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Paramount Commerce launches instant bank transfer in Canada

Paramount Commerce, a global bank-account-based payments provider, announced at the Canadian Gaming Summit and SiGMA Americas that it has launched its Instant Bank Transfer payment solution in Canada for iGaming and sports betting operators.

The product, proven in the North American online gaming and sports betting markets, delivers industry-leading conversion, ubiquitous bank coverage, and state-of-the-art risk management.

Instant Bank Transfer was built for gaming with innovative features such as 1-click express deposits and in-game deposits. These features allow consumers to make deposits to their online gaming accounts quickly and securely without leaving the gaming experience.

The solution validates payment account ownership on withdrawals as well as deposits, so consumers can use Instant Bank Transfer to collect their winnings directly to their bank account – regardless of the method used to deposit funds.

“With low credit card acceptance rates, Canada’s iGaming market needs a seamless bank-account-based payment option,” says Dave Roe, COO of Paramount Commerce. “Instant Bank Transfer will greatly benefit Ontario’s newly regulated market by improving player acquisition and loyalty.”

Canadian Gaming Business’ Summer 2022 magazine is out now

Updated June 10

The Summer 2022 issue of Canadian Gaming Business magazine is out now in digital form.

Released to dovetail with the 25th year of the Canadian Gaming Summit, which was held in-person in Toronto from June 7-9 with the theme of “Canada – A World of New Opportunities”, the issue looks at the developments of the Canadian gaming industry over the last year.

Not least, of course, there are seismic changes to the online betting and gaming scene in Canada and particularly in Ontario to discuss. Meanwhile, the issue also looks at topics including the evolution of the omni-channel gaming experience, payments, responsible gambling, sportsbook advertising, diversity in gaming, and more.

Featured in this magazine are just some of the many fantastic keynote speakers, panelists, and contributors who were involved in this year’s Summit. Several Summit speakers discussed their educational sessions and offer insights into their respective fields of expertise, and we profiled some of the Summit’s sponsor companies. A sincere thank you from everyone at CGB, MediaEdge, and the Canadian Gaming Association to those who contributed to both the magazine and the Summit.

RELATED: Canadian Gaming Summit celebrates 25 years as Canada’s premier gaming event

It goes without saying that the past two years have been challenging for gaming in Canada, but we hope the Summit and this magazine serve as a reiteration of the remarkable resilience that the industry has demonstrated since 2020. The way Canadian gaming has not only survived but thrived through an unprecedentedly difficult time is proof of the strong leadership and dedication of its leaders, companies, advocates, and employees across the country.

In mid-2022, Canada’s gaming sector is rightly attracting more attention and admiration around the world than ever before, and there are more exciting developments on the horizon. It’s truly an exciting time to be part of this great industry.

Check out the full Summer 2022 issue of Canadian Gaming Business magazine here.

Bragg Gaming completes acquisition of Spin Games

Bragg Gaming Group has completed its acquisition of B2B gaming content provider Spin Games in a deal which it says will enable it to introduce new proprietary and exclusive third-party online casino content for both U.S. and Canadian players.

Through the deal, Bragg says in a press release that it expects to launch its first proprietary games on its remote gaming server (RGS) with an initial rollout in Connecticut, Michigan, and New Jersey anticipated to begin in Q3 2022. Games will also launch in Pennsylvania soon after.

Spin Games’ founder and chief executive Kent Young will now serve as president for Bragg’s Americas operations and oversee its U.S. market roll-out growth strategy.

Spin Games has existing deals in place with more than 30 North American operators. Its existing RGS and casino content are licensed and distributed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, and it is also licensed in British Columbia and the state of Connecticut.

The developer has a proprietary content portfolio of more than 30 in-house developed games including in categories such as slots, video poker, action bingo and keno.

Bragg first announced the acquisition deal in May last year.

“Combining our RGS, advanced player engagement tools, data analytics capabilities, and our newest game content developed specifically to appeal to North American players, with Spin Games’ state gaming licences and established integrations with online casino operators comprising the majority of the U.S. market, significantly accelerates our entry into the North America iGaming market,” Bragg chief strategy officer Yaniv Spielberg said.

“We are positioned to quickly grow our US market presence over the next several months beginning with our iGaming content and supporting game optimization technologies.”

Young added: “I am delighted to now be a part of the Bragg team and I’m confident the company is perfectly positioned to leverage our leading RGS technology and proprietary and third-party content to quickly execute on our U.S. and Canada iGaming expansion plan. In addition to strengthening our support of existing customers and markets, the combined company is positioned to accelerate the expansion of our propriety content library, pursue new markets, and leverage our technology to quickly support iGaming in new states and provinces as they open.”

Saskatchewan selects BCLC’s PlayNow.com platform as online gaming vendor

BCLC is expanding its online gambling platform PlayNow.com to a third province, after signing a contract with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and SaskGaming to provide regulated online gambling to Saskatchewan players.

In addition to its operations in British Columbia and Manitoba, PlayNow.com in Saskatchewan, once launched, will feature 400+ entertaining casino, Live Casino, poker, and sports-betting products, supported by world-class gaming vendors and their strategic partnerships with BCLC.

PlayNow was chosen as Saskatchewan’s turnkey online gaming platform following an extensive Request for Proposal process that SIGA launched last year. PlayNow.com is the only gambling website in North America that offers dedicated player-health specialists known as GameSense Advisors.

SIGA,  a nonprofit which operates seven First Nations-owned casinos in Saskatchewan, will operate the platform in the province and development of the site will begin immediately with the goal of being operational by the end of 2022.

“SIGA is very excited to bring the PlayNow online casino and sports betting experience to Saskatchewan,” said SIGA President & CEO Zane Hansen. “The PlayNow platform is very competitive against any other online offering. This online offering will integrate into our existing casino operations and will further enhance the entertainment options for SIGA’s and SaskGaming’s customers.”

“I heard there was lots of interest [in the RFP],” Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns said, per Sports Handle. “That’s great for them. It’s a tremendous opportunity for SIGA to extend their brands online and integrate them with SaskGaming, and be able to create a really great offering for the province of Saskatchewan.”

RELATED: MP Kevin Waugh criticizes slow pace of Saskatchewan’s Bill C-218 rollout

BCLC launched PlayNow.com in British Columbia in 2004. It is currently the fastest-growing channel of BCLC’s business with ongoing year-over-year growth. In 2013, BCLC began providing the platform to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

Net income generated from BCLC, including from PlayNow.com, goes back to the Province of B.C. to help fund healthcare, education and community programs. The Province of B.C. shares seven per cent of net income generated from BCLC with B.C. First Nations, under the BC First Nation Gaming Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership.

Meanwhile, back in September, the Saskatchewan government and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, established a 50/50 revenue-sharing agreement, making SIGA the only First Nations operator in Canada to have such a deal with any level of government for online gaming.

Konami leads AGEM Index to slight increase in May

In May 2022, the AGEM Index rose by 20.68 points to 883.10, marking a 2.4 per cent increase from April. Last month, the index had dropped 9.7 per cent from March.

On a year-over-year basis, the index is down 96.59 points, or 9.9 per cent, from May 2021.

During the latest reporting period, six of the AGEM Index companies reported stock price increases, while the other six posted declines in stock price. As a result, half of the companies in the AGEM Index posted positive contributions and the other half posted negative contributions to the overall index, with net contributions resulting in a month-over-month gain.

The largest positive contributor to the monthly index was Konami, which reported an 18.99-point gain to the index as a result of a 9.5 per cent increase in overall stock price.

Meanwhile, Aristocrat contributed a 6.23-point gain to the index with a 0.4 per cent increase in the company’s stock price coupled with a strengthened exchange rate between the United States dollar and the Australian dollar.

The largest negative contribution to the index was sourced to Light & Wonder Inc., whose 5.8 per cent decline in stock price equated to a 5.78-point loss in the overall index.

In the latest reporting period, two of the three major U.S. stock indices observed positive but negligible growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.04 per cent from April, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.01 per cent. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ saw a 2.1 per cent decline over the month.

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) produces the monthly AGEM Index that comprises 12 global gaming suppliers throughout the world. The index is computed based on the month-end stock price (adjusted for dividends and splits) of each company and weighted based on an approximation of market capitalization.

AGEM is an international trade association representing manufacturers of electronic gaming devices, systems, lotteries, and components for the gaming industry.

Sightline announces Canadian expansion, new executive appointments

Sightline Payments, a leading digital payments provider and mobile app developer in the U.S. betting and gaming market, is expanding its operations into Canada, the company announced in a press release.

As part of the move, Sightline has appointed three new executives to its leadership team to lead Sightline’s expansion into Canada and the expansion of its cashless gaming technologies.

Tamara Tenenbaum joins Sightline as SVP of Business Development and Managing Director, Canada. In those roles, she will oversee Sightline’s Canadian market launch and new market development. Tenenbaum has nearly 20 years’ experience working in the payments sector and was previously Director of Payments for Caesars Interactive.

Brian Cottengim will become SVP of Client Solutions Strategy, wherein he will lead Sightline’s strategic projects, focusing on cashless gaming for integrated casino resorts. Cottengim previously worked as VP of Business Development at FreedomPay.

Finally, Will Hill joins Sightline in the newly created role of VP of Business Development – Canada, wherein he will connect with regulators, operators, leading officials, and suppliers across Canada. Hill previously spent 11 years at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), most recently serving as VP of Strategic Partnerships, and has also worked at leading Canadian sports broadcaster TSN and in a PR role with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“These hires show that Sightline continues to attract the best talent across the gaming and payments industries,” said Joe Pappano, Sightline Co-CEO. “I’m pleased to welcome Tamara and Will to the Sightline Canada team, where they will play an integral role in helping us launch our flagship Play+ solution. I’ve worked closely with Brian for the past 25 years, and his ability to design and implement payments solutions will be integral for cashless gaming’s growth at casinos across the United States.”

“With the launch of regulated iGaming and mobile sports betting in Ontario, we know this market has the potential to be the biggest digital gaming market in North America,” said Tamara Tenenbaum, Sightline SVP, Business Development and Managing Director-Canada. “I’m honoured to help Sightline launch its first international program in Canada and look forward to bringing their best-in-class cashless solutions north of the border.”

theScore Bet to exit US market on July 1 to focus on Canada

Penn National Gaming is pulling theScore out of the U.S. market to allow the Toronto-headquartered brand to focus on its home Canadian market, theScore Bet has revealed on its website. Aptly, theScore Bet will cease all U.S. operations on July 1: Canada Day.

theScore Bet was one of the first sportsbooks to go live when the regulated online gaming and betting market in Ontario launched on April 4 and has been touted as a leader in the market in the two months since.

With the U.S. closure, theScore will shift its focus to accelerating its growth in Ontario and expanding its technology roadmap north of the U.S. border, with the ultimate goal of migrating Barstool Sportsbook onto the company’s in-house risk and trading platform in the relatively near future, reports Sports Handle.

theScore launched its own player account management (PAM) trading and promotion engine in August. Penn anticipates that Barstool Sportsbook will transition to theScore’s PAM and trading platforms by the third quarter of 2023.

While theScore Bet focuses on Canada, Barstool will lead Penn’s charge on the U.S. front. This move is not entirely unexpected as, at the time of Penn National’s US$2.1 billion acquisition of theScore, Penn said it would look to operate theScore as a standalone business.

Withdrawing from the U.S. market means theScore will be able to strategically deploy its resources in Canada, where it is already the number-one sports media app. It has already made big moves, such as theScore Bet’s exclusive wide-ranging partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“This move enables us to maximize the value of both brands through our organic media and gaming approach,” Benjie Levy, president and COO of theScore, said in a statement. “Key to our strategy is integrating theScore media app with Barstool Sportsbook, which we’re currently working towards. Bringing together theScore’s powerful mobile sports media platform with Barstool Sportsbook in a unified ecosystem, supported by our in-house technology and custom integrations, will strengthen the overall U.S. product offering and broaden its reach.”

theScore became the first media company to launch sports betting in the U.S. since the repeal of PASPA when it made its debut south of the border in New Jersey three years ago and has since gone on to launch in Colorado, Iowa, and Indiana. But, by June 15, it will no longer accept customer deposits or new wagers in the U.S.

“As we approach a major undertaking this summer with the launch of our proprietary risk and trading service, the timing is right to focus our U.S. efforts on marketing Barstool Sportsbook and our Canadian efforts on marketing theScore Bet,” Levy added.

Per Sports Handle, Penn National Gaming CEO Jay Snowden said that over the first month of sports betting operations in Ontario, roughly 79 per cent of sports bettors used theScore’s app, exceeding the parent company’s early expectations.

Greentube are preparing for success in Ontario

Greentube, the interactive division of NOVOMATIC, delivers casino entertainment to players around the world with a historically significant presence in Europe.

It already has a footprint in Canada, having launched in British Columbia and Manitoba in summer 2021 through a partnership with Scientific Games and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and expanded to Quebec via a deal with Loto-Quebec.

Now, Greentube CFO/CGO Michael Bauer explains how the company has its eyes fixed on further reach throughout the changing Canadian market.

With Ontario having just become newly regulated, what has Greentube’s approach been towards the emerging Canadian market?

“Before Ontario opened up, our approach was to solely deliver and supply slots to the regulated operators at the time, these being the BCLC and Loto-Québec. The knowledge we’ve gained from operating within Canada has given us a strong platform to work on going forward, putting us on good footing for when the Ontario market recently opened up to regulated iGaming.

“Right now, we’re in the process of getting our license as a supplier, as well as having our games certified so that we can join up with licensed operators as soon as possible when it’s time to go live.

Up until recently how did the fact that private operators had no legal presence in the country affect your planning? How did you gain that local knowledge?

Leading up to legalization in Ontario, we had games on the market in both British Columbia and Quebec and ultimately, we did not expect these two markets to be that different from Ontario. Additionally, we have been supplying social casino games to the market and on these were able to test which games the Canadians prefer.

What research have you done so far and what have you found? 

We’ve looked at player preferences and we’re quite confident that Canadians are going to have the same needs and desires as those in the United States. We can back this prediction up by looking at the Canadian player base of our social casinos, and we can see what kind of games they gravitate towards.

There are certain established mechanics such as Hold & Spin that we think will resonate with local players. Of course, that’s not to say there’s not space for innovation, and we fully intend to push the boundaries with the products we launch in Ontario.

Greentube is now live in a number of U.S. states as well as Europe. Do you think Canadian players will have its own player demographic or be more similar to Europe or U.S.?

The Canadian market is more similar to the U.S. than it is Europe. If you look at the current land-based landscape, you’ll see that it’s dominated by a small handful of suppliers in the likes of IGT, Light & Wonder, and Aristocrat, which is practically the same as in the U.S.

Ontario isn’t really a new market to many suppliers, and we know that there have been plenty of brands out there that have tackled the province as a grey market. Because of this, we must assume that a lot of players have already been exposed to certain European games, and as a result, they have a strong affinity for playing them.

This means that Ontario will become a unique melting-pot of players that enjoy both U.S.- and European-style slot games. As a European brand ourselves, we can quite easily adapt our portfolio of games to meet the needs of Canadian players.

Some have said they expect Ontario to be the biggest North American gambling market. Do you imagine it will be of greater importance to Greentube than U.S. states?

If you look at Ontario from a population perspective then yes, it’s going to be a huge market. It really does have a lot of potential to be the biggest market in that sense. That said, I’m not entirely sure if it will remain the biggest market for a very long time, especially if California becomes regulated, as it would dwarf Ontario. There are almost 40 million people living in the state of California, which is more than double the population of Ontario.

Will you bring any localized content to Canada? And if so, will that be a decision at a later stage once you know how the market is performing?

We will supply games that are localized for a North American market, but that’s it right now. We do not have any pure Canadian titles that we plan on bringing to the market. But if we find there is an appetite for this, we’d be more than willing to develop localized content.

Canadian Gaming Summit celebrates 25 years as Canada’s premier gaming event

Updated May 31

The 25th annual Canadian Gaming Summit, Canada’s premier gaming event, comes to Toronto next week from June 7-9 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Under the theme “Canada – A World of New Opportunities”, the Summit will reunite the Canadian industry in person at an exciting time.

Canadian Gaming Summit

The past two years have been challenging for gaming in Canada, as with the industry across the world, yet the resilience of the industry has been strong.

The 2022 Summit will provide many opportunities to discuss significant developments, not least Ontario opening its regulated iGaming market, the continuing transformation of the country’s sports betting landscape, and the ever-evolving product and technology innovations that characterize gaming in Canada.

The resilience, innovation, and relentless pursuit of the evolution of our industry are thanks to the strong leadership and dedication of companies in the Canadian gaming industry.

Here, Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, gives his thoughts on the state of gaming in Canada right now and why the 2022 Canadian Gaming Summit promises to be an unmissable event.

What can attendees expect from this year’s Summit?

PB: “We missed the last two years so it’s the first chance in a long time for the industry to gather in person en masse. We have seen high demand and strong support from exhibitors, sponsors, and registrants. A lot has changed in the last two years in the Canadian marketplace, and this is a wonderful chance for industry veterans and newcomers alike to come together for a great three days of interaction. We’ll also assess the early results from the opening of the Ontario iGaming market. There has been a significant amount of interest – between 30 and 40 operators are expected in the market within the first year – and we’re seeing the beginnings of that now. We’ll also see new technology and innovators in the sports betting space and beyond. There’s a great deal of excitement around this year’s event and it’s going to be a great showcase for what’s happening.”

Why is this event so important for drawing attention to the Canadian market?

PB: “The Canadian Gaming Summit has always been a chance to shine a spotlight on everything great in the gaming industry in Canada. There are distinct attributes in every market in the world and Canada has unique relationships between government and gaming operators. The Summit brings people together to share ideas and network and is a great way for new entrants to the market to get to know the industry. We want to let the rest of the world in to see the great innovation and expertise that is here.”

What do you anticipate as the key battlegrounds for those looking to enter the Canadian market?

PB: “Companies and brands are seeing the benefits of what’s Canadian. Canada is a great place to create a beachhead for the North American market – we have a lot of strong features, from a very hospitable investor climate to access to capital markets, to the depth and wealth of talent available across the country in the tech space. It’s an exciting time and given what Ontario is offering companies, it’s a chance for them to put their best foot forward to consumers. I think it will truly be a battle of product.”

In your opinion, could Canada become a global powerhouse for sports betting and gaming?

PB: “Canada has always punched above its weight in the iGaming space and we have seen a lot of great success from Canadians who have, until now, had to go abroad. Now, there is an opportunity for that innovation and expertise to stay and prosper here. Ontario is one of the largest jurisdictions in North America and its open-license model for iGaming, wherein anybody who wants to apply for registration is free to do so, is a unique feature in North America. We’re seeing companies from both inside and outside Canada actively looking to participate, there are new start-ups entering, and it’s going to produce a competitive and dynamic market.”

How important is prioritizing responsible gambling measures within the Canadian gambling agenda?

PB: “Dedication to responsible gaming has long been part of the industry’s DNA in Canada. Other parts of the world are having discussions that we had here over a decade ago. We have some of the leading lights in RG who have been exporting their expertise around the world. It’s something that has been in every jurisdiction in Canada and operators are seeing that dedication. One of the policy factors in Ontario choosing to regulate iGaming and end the grey market was to close the loop to create a strong regulated marketplace with best-in-class RG features built into the regulatory standards, while also allowing operators to show their own commitment and programs. Prospective operators are embracing those standards and programs.”

What can be learned from the rollout of sports betting across the US?

“ We’ve seen in the Ontario regulatory standards one big difference from the US is the limitation of inducements and offers to the public through advertising. That’s a choice Ontario made, to not permit those to occur in mass-market advertising. Ontarians and Canadians have had access to online sportsbooks for years, whereas in the US there was very limited or no access to sports betting in many places. I would call Ontario somewhat of a semi-mature market when it comes to sports betting. There is lots of potential because there are a lot of sports fans, and research has shown an openness among sports fans to bet on sports even if they have not done so regularly before. That’s an exciting opportunity for sportsbooks to educate novice sports bettors and give them new, innovative, and unique products.”

Finally, what are your top predictions for the Canadian gaming market over the next five years?

“There is going to be a lot of transition. As it has over the last few years, the online gaming and betting industry will continue to evolve. The future of the land-based casino sector is very important; government and partners and stakeholders in the industry want to see that sector recover fully. There are lots of investments in innovation coming from the land-based casino sector that will be of tremendous benefit. Then, of course, we’re going to see that growth of sports betting in the Canadian market.

“It’s a bright future right now after a very dark couple of years for our industry. We are on the cusp of significant change from the laws on sports betting to creating a regulated iGaming market in Ontario. We just need to make sure that all sectors of and partners in the gaming industry pull together to ensure the regulatory frameworks are fair and that we create a level playing field for the industry to compete. Ultimately, this is going to be a fascinating period of transition for the marketplace.”

For more information on the 2022 Canadian Gaming Summit and to register as a delegate, please visit www.canadiangamingsummit.com. If you are interested in exhibiting, sponsoring, or being a session presenter, please contact [email protected]

DraftKings adds High 5 Games to iGaming product suite

DraftKings has added High 5 Games’ content to its suite of online gaming products in a multi-market deal that will begin in the U.S. state of Michigan.

A High 5 Games release notes that a selection of its top games including Triple Double Da Vinci Diamonds, The Green Machine Deluxe, and Platinum Goddess have gone live in the northern state.

Tony Singer, its founder and CEO, said that “it goes without saying that we are thrilled” to be associated with DraftKings, which has been a leader in the U.S. gaming market in recent years.

High 5 Games has over 200 iGaming titles available today and a full roadmap of releases heading into 2023 and beyond. In Canada, it already has a footprint in Ontario, having obtained its Gaming-Related Supplier License from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), as well as Quebec.

Tony Singer, its founder and CEO, said that “it goes without saying that we are thrilled” to be associated with DraftKings, which has been a leader in the U.S. gaming market in recent years.

It remains to be seen whether Ontario will be one of the markets in which DraftKings launches High 5 Games content. The operator went live in the province two weeks ago and has since struck deals with other gaming content developers such as White Hat Gaming.

The operators with which High 5 Games has previously partnered include BetMGM. It recently extended that collaboration by launching its products in New Jersey.