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Andreas Koeberl, Twain Sport: Ontario is primed for hybrid sports

A week on from its entry into the Ontario market, and Twain Sport already has big plans to whet the appetite for hybrid sports in Canada – a market that BetGames CEO Andreas Koeberl believes is “thirsty for content innovation”.

Twain Sport, working alongside BetGames to develop its T-Basket and T-Kick products, plans to meet the needs of the sports-savvy Canadian audience with new hybrid sports that have already received positive feedback in Europe. And with 10 partnerships in the pipeline, Koeberl is confident that Twain Sport will be filling a gap in Ontario.

SBC Americas: Congratulations on Twain Sport going live in Ontario! Can you talk us through the opportunity you see here and how you’re looking to bring a unique product to the market?

AK: Thank you! We are really proud to be bringing the world a completely new hybrid version of live sport – and we’re delighted to see the impact it has made since its launch. The market is thirsty for content innovation and we are facing a sports-savvy audience, filling an exact gap in demand we knew was there.

We know exactly where the opportunity lies for us, and we believe that Canadian players are going to love our unique betting proposition. Our extensive research pre-launch identified the key demographics we’ll be serving, and we see an excellent product / market fit in Ontario.

SBCA: Looking at Ontario’s market profile – what are your initial plans for launch, and what kind of players do you feel Twain Sport will resonate the most with? 

AK: We have got big plans with over 10 partners lined up to launch Twain Sport during Q1 and early Q2, which is a good start, particularly as we position our brand as a complementary product to tier-one operators, that can boost overall sportsbook spend.

T-Basket especially is a great product offering super-quick, action-packed content for quieter times of the day or before NBA matches. We are addressing sports bettors and casual players looking for a premium high-frequency live product and we think the fit is just right, especially for the Tik Tok generation who are looking for short-form live sport with a bet every few minutes.

SBCA: Given that Twain Sport is billed as a fast-action live sport, do you see the demand for such content being similar to the demographics you’re delivering to in Europe and Africa already? 

AK: Canadians and North Americans generally love fast sports – think basketball and ice hockey. So, we don’t think it’s unreasonable to possibly see even greater engagement than we have already in Europe and Africa. Basketball is a firmly-established popular betting sport there and, as such, we’re confident about T-Basket’s prospects. After all, it’s all about identifying the preferences and values local audiences resonate with, and then catering to that demand.

This is especially exciting for a provider like us, as we’re carving out an entirely new niche with the thrill of live sport and a betting frequency that can transform sportsbook engagement and revenue.

SBCA: With Twain Sport’s North American debut taking place in Canada, how much do you see this first step as being a platform to move into the US market in the future? 

AK: We will launch with several US-facing operators in Ontario in the coming weeks, so if we see a strong appetite among bettors this will certainly be a serious consideration. Launching a brand in the US requires a significant investment of energy and time, so we want to be sure that there is some serious demand and Ontario is a great market to get a feeling for that. Of course, with T-Basket on the menu, we know we’ve got a sport that US bettors will really enjoy – so it’s all a question of getting it right north of the US border and then establishing our plan of action to move south.

SBCA: Given that Twain Sport is largely based on the other side of the Atlantic, what challenges might you face when it comes to streaming T-Basket and T-Kick to audiences in Ontario? How do you overcome such obstacles?

AK: Given the fact that we are positioning Twain Sport as a complementary product to tier-one sports, we don’t expect that T-Basket, for instance, would replace the NBA from a betting perspective – that would be naïve. Rather it adds player engagement. This is what we’re known for at BetGames, and our speciality lies in being one of the best in the world at complementing live sport and boosting incremental revenue at scale. After all, sport thrives on action, excitement and emotions, whereas betting draws engagement from on-screen action and data. The emotional component of a betting product is tied rather to the thrill of the game, and less to the individual bond with a certain team (or indeed a player).

Thus, we think given our rich statistics, player profiles and super-fast betting and instant settlement mechanics, this concern might be less of an issue from a pure betting perspective. Remember the rise of live table tennis betting or, indeed, the popularity of virtuals during COVID? The importance lies in the positioning – do you want to compete or complement? For us, it’s all about offering the best complementary products on the market and boosting revenue for operators.

SBCA: Last but not least, on the subject of sport – Twain Sport already has basketball via T-Basket and T-Kick’s hybrid take on football, will there be plans for an Ice Hockey version down the line?

AK: The sports roadmap is in the hands of our partner, the Hybrid Sports League, who oversee its creation and management. I think it really depends on how popular T-Basket and T-Kick become, in which global markets. Right now, the league’s priority is to develop and manifest the sports – making sure they’re running perfectly and exciting and entertaining our audiences.

If we see a specific appetite from North America, then that might be a consideration going forward. Just arbitrarily launching live sport after live sport would be to jeopardize the whole project. We both focus on quality over quantity.

To succeed and achieve true greatness in popularity, you need to launch, learn and optimize before you start the next one. In the long run, the league wants to develop a portfolio, but only in the right and proper way. Incremental steps are the way forward – and given we’re creating an entirely new vertical, it’s all about making sure that each move we make is done to fill a gap in the market with the right product proposition.

AGCO verdict imminent as BetRegal plots Ontario entrance

BetRegal is awaiting a decision from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) as the igaming brand seeks to enter the regulated online betting market.

The Canadian firm’s application has been in the process for some time but all details have now been finalized on its end, though two important barriers still remain before it can go live in the province.

First, BetRegal must gain approval for a licence from the AGCO before it can then sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario.

“Our AGCO application is active and pending, as we’ve now completed all the additional Eligibility and Compliance requirements requested prior to approval,” explained BetRegal’s Head of Marketing, Aly Lalani, speaking to CDC Gaming Reports.

“Admittedly, the lengthy process of finalizing our Ontario license has been challenging, but we remain fully committed to Ontario as a market.

“We anticipate a final decision shortly, which will allow us to build upon the great relationships we’ve already established with key partners in Ontario.

“Upon registrar approval, we expect to be back in the Ontario market with a bigger presence and eager to bring a truly Canadian sports betting solution to Ontario.”

BetRegal is already active in Mexico and Ireland, and it’s the community spirit in the latter which the group hopes to replicate on home soil.

Lalani said: “We definitely want to focus on community, as illustrated through our relationship with Dundalk FC in Ireland. We want to focus our efforts on the fact that Ontario and Canada are home for us and being involved at the community level is very important. That‘s why our relationship with the CFL and our community MVP program is so important.

“At the core, we want to ensure that our marketing and brand efforts are anchored on the fact that we are the home team.”

He added: “All members of our executive management team are proud Canadians, bringing with them decades of gaming experience. So we’re not just visiting; we’re going to be unapologetically community-minded.”

Loto-Quebec & Montreal Canadiens in talks over ‘mini casino’

Loto-Quebec CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron has confirmed reports that the organization is looking to install hundreds of video gambling machines at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

The proposed ‘mini casino’ would see gaming machines, sport betting terminals and poker tables housed inside the 1909 Taverne Moderne restaurant, which adjoins the home of the NHL side Montreal Canadiens.

Loto-Quebec and the Canadiens have been in talks for several months, with Bergeron keen to make a breakthrough as quickly as possible.

“We’re not quite ready [to make an announcement], but yes, we’re in discussions,” he said in a radio interview with Paul Arcand on 98.5 FM yesterday [Feb. 22].

However, the bid is likely to come under heavy scrutiny and, if past events are anything to go by, there could be a number of hurdles to overcome before this can become a reality.

Loto-Quebec is surely prepared for any dissenters this time around, though, having seen attempts to build a $1.1bn casino in Griffintown fail in 2006 after experiencing fierce pushback from community groups and residents.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plant believes the two projects share similarities, but has stopped short of rejecting it outright.

He did, though, stress the importance of receiving approval from Public Health Montreal, who previously expressed strong concerns about the impact of the proposed casino in Griffintown.

Plant said: “I share the opinion of Public Health on this subject, meaning there has to be social acceptability. That’s paramount.”

One of the discussion points has been about the opening hours; whether it will be open seven days a week from noon to 3AM.

Bergeron said the target clientele would be Bell Centre attendees, but added access would not be refused to others who want to go in through its separate street entrance.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Eric Girard has said the Quebec government would want to impose two conditions on the project; to have public health weigh in on it, and to try to ensure that, if it goes forward, the project moves toward an overall reduction in video lottery terminals in the province.

RGC partners with Dr. Jennifer Shatley in bid to boost player protection policy

The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has confirmed it has struck up a new partnership with Dr. Jennifer Shatley, who will help to advance the organization’s research and RG Plus strategy.

Announced today, Feb. 23, the agreement came into effect last week (Feb. 13), with the Founder and Principal Consultant of Logan Avenue Consulting identified as a key component in helping the RGC to achieve its goal of enhancing the gambling industry’s player protection tools.

Dr. Shatley has accrued over 25 years of experience in the industry and is widely recognized as a global expert in the field after having led responsible gambling policy, developed and patented the industry’s first enterprise-wide responsible gaming IT application and directed the first national self-exclusion program for Caesars Entertainment.

Welcoming its newest partner, the RGC said on its website: “We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Shatley on the development and execution of RGC’s innovative research and RG Plus strategy, and know that her knowledge and experience will prove to be an invaluable asset in our continuing efforts to enhance the gambling industry’s player protection strategy and programming including training, policy and evaluations.”

Most recently, Dr. Shatley has led consulting services on all aspects of responsible gambling, including training development, policy and the initiative to create a Responsible Gaming Center of Excellence at the International Gaming Institute in Nevada.

Nuvei closes $1.3bn acquisition of Paya Holdings

Canadian fintech firm Nuvei has finalized its $1.3bn acquisition of US payment and commerce solutions company Paya Holdings.

The two entered into a definitive agreement last month, with Nuvei disclosing that it would pay through a mixture of cash on hand and via a new credit revolving facility worth $600m.

Nuvei announced completion of the deal yesterday, Feb. 22, as the firm seeks to further bolster its diversified platform.

According to the buyer, Paya will amplify its existing growth strategy and expand its reach ‘into new underpenetrated and non-cyclical verticals’ where Nuvei’s proprietary technology is ‘well positioned to accelerate customer growth’.

Philip Fayer, Nuvei Chair and CEO, commented: “This is an important milestone for Nuvei as we continue to build a preeminent payment technology provider with strong positions in global ecommerce, integrated payments and B2B.

“I’m thrilled to officially welcome our new colleagues from Paya to the Nuvei family. We have been working diligently on our integration planning, and we are ready to begin the next step on this exciting journey as a single, unified team.”

The acquisition follows publication of Paya’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for FY2022, filed on Tuesday, Feb. 21, which revealed net income of $11.2m.

Revenue for the 12-month period came in at $381.2m, adjusted EBITDA at $100.2m, and payment volume at $66.9bn.

Meanwhile, Nuvei expects to release its Annual Report on Mar. 8.

Woodbine Entertainment raises Standardbred prices

Toronto-based horse racing operator Woodbine Entertainment has confirmed it has increased the price of several of its Standardbred classes at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Announcing the price hike via its website, the Woodbine Standardbred Race Office attributed a desire to increase the value of the horses in higher level claiming races as a major reason why the decision has been taken.

The following classes will see a price increase beginning Monday, Mar. 6:

$11k to $14k Claiming Handicap increased to $12k to $16k

​$15k to $20k Claiming Handicap increased to $17k to $22k

​$22k to $30k Claiming Handicap increased to $25k to $35k

Alongside horse racing, the track also offers a slot machines parlour with over 1,000 machines, operated by Great Canadian Entertainment, and its revenue is used to support horse racing purses.

Speaking in February last year, Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson was also confident that horse racing could establish itself as a major sports betting player in the newly regulated Ontario market that launched last April.

He further put forward the Woodbine Group as a strong candidate to set up on-location sportsbooks across the province, arguing they would provide the greatest return on the proceeds of sports betting for the government.

However, despite maintaining a healthy relationship with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), no licence has yet been issued to the company in this area.

Betsson granted operator & supplier licences as Betsafe goes live in Ontario

Online gambling firm Betsson has been granted operator and supplier licences to serve the regulated market in Ontario as its global brand Betsafe enters the Canadian province.

The move will see Betsafe make its ‘broad’ B2C offering – including online casino and sports betting – available, with Betsafe products running on the platform of 40% Betsson-owned Strive Gaming.

Betsafe’s products will be available in Ontario via Betsson’s native mobile apps, downloadable via the Apple Store and Google Play store, as well as via the website of ot.betsafe.com.

Pontus Lindwall, President and CEO of Betsson, said: “We are pleased to obtain the necessary licenses to operate with both a B2C and B2B offering in the locally regulated online gaming market in Ontario.

“We are convinced that there are great opportunities for Betsson in Ontario in both the B2C and B2B channels as we bring a highly competitive offering to the market.”

These latest developments are in line with Betsson’s previously communicated market strategy for Ontario, and follow a distribution deal struck with the Toronto-based igaming provider Bragg Gaming Group earlier this month.

Betsson has further confirmed that its product offering for the province has been localized to ‘deliver a North American player experience’.

Bragg Gaming strives for further expansion in Canada after IGA honour

Bragg Gaming Group has announced it will disclose details of its plans for further expansion in the US and Canada next month.

The Toronto-based igaming provider already has a solid presence in Ontario, having teamed up with the likes of Rush Street Interactive, Kalamba Games and, more recently, Betsson, over the past nine months.

But the firm is already looking ahead to grow the brand further and capitalise on its success across North America, with details to be shared at the igaming NEXT NYC ‘23 conference.

“We are excited to share with you our ambitious plans for further expansion in the US and Canadian markets as we ramp up the production and rollout of igaming content by our in-house Bragg Studios, as well as the exclusive content from our Powered by Bragg programme,” said Bragg Gaming, via its website.

Meanwhile, Bragg Gaming received the Tech Provider/Supplier of the Year award at The International Gaming Awards (IGA) earlier this month, earning the honor for the second successive year.

The firm also announced this week that it had ‘reinforced its profile’ in Switzerland after launching its content with Swiss Casinos, with a selection of games from Bragg’s exclusive portfolio now available to Swiss Casinos’ online customers.

Capital City Casinos gains councillor support in Edmonton relocation quest

Despite receiving significant pushback in attempts to move its gaming operations from Camrose to Edmonton, Capital City Casinos is pressing ahead with plans and can now count on support from the County of Barrhead.

Relocation has been mooted since last summer, when Capital City Casinos applied to move their existing Camrose casino to a vacant lot along Parsons Road in Edmonton, citing financial reasons.

This sparked concern from Edmonton residents uneasy at the possibility of increased traffic in the city, as well as the potentially negative impact it could have on local charities.

However, Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) appeared to put an end to this in November by rejecting the relocation application, citing significant opposition from communities.

In fact, after seeking feedback, 98% of 500 submissions were against the relocation of casinos.

But Capital City Casinos has not taken the decision lying down, and subsequently launched an appeal against the AGLC’s ruling.

It has now been reported via Town and Country Today that, on Feb. 7, County of Barrhead councillors instructed the administration to draft a letter asking the AGLC to review its decision and allow the Camrose casino to relocate to Edmonton.

County of Barrhead reeve Douglas Drozd noted the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) also backs Capital City Casinos’ application. 

“To me, the move from Camrose to the city makes great sense. Not only will it increase the pot for the Camrose area, but overall for Alberta,” he said.

“Initially, I think it even made sense to AGLC, and they had it approved, but then political forces got involved, and they backed down.”

Drozd was even more forthright when sharing his views on Twitter, writing last Wednesday: “The AGLC would have us believe that it is ok to treat Albertans in the St.Albert and Camrose casino regions like second class citizens.”

Meanwhile, in a letter from the RMA to rural municipalities asking them to lobby the AGLC, policy and advocacy manager Wyatt Skovron stated that the casinos in St. Albert and Camrose “currently produce the lowest per-event revenues and have among the highest wait times (for NPO casino dates) in the province, while Edmonton’s five casinos produce the highest average per-event revenues in the province and have the shortest wait times”.

He added that, while allowing the Camrose casino to relocate to Edmonton would not solve the inequality of the charity gaming system, it would signal that the province recognizes that the current system is systematically unfair to rural NPOs. 

“If we can help AGLC change their mind and go back to their original rationale, it would be a good thing to do,” Drozd said.

Report: Rogers Sportsnet to axe SNBets in bid to cut costs

The future of SNBets appears increasingly bleak after a recent report claimed Rogers Sportsnet is ready to drop its Canadian sports betting content brand entirely.

According to sports media analyst Jonah Sigel, reporting via YYZ Sports Media, Rogers will adopt a ‘phase-out’ approach, and any work previously branded as SNBets will cease under the name and come to a conclusion ‘within three weeks’.

SNBets first appeared on the scene around a year ago – before the start of the NHL playoffs – making a big social media play to announce its name.

However, less than 12 months later, the brand could cease to exist.

Sigel delved deeper into the story on the latest edition of the Gaming News Canada Show. He said: “Rogers has been under pressure; Rogers specifically has brought in a new Head of Media who has a reputation for hitting numbers by way of cutting heads, so there’s not a lot of surprises.

“[At] first I had heard the entire betting platform was going to be cut and later learnt that wasn’t exactly the case, that it was just the SNBets name itself, [that] the brand was being eliminated.

“In [many senses] it’s people trying to find gold in the hills, and I appreciate that, and they’re trying to get it right.

“Unfortunately, when you’re starting something and pioneering, you fumble and you get things wrong. I think this has been fumbled, I don’t think it was well thought out and executed properly.”

SNBets remains active on social media, posting daily on its Twitter and Instagram handles, but those channels are reportedly set to disappear soon, alongside its website.

“There’s a lot of brand confusion here,” added Sigel. “I don’t think anybody really understood what SNBets was because you’ve got players out there that will take gamblers money, and SNBets wasn’t that.

“You had people out there going: ‘What exactly is SN Bets?’

“They’ve got really good and big advertisers behind them, so you’ve got multiple brands sword fighting for audience recognition, and I think that’s where a lot of the confusion was.

“I think they had a big appetite to do a lot of things; as opposed to trying to get one thing done well, they tried to do lots of things and instead they fumbled a lot.

“I think right now what they’re trying to do is clean it all up and serve their advertisers and partners well and see where they go from there, and hopefully down the road they’ll figure it out.”