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OpenBet enters fifth province after striking BCLC technology deal in Saskatchewan

OpenBet will deploy its omni-channel Player Account Management platform and sports betting technology to PlayNow.com in Saskatchewan after striking an agreement with its long-term partners at BCLC.

The state-owned lottery corporation entered the Canadian province last November via an arrangement with Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and SaskGaming.

SIGA was subsequently named as operator of the brand in Saskatchewan to help facilitate online gambling to players in the province, and OpenBet has now been selected to solidify its service due to its “track-record of success with WLA partners and their commitment to player health and responsible gaming”.

“Congratulations to SIGA and BCLC on bringing regulated sports betting and igaming to Saskatchewan,” said Cathryn Lai, COO at OpenBet. “Now, players have an opportunity to enjoy best-in-class betting entertainment in a safe and secure environment through the renowned PlayNow brand.

“We are enormously proud of our contribution to regulated gaming and betting in Canada and adding a fifth province to our ecosystem, alongside our activity in Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec, means more players will have access to the great experiences offered by BCLC on PlayNow.

“BCLC has been fundamental to our success in Canada and our collaboration on product and technology remains a blueprint for quality partnerships with operators. It’s also great to welcome SIGA to the OpenBet family, and we are excited to start a new partnership with such an innovative operator.”

OpenBet has committed to offering ‘safe and secure online gaming and betting entertainment’ for players in Saskatchewan via its safer gambling tools.

This latest agreement builds upon a long-standing partnership between the global betting entertainment provider and BCLC, who provided SIGA with the province’s first legal, regulated online sports betting and gaming platform.

“OpenBet’s unrivalled platform technology provides us with the confidence to take our PlayNow.com brand into provinces beyond British Columbia,” added Dan Beebe, COO at BCLC

“We have enjoyed significant growth in Manitoba in recent years, and believe we are well positioned to enjoy similar success in Saskatchewan with a similar model.”

BCLC beefs up AML program with Everi Compliance technology

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has moved to strengthen its gaming and online operations with the addition of Everi Compliance’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solution.

Deployed in over 600 gaming properties, Everi Compliance will be used to support BCLC as it conducts and manages lottery, casino, bingo, and online gaming on behalf of the Canadian province.

The new agreement strengthens a partnership between gaming technology firm Everi Holdings and the lottery which dates back to 2018.

Previous deals undertaken include Everi Digital, the online gaming division of Everi Holdings, launching its online slot content on BCLC’s PlayNow.com.

“Everi is committed to adapting to customer needs as the industry changes and creates exciting new opportunities,” said Darren Simmons, EVP and FinTech Business Leader for Everi.

“BCLC has prioritised high levels of compliance as part of the continued expansion of their fast-growing gaming operations in casinos and online platforms across British Columbia.

“Our RegTech solutions are designed for a wide variety of applications, and we are proud to have been chosen to support BCLC’s critical AML program.”

VICI Properties completes acquisition of four Albertan casino properties from PURE

VICI Properties has bought non-US real estate properties for the first time, completing the acquisition and leaseback of four properties from PURE Canadian Gaming Corp. 

The specialised casino real estate landlord has purchased PURE Casino Edmonton in Edmonton, PURE Casino Yellowhead in Edmonton, PURE Casino Calgary in Calgary, and PURE Casino Lethbridge in Lethbridge for a fee of $271.9m.

Meanwhile, VICI Properties disclosed that it has entered into a triple net lease agreement with PURE for the four properties. 

The total lease has an initial total annual rent of approximately $21.8m, representing an implied acquisition capitalization rate of 8%, and an initial term of 25 years, with four five-year tenant renewal options.

PURE Casino Yellowhead, opened in 2000, is the largest of the portfolio at 75,000 square feet with three food and beverage options as well as 753 slot machines, 26 VLTs, 24 table games and 15 poker tables.

Opened in 1986, PURE Casino Edmonton is a 72,000-square-foot venue and features 852 slots, 28 VLTs, 27 tables games and 16 poker tables, in addition to featuring three food and beverage outlets. 

The PURE Casino Calgary venue is a 57,000-square-foot complex with 832 slots, 22 VLTs, 27 table games and 12 poker tables as well as one food and beverage outlet.

Finally, the smallest venue is the Lethbridge resort, coming in at 43,450 square feet. Opened in 1988, the resort offers 427 slots, 28 VLTs, 11 table games, 13 poker tables and two food and beverage options.

John Payne, President and Chief Operating Officer of VICI Properties, said: “Over the last five and a half years, VICI has built a portfolio of market-leading experiential real estate. Today’s announcement marks another momentous first for VICI as we expand our footprint internationally into Canada with the acquisition of the PURE Portfolio. 

“This transaction highlights our ability to source, structure, and fund cross-border transactions, widening our opportunity set as we continue along our growth trajectory. We are pleased to add PURE as our eleventh tenant and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Mobinc brings casino brand Conquestador to Ontario

Platform provider and operator Mobinc has launched its casino brand Conquestador in Ontario.

After the successful launch of its MGA license in 2021, the platform is now available in Ontario to help third-party operator partners enter the province.

Mobinc offers a 24/7 cloud-hosted gaming platform which features online casino, sportsbook, and live gaming content, with more than 3000 online games from leading game suppliers.

The platform has a “firm focus” on player safety and regulatory compliance with an offering that ensures “security, scalability and flexibility” for an operator’s desktop and mobile websites.

“This is a great start to 2023. Launching Conquestador in this new market is a huge milestone for Mobinc as we continue to expand both our global footprint and product offering,” commented Sergei Belikov, CEO of Mobinc.

“The AGCO’s common-sense approach to regulation and licensing has meant the market has got up and running very quickly and we’re relishing the opportunity to help our partners flourish in this region.”

Mobinc also holds a UK Gambling Commission B2B license, permitting it to help operators seeking to operate in the UK with its platform.

SBC presents the 26th edition of the long-running Canadian Gaming Summit, now under its management

The premier gaming and betting event in Canada, Canadian Gaming Summit, is set to return to the Metro Toronto Convention Center on June 13-15 under new management by SBC, an events and media company that runs regional and global industry events such as CasinoBeats Summit, SBC Summit North America, SBC Summit Barcelona, and SBC Summit Latinoamérica. 

For the event’s 26th edition, SBC will work closely with the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), an organization facilitating the industry’s growth in Canada by representing the country’s leading operators and suppliers. In addition, SBC will seek the support of other important Canada-based industry stakeholders to ensure that the event evolves into one of the year’s best business opportunities and provides some of the most powerful insights into the Canadian gaming market.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to enhance and elevate this renowned event and turn it into a premier networking hub for those who are active or interested in entering the Canadian market,”  said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC.

“The Canadian market holds a lot of growth potential, and the regulation of gambling in Ontario and the lessons learned so far have made it crucial for the industry to have discussions about the future of this and other Canadian provinces such as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. SBC is well-equipped to lead and facilitate these important conversations.”

“We are thrilled to welcome SBC as the official event organizer of the long-standing Canadian Gaming Summit. I am confident that SBC will find the right balance between re-imagining the CGS to strengthen its standing as a must-attend industry event and ensuring that the event’s main mission of promoting the development of the industry in Canada remains the primary focus.” added Paul Burns, President and CEO of the CGA.

The exhibition floor will feature over 75 companies operating in Canada, including:

Altenar
Aurum Solutions
Fast Track
Finnplay
Kinectify
Mkodo
Paramount Commerce
Platipus Gaming
Smartsoft Gaming
SuzoHapp
Xtremepush

The Canadian Gaming Summit 2023 will also feature a two-day conference with over 150 world-class speakers specializing in the Canadian gambling market. The conference will cover a variety of topics, including the lessons learned from international operators, the future of other Canadian provinces beyond Ontario, the integration of emerging technology into land-based gaming, First Nations partnerships, payment regulations, crypto and NFTs, and how affiliates can help ensure a successful launch in the Canadian market.

The reputable list of speakers features representatives from industry operators, affiliates, and suppliers. It includes names such as:

Jai Maw (CEO, Betting Hero)
JD McNamara (Country Director, Canada, Better Collective)
Nav Sandhawalia (Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, Niagara Casinos)
Paul Burns (President/CEO, Canadian Gaming Association)
Paul Pellizzari (Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock International)
Scott Vanderwel (CEO, PointsBet Canada)
Shelley White (CEO, Responsible Gambling Council)
Tom Mungham (CEO & Registrar, Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario)
Martha Otton (Executive Director, iGaming Ontario)
Tyjondah Kerr (Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, OLG)

The 26th edition of the event is expected to attract over 2,000 delegates, including representatives from major regulated operators, affiliates who can help new market entrants launch in Canada, sports betting providers, First Nations-led companies, game developers, lotteries, bingo operators and providers, regulatory agencies, responsible gambling specialists, payment providers, marketing agencies, and media.

Rounding out the experience there will be a series of all-inclusive evening networking parties at some of Toronto’s most luxurious venues. These events offer the perfect opportunity to connect with stakeholders from across the industry and continue business discussions with current and potential partners in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. 

Visit the official Canadian Gaming Summit website for more information on speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, media partners, and attendees. 

You can purchase your ticket that includes access to the exhibition, the conference and the networking parties at the Super Early Bird rate of CA$695, a CA$300 saving on the standard price of the Full Access Pass. The discount expires on March 3.

SBC will offer free Operator and Affiliate passes to members of SBC Leaders and Affiliate Leaders. Fill in the forms (operator form, affiliate form) to get in touch with our Relationships team and find out more. 

Contact [email protected] for details on exhibition and sponsorship opportunities.

Loto-Québec creates Canadian gaming first for Pollard Banknote with Boréal series

Loto-Québec has unveiled its new Boréal instant ticket series, the first Canadian game designed specifically for Pollard Banknote‘s new digital printing press.

Launched on Jan 9, the wildlife-inspired Boréal series marks the latest collaboration between the two parties, who first forged an instant ticket partnership in February 2014.

During this time, Pollard Banknote has provided a comprehensive suite of services, including game design, instant ticket production and marketing to the Canadian lottery.

Anne-Marie Voyer, Products and Development Director at Loto-Québec, commented: “Loto-Québec is thrilled to be the first lottery in Canada to create a concept for Pollard Banknote’s new digital press. This process lends itself well to photographic imagery and increases the number of scenes that we can market.

“In order to make the most of these characteristics and resonate with our players, we have chosen Québec wildlife photographs by prize-winning photographer Jean-Simon Bégin. This allows us to introduce consumers to the diversity of Québec wildlife.”

According to Pollard Banknote, the firm’s new digital printing technology allows for an increased number of distinct ticket images within an instant game while also ‘enhancing’ the ticket graphics, resulting in visuals that are ‘crisp, dynamic, and rich in detail’.

In total, the new game features 30 different images of wildlife species living in the province.

Julia Cloutier, Senior Director, Sales & Marketing, Pollard Banknote, added: “Pollard Banknote is excited to collaborate with Loto-Québec on the new Boréal instant tickets. Loto-Québec has taken full advantage of our proprietary digital processes for this game series and the resulting images are incredible.

“We value the partnership we’ve built with Loto-Québec, and we are always exploring ways to add value to the lottery’s portfolio. The Boréal series exemplifies Pollard Banknote’s commitment to outstanding games, a key factor for the ongoing success for our lottery partners.”

Casivo brings online casino guide to Canada

Casivo has received a license to bring its services to Ontario and New Jersey, entering the North American gaming market for the first time. 

Currently operating in Europe via Sweden and the UK, Casivo ‘helps users find the best online casinos’ providing a comparison site style offering to users. 

Those services will now be brought to the American market after Casivo secured a license to enter the igaming market of Ontario and New Jersey.

Johan Löfgren, CEO of Novitana and Editor-in-Chief of the Casivo brand, commented: “The goal when launching Casivo Canada, as well as our previous products, is to be the leading example when it comes to presenting licensed and regulated casinos, letting users enjoy playing within a safe environment. 

“This is also a key aspect of Casivo USA, where each state can differentiate in terms of offers and guidelines; we want to be at the forefront by protecting and educating the players rather than simply presenting another casino bonus from a shady operator”.

Entering the Americas for the first time, Casivo is handled by professionals boasting over 20 years of igaming experience and will compare and rank casino venues across the US and Canada helping players make informed decisions. 

Noah Wilson, Senior Content Manager at Casivo Canada, added: “With the recent licensing system in place for Ontario, more customers can play safely through respected brands and thus have an additional layer of protection. Revenues from Ontario alone rose 65% in Q2 of 2022 and are expected to increase even further in 2023.”

Blueprint Gaming links with NorthStar Gaming to expand Canadian presence

Blueprint Gaming has secured a partnership with NorthStar Gaming to further enhance its position in the igaming market of Ontario. 

Under the agreement’s terms, Blueprint titles such as Fishing Frenzy: The Big Catch, The Goonies, ted and a selection of Megaways titles such as Eye of Horus and Wolf Legend will all be available to NorthStar Gaming players in the province. 

As the deal progresses, the studio’s entire slot game portfolio will be available on the NorthStar Bets platform as well as content especially tailored to a Canadian audience. 

Jo Purvis, Director of Key Accounts and Marketing UK at Blueprint Gaming, said: “Ontario is one of our key markets and has been instrumental in our growth across regulated markets in 2022. 

“Partnering with NorthStar Bets will play a considerable role in our growth there going forward and puts our slots in front of an impressive swathe of new players.”

Blueprint was awarded a license to operate in Ontario ahead of the market’s launch back in April of last year and, since then, the studio has claimed that titles such as Deal Or No Deal and Jackpot King have been ‘extremely well received in the region’. 

The agreement sees Blueprint link with a Canadian-owned and operated brand which has a ‘uniquely local, premier user experience’.

Michael Moskowitz, CEO and a founding partner of NorthStar Gaming, added: “We’re proud to provide a uniquely local, content-driven and premium gaming experience to Ontario consumers. 

“As we continue to expand our offering, a crucial part of that growth is achieved by partnering with reputable and established suppliers of quality gaming experiences, so Blueprint Gaming is a welcome addition to the NorthStar Bets platform.”

Gaming Arts launches Bingo Millions game in Manitoba

Gaming Arts and its Canadian distributor Bet Rite have launched its Bingo Millions game with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Going live at MBLLS’s Casinos of Winnipeg’s, Club Regent Casino and McPhillips Station Casino on Dec. 1, Bingo Millions is part of Gaming Arts’ library of bingo games and is one of several special SuperGames offered by the Las Vegas-based gaming manufacturer.

“We are very excited and grateful that MBLL is our first Canadian customer to introduce Bingo Millions to the Canadian bingo market,” commented Billy MacLellan, President of Bet Rite.

“We are confident that bingo players in Manitoba will enjoy the fun and excitement this potential life-changing game will bring.” 

With a $1m jackpot, Gaming Arts noted the Bingo Millions game has helped operators increase their profitability and revenue, as well as customer acquisition and retention.

Mike Dreitzer, CEO of Gaming Arts, added: “We are delighted to introduce Bingo Millions in Canada. Our team has worked diligently with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and our Canadian distributor, Bet Rite, to make this happen.

“We are grateful to everyone for their help in completing this long-anticipated launch. We know it is thrilling for players in Winnipeg to be able to experience this “Life Changing” game. It has already generated a great buzz just a few days after launch, and it’s only just the beginning.”

Rivalry: expect game publishers to embrace esports betting in 2023

Esports wagering company Rivalry has indicated that game developers and publishers will likely embrace esports betting in a similar fashion to pro sports leagues during 2023. 

Publishing its 2022 ‘Wrapped’ report, Rivalry noted the need for publishers to drive engagement further this year as the majority of revenues coming from in-game transactions. This, Rivalry claims, places ‘an important focus on esports’ as it can act as a driving force for greater user engagement. 

Rivalry cited research that found 69% of millennial NFL bettors watched more sports than usual if they placed a bet on the game. The operator stated that the industry could activate more users and ‘deepen engagement’ with users by embracing sports betting. 

The company stated: “Sports betting offers a slate of benefits that are uniquely aligned with the KPIs of publishers, esports organizations, and tournament organizers. Further embracing responsible and regulated sports betting will stand to offer the larger games industry opportunities to deepen engagement and monetize.”

Ahead of 2023, Rivalry made two other predictions – that Valorant will continue to rise in popularity and that mobile games will continue to gain greater traction throughout the year. 

Valorant was earmarked as an emerging betting contender within its 2022 review, with the first-person shooter game named as one to watch. 

“The growth of Valorant has been unlike any other title we have seen since our launch in 2018,” Rivalry’s report outlined. “Predicting the longevity of a new esports IP is tough, with many games coming and going over the years. 

“Ultimately, the publishers are bumpers on the bowling alley, and it’s the community that will determine if it wins or loses. But, being a betting company, our bet is Voralant is here to stay”.

The report also named the most popular betting markets from 2022, with League of Legends taking the top spot in an unsurprising fashion, with LoL’s World Championship establishing itself as the ‘most popular esports event in the world’. 

The top five consisted of League of Legends, CS:GO, Dota 2, Valorant and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. 

Rivalry also disclosed that the top three titles accounted for 90% of betting activity throughout 2022, with Valorant identified as a key growth title. 

Despite League of Legends taking the crown in terms of betting activity globally, Canadians betted the most on CS:GO, with the ESL Pro League and WePLay Academy League providing plenty of opportunities for betting. 

Commenting on the report, Rivalry CEO Steven Salz said: “2022 was an incredible year for Rivalry, and equally exciting for the larger esports betting segment we participate in. We have continued to extend our growth as a company, averaging 29% month-over-month growth from January to October, while our esports betting customer base has similarly increased in size and betting volume over that period. 

“From our leading position in esports betting, we’re keen to share our experiences, trends and outlook. Rivalry Wrapped not only speaks to the specific direction of the betting segment, but also where trends are headed in esports globally. This includes correlations we see between betting activity and viewership growth, just as you would in traditional sports. 

“Where we see momentum in betting activity, it often translates into enhanced economics and overall viewership growth for the esport. For that reason, we believe this information will be helpful not just to the betting industry, but the esports community more broadly.”