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Pariplay adds sports betting via BtoBet

Aspire Global’s Pariplay has added sports betting to its Fusion iGaming aggregator platform through an integration deal with BtoBet, ensuring that its partners in Canada and beyond can integrate the offering quickly and easily.

A news release notes that by offering a “strategically relevant” product for online casino operators, the integration will allow for “fast entry to the sports betting industry”. Additionally, BtoBet integration allows those providers that already have sports betting platforms to upgrade the technology and quality of their offerings without significant investment.

Dima Reiderman, Chief Operating Officer at BtoBet, commented: “In continuing to provide operators with the best possible experience for their customers without involving costly, time-consuming processes, this solution ticks all the boxes and allows operators to deliver a world-class betting experience to their players to complement their online casino offering or their current sports betting solution. This quick, seamless solution will enable online casinos to stake a major competitive advantage in providing a greater breadth of content in a fraction of the time than was possible before.”

Pariplay now offers localized content from over 70 vendors to a network of operators in more than 15 regulated markets across Canada, the U.S., Latin America, and Europe.

Adding a sports betting platform to Fusion means that Pariplay now boasts sportsbooks, casino games, live games, virtual sports, and bingo verticals for its partners in Canada and beyond.

The company has been ramping up its North America-focused operations in 2022.

In Canada, it offers its gaming content on Play Alberta in collaboration with NeoPollard Interactive, and it has also recently struck a number of deals in the U.S. with the likes of Rush Street Interactive, BetMGM, GAN, and Golden Nugget Online Gaming.

The company also recently secured GLI-19 certification for North America after appointing a new business development director to lead its charge on the continent in February.

Daily fantasy sports a quandary for Ontario operators

When Ontario’s online betting and gaming market goes live on Monday, April 4, the status of daily fantasy sports is a little complicated.

Providing daily fantasy sports (DFS) offerings will be more difficult for licensed operators as the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulatory standards have included DFS as a gambling product, meaning that companies wanting to offer fantasy games would need to pay a $100,000 annual licensing fee to the province as well as paying 20 per cent tax on revenue.

As reported by Covers, bookmaker and leading DFS operator FanDuel has said that “due to a change in government regulations,” it will not be able to offer free or paid DFS contests in Ontario beginning on April 1. FanDuel added that entries submitted before April 1 will run as usual and that any winnings will be withdrawable. “Ontario residents can participate in daily fantasy contests while physically located in other provinces and within US states where daily fantasy is permitted,” added the company in a statement. “Additionally, Ontario residents will be able to utilize the FanDuel Sportsbook and Casino products launching in Ontario beginning April 4.”

Meanwhile, DraftKings will reportedly shut down its own DFS offerings in the province shortly before the market opens. “Upon our sports betting and iGaming launch, customers physically located in Ontario will not be eligible to play in paid or free Daily Fantasy Sports contests,” DraftKings said, per Covers. “However, you can continue to play on DraftKings as permissible when located in other Canadian provinces or U.S. states.” Its website says its online sportsbook and casino will be available in Ontario in April, and customers in the province will be able to keep playing in the company’s DFS contests until shortly before then.

RotoWire president Peter Schoenke, who chairs the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association’s government relations committee, told The Parleh the FSGA was “kind of blindsided” by the AGCO’s rules around fantasy sports. “We’re working with the stakeholders to try and find a solution,” Schoenke said. “The licensing fee (in Ontario) is double what it is in the U.S. That pushes out the small operators and companies that only do fantasy sports.”

An FSGA statement adds that the regulations have made operating paid fantasy sports contests in the province “impossible for almost every operator”. It cites the examples of U.S. states such as Indiana and Delaware as evidence that large registration fees are prohibitive for smaller operators and reduce competition.

Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns told Covers that the altered regulations and payments around DFS could discourage smaller, “pure-play” DFS operators. He added that there is no cross-jurisdictional “liquidity” allowed in the new, regulated market, “so you can’t ‘mingle’ players from other jurisdictions with players from Ontario”. Burns described that as “the most significant barrier to offering DFS”.

Much like online poker, DFS typically relies on a critical mass of players to generate big prize pools and game variety. That may be hard to achieve given the lack of liquidity, even with Ontario’s population of over 14 million.

RG Check made a requirement for Ontario iGaming operators

The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)’s RG Check Accreditation Program has been embedded into the requirements for all private iGaming operators entering the regulated Ontario marketplace by iGaming Ontario (iGO).

The RG Check program, which is already used by land-based casinos in Ontario, will ensure the highest standards of responsible gambling will be maintained when new iGaming operators enter the Ontario market, says the RGC in a news release. It was originally developed in 2010 in consultation with policymakers, operators, players, and people with lived experience of gambling harm.

The accreditation process helps gambling venues and iGaming sites evaluate, monitor, and manage all aspects of their RG strategy and operations.

After receiving a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, registered operators in Ontario must also satisfy other regulatory conditions and execute an operating agreement with iGO before they can legally go live.

Robust responsible gaming standards have long been cited as an integral and vitally important part of the Ontario marketplace. RG Check accreditation is required after entering an operating agreement with iGO, but operators can choose to complete the process in advance.

And, on March 31, Rush Street Interactive announced it has become “the first US-based online casino and sports betting company” to receive accreditation for its BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse sites. BetRivers has been licensed to operate in Ontario. The company added that it has achieved accreditation more than two years ahead of iGO‘s mandated schedule for Ontario iGaming operators.

“RG Check is a clear and tangible signal of the government’s commitment to making public protection and sustainable play a priority and a key part of creating a culture of responsible gambling here in Ontario,” said Shelley White, CEO, RGC. “RG Check is a leading responsible gambling accreditation that is used by jurisdictions around the world. The RG Check symbol is a demonstration to all that the operator is committed to and has strong gambling safeguards in place.”

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with RGC on this initiative,” said Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario. “The RG Check program is comprised of nine standards and 48 criteria that measure the scope and effectiveness of operators’ RG programming in areas such as site and product design, marketing communications and assisting players who may be experiencing harm from gambling. This allows Ontarians to play with confidence.”

GeoComply supports Indigenous education and employment

Vancouver-based geolocation services provider GeoComply has announced a partnership with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) that will help it to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and employment for Indigenous peoples of Canada, the U.S., and the Pacific Islands.

Through the partnership with AISES, the company aims to increase diversity, inclusion, and equity in STEM, with a particular focus on the gaming industry.

“We’re looking forward to creating education and career opportunities for indigenous communities in North America at GeoComply,” said GeoComply Managing Director of Gaming Lindsay Slader in a statement. “These communities make up nearly half of gaming operations in the U.S. and can play a significant role in advancing STEM in those industries.”

Based in New Mexico and founded in 1977, AISES’s goal is to spur interest in STEM education and careers. The non-profit organization supports 230 affiliated pre-college schools, 196 chartered college and university chapters, three tribal chapters, and 18 professional chapters in the U.S. and Canada.

“As our world becomes more advanced with technology and science, and our Tribal Nations continue to grow and flourish, our Indigenous students must understand how and why a STEM career can not only provide an amazing career,” said AISES Director of Student Success Dr. Johnny Poolaw in a statement. “(STEM) can also provide opportunities to give back to our communities and our world.”

Gamesys to launch Gaming Arts’ suite of content

Bally’s has announced that its Gamesys unit has agreed a five-year deal with Las Vegas-based provider of gaming technology Gaming Arts to bolster its portfolio of real money online casino games.

Under the agreement, Gamesys and Gaming Arts will work together to identify, convert, and deliver titles from Gaming Arts’ library of casino slot games to all online real money gaming markets in which Gamesys operates around the world, according to a statement issued by Bally’s and Gaming Arts.

Gaming Arts, which describes the deal as one of its first moves into iGaming, will see its games displayed on the Gamesys platform and the former will also develop new titles for the latter.

Mike Dreitzer, CEO of Gaming Arts commented: “This is a truly defining moment for Gaming Arts. As one of our first forays into online gaming, we couldn’t be more pleased than to partner with Gamesys/Bally to deliver our exciting game portfolio to online real money global gaming markets everywhere. Gamesys/Bally is a proven, world-class provider of online games. The fact that they are partnering with us in this exclusive way, and have committed to feature our games within their global portfolio, represents a very exciting opportunity to introduce Gaming Arts content to an entirely new segment.

“This is just the first aspect of our partnership. Going forward, Gaming Arts will work closely with Gamesys/Bally as part of a larger omnichannel strategy to deliver the best of breed games in the online space as well as land-based casino formats.”

PlayCanada report outlines job creation potential in Ontario

A new report from PlayCanada has concluded that nearly 1,300 jobs will be added in Ontario as a result of the impending launch of private online gambling operators. The report offers strong evidence that online gaming does not cannibalize jobs from land-based casinos.

Ontario will be the first province to welcome private online gambling operators when online sports betting and casinos launch on April 4, and other provinces are expected to follow suit.

PlayCanada found that online gambling could lead to 1,295 jobs in Ontario, around half of the estimated 2,600 jobs that will come to Canada with the nationwide expansion of online gaming. In comparison, an informal survey of currently available iGaming jobs revealed approximately 250 openings, with close to 200 of those in Ontario.

“We have found by looking globally that online cannibalization is largely a myth, often propagated by brick-and-mortar casino operators understandably concerned that online gaming will eat into their profits,” said Robyn McNeil, managing editor of PlayCanada.com and chief co-author of the report. “The truth is that online casinos and sportsbooks often act as a tide that lifts all boats, expanding the market to the benefit of all industry stakeholders.”

Among those figures, Play Canada concluded that Toronto-based theScore is adding around 400 jobs as a direct result of the Ontario market opening up, while PointsBet is opening an office in downtown Toronto and hiring another 100. Other licensed operators, including Rivalry and Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers, are also ramping up hiring.

“We know that companies are hiring,” said Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association. “And they’re locating here and setting up offices.”

In addition to the expected jobs, PlayCanada’s research team also explored the jobs that are available today and how well these jobs will pay. It concluded that not only is the job creation potential huge, but many of those should be high-quality jobs with better-than-average compensation.

“I’ll tell anybody, there are a wide variety of career choices in the gaming industry,” added Burns. “Great jobs, frankly…from technology developments to customer support specialists to marketing and compliance work, there’s a wide variety of options. It’s an exciting time.”

There have been concerns from some land-based operators, such as Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, around a potential negative impact of opening a regulated private iGaming market on casinos.

However, Burns believes that the province will work towards a solution that works for all, noting that the future of land-based gaming remains of integral importance to the gaming industry in Canada.

“Ontario casino operators want access to online offerings,” Burns added. “They want to extend their brands beyond the four walls of their properties… We need a more streamlined, single reporting mechanism, and that can be done in time; there’s no question. And I think the Ontario government recognizes it. But I think that’s imperative to make sure that the casino sector can compete effectively.

“That’s going to be the success of the market in Ontario: a healthy competitive market that’s left to the expertise of the companies participating to decide who’s successful and who isn’t. Not policy A, policy B, government agency A or government agency B, deciding who wins and who loses…We want everybody to succeed.”

To complete the report, PlayCanada compiled data and other information from industry insiders, hiring professionals, and economic experts. It includes detailed research of job listings in comparable jurisdictions. Read the full report.

Scientific Games extends Mattel lottery licensing deal

Scientific Games has announced that it has extended its licensing partnership with Mattel for another three years to bring more of the entertainment franchise’s games to lotteries.

The two companies have a longstanding relationship that spans nearly 20 years and includes more than 80 lottery games to date distributed across more than 40 lotteries worldwide in jurisdictions including Canada, the United States, and several international markets.

Scientific Games’ innovation and game design teams have licensing rights to feature the classic Mattel brands across multiple lottery products including instant scratch, pull tab, draw-based and Fast Play games sold at retail, as well as digital lottery games sold online. Scientific Games also plans to expand the use of the Mattel brands in the rapidly growing Fast Play and digital game categories.

A Scientific Games release notes Mattel’s Scrabble and Uno are consistently two of the most popular properties in Scientific Games’ licensed portfolio of 100+ brands, the largest in the global lottery industry. It also distributes other Mattel titles including Magic 8 Ball and Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots.

“Scientific Games is thrilled to continue offering exciting products to lottery players featuring these four beloved Mattel brands. Two incredible decades working with Mattel have provided our game innovators with a deep understanding of their brands and the opportunity to truly bring their games to life. We are committed to continuing the Mattel entertainment experience, and inspired to create new retail and digital lottery games with these properties in the coming years,” said Liz Johnson, Director of Lottery Licensed Properties for Scientific Games.

Rightlander launches compliance offerings in Ontario

Advertising and affiliate compliance specialist Rightlander has launched its suite of services in Ontario ahead of the province’s regulated market opening on April 4.

Licensed operators in Ontario will be required to meet rigorous standards relating to game and operator integrity, fairness, player protection, and social responsibility, and will need to take a zero-tolerance approach to any contravention of the measures specified by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Rightlander has over 100 partners across North America and offers support and advice to gambling operators and suppliers, particularly in relation to the work done with affiliates.

The company intends to help licensed operators meet those compliance requirements, and the company’s specialist suite will also monitor affiliate marketing compliance in different countries worldwide.

Channels examined will include email, social media, video, PPC, telegram, affiliate websites, and websites offering illegal or infringing content. Scans can be conducted in English and French to meet the needs of the Canadian market.

Ian Sims, Founder of Rightlander, said: “It was only a matter of time before the Canadian iGaming sector started down the path to regulation. We have been scanning at the state level in the USA for a while now and are well equipped to monitor from individual states in Canada like Ontario. Rightlander is able to scan from local IP addresses so that our clients get to see how content is geo-targeted to consumers at both country and state level.”

Saskatchewan raises VLT commission rate for operators

The government of Saskatchewan’s 2022-23 Budget has announced that video lottery terminal (VLT) site operators in the province will receive an increased VLT commission.

VLT site operators currently receive 15 per cent of net sales as a commission, with the remaining 85 per cent going to the province. That rate will be raised to 18 per cent effective April 4, 2022, as part of the 2022-23 Budget.

The commissions are paid in recognition of site operators providing space and electricity for VLTs, paying out prizes, emptying cashboxes, and cleaning the machines.

Total commissions are forecast to rise from $33.3 million to nearly $40.0 million with this increase in a move the government says will put that $6.7 million difference in revenue from VLTs “into the pockets of bar and restaurant owners.”

 

NorthStar Gaming signs up renowned Canadian sports broadcaster

NorthStar Gaming has announced that “legendary” Canadian sports broadcaster Rod Black is joining the company as a host and brand ambassador for NorthStar Bets.

Rod is one of the most recognised and trusted names in Canadian sports broadcasting. He spent the majority of his career at Bell Media where he was a play-by-play announcer for the CFL and the Toronto Blue Jays, and host of Toronto Raptors broadcasts. He has provided commentary and play-by-play for various events including The Masters, RBC Canadian Open, and five Olympic Games. Black is a recipient of the Sports Media Canada Award for Outstanding Sports Broadcaster and a five-time Gemini Award nominee for Canada’s Best Sportscaster.

In his new role, he will serve as a brand ambassador for NorthStar Bets and provide sports commentary and hosting duties across the platform’s social channels and in-app content.

“Rod is a familiar voice and face to Canadian sports fans and a perfect fit to champion the NorthStar Bets platform and educate consumers about our content-driven experience,” said Michael Moskowitz, Chief Executive Officer and a founding partner, NorthStar Gaming.  “We’re thrilled Rod is joining the NorthStar Bets team and bringing his expansive knowledge of all major leagues across North America as we establish ourselves as leaders in the intersection of sports media and betting.”

Rod joins a growing NorthStar Bets’ content team which includes Senior NHL Insider Chris Johnston, who leads NorthStar Bets coverage of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL at large.

“It’s an exciting time for sports fans across Ontario and I look forward to introducing them to the NorthStar Bets brand and platform.  Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to cover some of the biggest moments in Canadian sports history, but what I’ve always enjoyed most is the ability to interact and engage with passionate fans, something I look forward to continuing to do as a NorthStar Bets host and ambassador,” said Black.