canada. The move comes amidst the company reporting strong growth in Canada in a quarterly earnings report published on October 25; PointsBet’s first quarter total net win increased from C$1.5m to C$4.7m, a 212% increase in the last twelve months.

Much of this growth has been fuelled by an increase in sports betting, with the company seeing a 111% increase in handle and a 440% increase in net win. Its casino business also grew, seeing a 136% net win increase from C$1.1m to C$2.6m.

PointsBet received a two-year iGaming license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) in March 2022. The Australian betting operator is focusing efforts on Canada following the sale of its US arm to Fanatics Betting & Gaming in June 2023 for US$225m. The sale will see the gradual rebranding of PointsBet’s US sportsbooks to Fanatics Sportsbook.

Prior to this role, Hilton worked at Ingenuity Gaming as Director of Business Development in 2023. Hilton’s experience in the sector also includes a role at Bally’s Interactive, where she was responsible for iGaming product development for North America from March 2021 to January 2023.

Hilton’s seven-year tenure with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) from 2014 to 2021 further enriched her industry knowledge. At BCLC, she was responsible for developing its Play Now casino product.

“It is with immense joy that I announce the beginning of my journey as the Head of Casino at PointsBet. Having dedicated myself to the Canadian iGaming industry for the past 10+ years, I’m absolutely thrilled to align my passion with a company as influential as PointsBet Canada,” said Hilton.

Recently, the operator announced a series of improvements it plans to make to its casino product in the next 12 months. These include increased game selection, new promotions, and progressive jackpots, hitherto unavailable at PointsBet Casino.

A robust financial performance in casino gaming, increasing by nearly C$1.5m in net wins, new appointments, and improvements to its online casino product, indicates PointsBet has emerged stronger from the sale of its US gambling arm. As stated in PointsBet’s recent financial report, the company is looking at “top-line growth, reduced costs, [a] clear path to profitability in FY25, and is well capitalized post US sale.” All in all, things are looking positive for the gambling operator.

Restaurant chain partners with Sports Interaction Sportsbook on Wings and Wagers Experience

Toronto-based Aegis Brands Inc, owner and operator of the St. Louis Bar & Grill restaurant chain, announced a partnership with Canadian digital sportsbook Sports Interaction to offer a “Wings and Wagers” experience to sports fans and bettors at its Ontario locations. The partnership enables patrons to watch sporting events and place bets on the Sports Interaction app while dining at the restaurant, taking advantage of joint promotions of food, drinks, and special sportsbook bonuses.

President of St. Louis Bar & Grill Steven Pelton commented on the partnership, noting its potential to differentiate the restaurant from competitors and boost sales for its 20 franchises in Greater Toronto and Ontario.

“We believe this is a terrific way to drive excitement and differentiate ourselves from our competitors. Standing out as the best choice to watch a game when a wager is involved will further drive topline sales growth and profitability for our franchise network,” he said.

Sports Interaction, founded in 1997 by the Mohawk Tribe of Canada, offers wagers on over 30 sports nationwide thanks to its license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. The sportsbook has broken new ground, partnering with the restaurant chain that operates 70 locations across Canada and is known for its famous wings.

“Sports Interaction is redefining how Canadians engage with sports. We’re on the ground, have been around for 25 years, and understand the local markets unlike anyone else. We are thrilled to partner with St. Louis Bar & Grill to bring its guests sports, teams, and players that matter to them. We offer thousands of Canadian, U.S., and global leagues at all levels and types to make sure all fans are covered,” said Leon Thomas, Sports Interaction’s CEO.

A significant emphasis has been placed on responsible gambling. St. Louis Bar & Grill commits to adhere to the guidelines set by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario. To ensure responsible betting, St. Louis employees will undergo training.

This isn’t the first collaboration between the restaurant industry and sports betting. In the US, DraftKings launched its ‘Sports & Social’ facility in November 2022 in Troy, Michigan, combining the sports bar and sportsbook concepts by encouraging customers to bet using the DraftKings app. BetMGM also has a longstanding US partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings.

The success of this collaboration could influence similar future partnerships where restaurants and betting platforms come together for an integrated experience. This concept has the potential to be adapted in various regions across the country – St Louis Bar & Grill has 70 restaurants across Canada, including locations in Alberta, and it is now looking to expand westward to locations in British Columbia.

NorthStar Gaming gets OSC approval for additional Playtech financing

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. has received a decision from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) allowing the company to get approval from its shareholders for a $10.3 million investment from software provider Playtech and other company insiders.

NorthStar Gaming expects to complete the required approval measures and receive the investment before the end of October. It is anticipated that the additional investment will be used to fuel NorthStar’s expansion plans across the rest of Canada.

CEO of NorthStar Gaming Michael Moskowitz reiterated this ambition after announcing the company’s Q2 results in August 2023, repeating the “goal of expanding the NorthStar Bets brand outside of Ontario starting in the fall”.

This isn’t the first time NorthStar Gaming and Playtech have joined forces. In January 2022, the companies signed a strategic partnership to launch Playtech’s IMS Platform for casino, live casino, bingo, and poker in Canada. The agreement facilitated NorthStar Gaming’s launch of its flagship brand, NorthStar Bets, in May 2022. The site went live in Ontario with approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). NorthStar also powers Spreads.ca, a gambling site operated by the Abenaki Council of Wolinak.

In February 2023, the agreement was followed by a $12.3 million investment from Playtech to help with North Star Gaming’s takeover of Baden Resources, invest in new technology for North Star Bets, and finance marketing campaigns. It also expanded the previously expanded strategic partnership with a 10-year extension and the option to expand to cover the entire Canadian market.

At the time, CEO of Playtech Mor Weizer said, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with NorthStar Gaming as it prepares to launch its market-leading online gaming business in Canada. Our success is driven by strategic partnerships with industry-leading operators around the world, and we are excited to partner with a leading entertainment company like NorthStar Gaming.”

VICI Properties revenues up 20.3% in Q3 amid acquisition of four Canadian casinos

VICI Properties has reflected positively on its Q3 financial report after increasing revenues to C$1.25bn (US$904.3m) during the three-month period.

The number represents a 20.3% increase YoY while net income, attributable to common stockholders, increased YoY to C$769.3m from C$457.6m.

Crucially, the quarter also saw VICI Properties complete its acquisition of four casino properties in Alberta from its partner Century Casinos – Century Casino & Hotel Edmonton, Century Casino St. Albert, Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, and Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.

Edward Pitoniak, CEO, VICI Properties, said: “VICI’s third quarter financial performance reflects our sustained, sustainable commitment to accretive growth and capital deployment through acquisitions and strategic financing activity, exemplified by approximately 20% revenue growth and nearly 11% growth in AFFO per share year-over-year.

“During the quarter, in addition to closing Rocky Gap and announcing the expansion of our Canyon Ranch Growth Partnership, we expanded our international presence through closing the acquisition of four casino properties in Alberta, Canada with our existing tenant and partner, Century Casinos.”

Additionally, VICI Properties ended the quarter with C$706.5m in cash and cash equivalents and C$1.1bn of estimated available forward sale equity proceeds.

The firm also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.415 per share, representing a 6.4% YoY increase.

Senators Player Suspended for Violating NHL Betting Policy

The NHL has suspended its first player of the post-PASPA error for violations of the league betting policy. However, the league says the suspended player, Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators, was not found to be betting on any NHL games.

The NHL served Pinto with a 41-game suspension, which amounts to half of a season on the bench.

“I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa, and most importantly my family. I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team,” Pinto said in a statement.

Pinto was drafted by the Senators in 2019 but has yet to play for the team this season thanks to ongoing contract discussions. The team issued its own statement regarding Pinto’s suspensions:

“Shane is a valued member of our hockey club; an engaging, intelligent young man who made poor decisions that have resulted in a suspension by the National Hockey League. We know he is remorseful for his mistakes. The Ottawa Senators fully support the NHL’s rules on gambling. While saddened to learn of this issue, the entire organization remains committed to Shane and will work together to do what is necessary to help provide the support to allow him to address his issues and become a strong contributor to our community.”

Pinto will not be eligible to play with a team until January 2024.

The NHL offered little information on Pinto’s infractions beyond clarifying that he did not wager on the NHL. The league also specified that it would be offering no other comment on the matter.

However, the Ottawa Sun reported that sources from within the league said an integrity partner flagged a US betting account belonging to Pinto for unusual activity. NHL players are allowed to wager on other sports per league policy but are not allowed to wager on NHL hockey.

Given the severity of the suspension, many from around the sport and the gaming industry are questioning what exactly Pinto did to receive such a stringent punishment.

Playgon Games’ wagering turnover makes sizeable leap in Q3

Playgon Games has announced several key player milestones for Q3 2023 as the Vancouver-based games developer targets continued growth.

The firm, which received AGCO approval to enter the Ontario igaming market in August, announced the results of its latest quarterly report on Tuesday, with headline figures including a 10% rise in quarterly wagering turnover, from $409m in Q2 to $449m in Q3.

Average daily wagering turnover also increased to $4.88m in Q3 from $4.49m in the prior quarter, representing a 9% increase.
“Our sales and integration pipeline continues to be strong, and our business continues to scale,” noted Darcy Krogh, CEO of Playgon Games.

“The industry remains strong and Playgon is well positioned to participate in the ongoing growth. We look forward to announcing new games, new markets and new partnerships soon.”

Furthermore, Playgon Games reported that through three quarters of player wagering activity in 2023, its live dealer tables have accommodated approximately $1.2bn in wagers compared to the same period in 2022 of $697m, representing a 72% YoY increase.

The games developer previously posted substantial revenue growth in its Q2 report in August.

Meanwhile, the firm also announced that it has completed its shares for debt transaction as previously on July 12.

As part of the transaction, Playgon Games issued an aggregate of 32,045,130 common shares of the company in full and final settlement of $2,243,159.04 in aggregate debt representing short term loans, various trade payables and certain board fees that were due and payable.

Of the 32,045,130 common shares that were issued, an aggregate of 10,347,494 common shares were issued to related parties of the company. All of the common shares were issued at a deemed price of $0.07 per share.

Jumpman Gaming selects Geolocs to power The Six Gaming’s Ontario entry

GeoLocs has been chosen by Jumpman Gamingto provide its geolocation verification solution to The Six Gaming as the operator enters the Ontario igaming market.

The partnership with mkodo – parent company of the geolocation service – enables The Six Gaming and its clients to operate in the Canadian province with the assurance that they are fully compliant with local regulations.

The Six Gaming operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO) and is listed by the agency as a regulated operator on its site.

According to the operator’s website, it will launch a single AGCO-licensed website to offer players access to a range of content including slots, bingo, instant win games, progressive jackpots, tables games and live casino games, all accessible via an ‘intuitive and mobile-optimised UI’.

Kris Kukula, Director at The Six Gaming, commented: “It’s great to be able to offer our clients more choice when it comes to geolocation. GeoLocs is a great partner as the technology, knowledge, and expertise of the Canadian market is second-to-none.

“We see mkodo as true partners, and we’re excited to work together to unlock value from our investment in their cutting-edge geolocation technology, which has enabled us to launch and operate in Ontario.”

GeoLocs, meanwhile, was built specifically to support igaming brands, offering a ‘quick and seamless’ integration.

Its presence in Ontario has grown significantly in recent months with mkodo forming partnerships with the likes of Rootz and Casumo.

“mkodo is delighted to be partnering with such a significant igaming business as The Six Gaming,” added Stuart Godfree, Managing Director at mkodo.

“We’re happy they’re on board and pleased that they are able to offer their clients our expert geolocation service as they enter into new markets across North America.

“We look forward to a successful partnership to come.”

Playtech & FanDuel partner to push live casino content in Canada

Playtech has joined forces with FanDuel in a new partnership that will see branded live casino content launched on its Canadian platform.

As part of the deal, Playtech has built a dedicated live casino studio – based in Riga, Latvia – to serve FanDuel Canada and provide casino games like Roulette, All Bets Blackjack, Baccarat and 7-Seater Blackjack, for their customers in Ontario

The agreement extends the provision of the live casino studio to other provinces across Canada, if and when they regulate.

Dale Hooper, General Manager, FanDuel Canada, commented: “We are proud to be announcing this deal with Playtech, which will bring our users across Canada the highest quality live casino experience.

“The addition of the innovative FanDuel Live Casino studio has been specifically localised to cater for the Canadian market and FanDuel.

“This unique proposition cements FanDuel’s premium position for online casino in the North American market. The agreement marks the beginning of what is sure to be a successful and exciting partnership with one of the world’s largest game providers.”

The agreement marks the first collaboration between Playtech and FanDuel and is regarded as a ‘key milestone’ for both.

FanDuel is attempting to solidify its position as a ‘premium provider of online casino experiences’ and build its live casino offering in Canada, while Playtech is stepping up its expansion efforts across North America, following recent studios built for Adventures Beyond Wonderland and Big Bad World.

Playtech also recently entered into a subscription agreement with Ontario-based casino and sportsbook gaming platform Northstar Gaming.

“It’s brilliant to see Playtech Live continue its growth in North America,” added George Voyatzis, VP Commercial, Playtech.

“Our partnership with FanDuel marks a really exciting moment for Playtech, and we look forward to delivering our live casino games for FanDuel and its users across Ontario.

“As we build more studios globally and release new content, this announcement is yet another example of Live taking over the gambling industry on a global scale.”

Enthusiast Gaming stays on TSX track amid Nasdaq delisting

Enthusiast Gaming has publicly announced its intention to voluntarily delist its common shares from the Nasdaq Stock Market, while reaffirming its commitment to the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

The Canadian digital media company has already notified Nasdaq of its decision, which has been made due to the “relatively high insurance, listing, reporting, legal and compliance costs that are associated with a continued US stock exchange listing”.

Enthusiast Gaming estimates that it incurs over US$2m (C$2.75m) of annual costs in connection with maintaining a dual listing, which expenses are expected to increase significantly in future years due to increasing compliance and other regulatory requirements.

Enthusiast Gaming also cited the administrative burdens and requirements associated with maintaining a dual listing.

The Los Angeles-based firm previously announced in a press release dated May 4 that the Listing Qualifications department of

Nasdaq had approved its request for a 180-day extension to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Bid Price Rule”).

Enthusiast Gaming was given until October 30 to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule but the firm confirmed yesterday, October 23, that after “careful consideration”, it had evaluated the benefits and costs of continuing its listing on Nasdaq, and had come to the conclusion that “it is appropriate to voluntarily delist from Nasdaq”.

The company also concluded that a reverse split of its shares in order to come into compliance with the Bid Price Rule was “not in the best interest of shareholders”.

Enthusiast Gaming’s announcement added: “The Company intends to file a Form 25 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 30, 2023, which Form would become effective 10 days following filing thereof, resulting in the delisting of the Shares from Nasdaq on or about November 9, 2023.”

Caesars Windsor invites Michigan casino-goers amid Detroit casino workers strike

Casino-goers in Michigan are being encouraged to cross the border and visit Caesars Windsor in Ontario while the casino workers’ strike in Detroit continues to cause disruption across sites.

The invite has been extended by the CEO of Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), Gordon Orr, and Caesars Windsor’s Manager of Public Relations and Communications, Susanne Tompkins.

As reported by CNBC last week, thousands of casino workers in the city of Detroit have gone on strike in search of higher wages and better working conditions – mirroring the attempts of Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux-affiliated employees at Loto-Quebec casinos earlier this year – which ultimately ended in success of sorts as the operator reached a ‘responsible agreement’ with the union.

In Detroit, meanwhile, striking employees include 3,700 workers employed in positions across MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown. They comprise dealers, cleaning staff and valets, among others, and are represented by the Detroit Casino Council, which is made up of five unions including the United Auto Workers.

Workers took action after their contract expired without a new agreement to replace it.

“US visitors have always been an important part of our business and we welcome them to visit our property, either for the first time or for a return visit, to experience our world-class Caesars brand,” said Tompkins in an email statement to CTV News.

Orr, meanwhile, contends that Caesars Windsor offers American gamblers a “world-class” option without needing to cross any picket lines.

“We take no pleasure in the fact that we know that our US gaming friends are in this strike position,” he said.

“But at the same time we want to recognize that we have a similar offering that has a quality experience on this side of the border.

“For anyone that wants a world-class gaming experience without having to cross that picket line, certainly Caesars Windsor is an option for them.”

Orr continued: “Caesars Windsor is our number one tourist attraction.

“Of course world-class gaming, a 5,000 seat Coliseum with A-List entertainment, gaming, of course, restaurants. We’ve got it all. Two hotel towers, and we’ve got the number one brand in gaming.

“Caesars Windsor is a major attractor as a brand.”

Elsewhere this month, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) stepped up its attempts to find a new operator for Caesars Windsor by releasing Request for Proposal (RFP) documents to pre-qualified proponents.