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Modern casino security requires modern solutions

By Nada Ebeid

Modern security systems do much more than lock and unlock doors or sound alarms when there is a potential intrusion. Today’s sophisticated systems gather an immense amount of data. When this information is brought into one unified software solution, casinos can uncover insights that go beyond security and can improve operations. Data from video surveillance footage, access control systems, automatic license plate recognition, heat-mapping, motion sensors, and more are helping casinos improve operational efficiency and the overall customer experience.

Casinos often have multiple floors of gaming, bars, restaurants, and performance venues. Combined with the 24/7 nature of casinos and the thousands of doors and access points, casinos create a unique challenge for physical security. Yet casino management teams can see each of those aspects not simply as a challenge to security, but as an opportunity to improve customer experience.

Leveraging a unified security system

Casinos often rely on multiple disconnected systems for their various security needs. However, switching to a unified approach to security can allow the casino’s security teams to view video surveillance, access control, and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) via one single user interface. The data collected through this unified system helps staff not only protect their casino but also use this data to enhance the customer experience.

For example, the security software solution can be configured to use ALPR data to alert customer service when a VIP customer approaches the casino. The VIP team can maintain detailed profiles of these frequent visitors. When they arrive, staff members can be prepared to greet them by name as they walk in and ask if they’d like to order their favourite drink or take a seat at their usual table.

ALPR can also be used to improve the experience for a casino’s regular customers. A casino in Quebec recently reviewed its license plate data and discovered that a significant number of regular visitors came much less frequently in the winter months. Upon further investigation, they learned that many of these customers were elderly patrons who disliked driving in winter conditions or feared slipping on ice while walking through the parking lot. To alleviate this problem, the casino introduced a new free shuttle bus to make it easier for these customers to get to the venue, even in bad weather.

Data from occupancy management features can also help improve the customer experience. For example, information about peak occupancy times and locations can help casinos adapt their cleaning schedules more intelligently so that bathrooms, hallways, and other high-traffic spaces are cleaned more frequently when the casino is busy.

A unified security system can even be used to make it easier for customers to find parking. As cars enter and exit lots, data on open spaces can be updated in real time and shared with staff and on information screens, so that customers know which lot is most likely to have a space for them.

How a security system can help efficiently manage HR

Moving to a modern, unified security software solution can also allow casinos to spend less time training staff, take advantage of new efficiencies to reallocate staff resources, and ensure business continuity despite human resources challenges.

In the past, if a casino’s security team was short-staffed, it may have left the casino no choice but to reduce operating hours due to a lack of security at that specific venue. Now, casinos with multiple locations can share resources among the various locations. Any one of the casinos in the network can remotely connect to the centralized, cloud-based monitoring system to review security at other locations. This improves redundancy to limit the operational impacts due to employee absences.

A unified security system can also allow casinos to realize significant operational savings related to staff and training. Teams can operate more efficiently with intelligent automation that reduces training time and staffing requirements. On the training front, the time to onboard new employees can also be reduced due to the need to learn a single user interface versus multiple, disparate systems.

Less is more

One of the greatest surprises to many casino operators is how the introduction of a unified, modern security software solution can greatly simplify operations. People tend to assume technology introduces complexity, but in many ways, it’s the opposite. A unified solution allows casinos to improve operations with fewer servers and reduced maintenance costs. Likewise, moving to a cloud-based system can save energy, labour costs, and space.

The advantages of these savings are amplified when combined with the improvements in guest services, operations, and human resources. Using the information gathered by their security system, casinos can discover opportunities for improvement that were previously not recognized. A unified security system allows casinos to go beyond physical security and use top-of-the-line systems to deliver top-shelf customer service.

Nada Ebeid is Business Development Manager, Canada, at Genetec Inc. where she helps customers like Casino Montreal see their security installations as an investment rather than an expense and empowers them to leverage their security systems to other areas of their businesses.

Industry’s biggest brands head SBC Awards North America shortlists

The SBC Awards North America 2022 will see the biggest brands in sports betting and gaming compete for the top prizes, with BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, Penn Interactive, PointsBet, and Rush Street Interactive all making the shortlists announced today.

The winners of the 27 operator, supplier, and affiliate categories will be announced in front of an audience of 600 senior executives during a ceremony at Pier Sixty, Manhattan on July 14.

In the headline operator categories, Circa Resort & Casino, DraftKings, FanDuel, Penn Interactive, and PointsBet will contest the Sportsbook of the Year honour, while BetMGM, Resorts Digital Gaming, and Rush Street Interactive are in the running for the Casino Operator of the Year prize.

A number of those high-profile brands have also been recognized for their commitment to responsible gambling and player safety, as the shortlist for Socially Responsible Operator of the Year features Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Entain, PointsBet, and Rush Street Interactive.

While there are plenty of household names among the operator brands shortlisted, the Awards also celebrate the industry’s challenger brands and the outstanding performances of BettorEdge, Fubo Gaming, Low 6, MaximBet, PrizePicks, Rootz, and Sporttrade are celebrated with places on the shortlist for the Rising Star of the Year trophy.

The race for the 13 supplier and three payments & compliance honours is also set to be keenly contested, with BetConstruct, Betting Hero, Delasport, GAN, IGT, Inspired Entertainment, Nuvei, OpenBet, Pariplay, PayNearMe, Paysafe, PXP Financial, Sportradar, Sports IQ Analytics, Spotlight Sports Group, and White Hat Gaming, among those to have secured places on multiple shortlists.

In the affiliate categories, Catena North America, Gambling.com Group, and MediaTroopers make the shortlists in both the casino and sports affiliate sections. The new Sports Media Company of the Year award, which reflects the crucial role of publishers and podcasters in enhancing the player experience, has a shortlist that includes American Affiliate, Better Collective, Catena North America, MediaTroopers, NBC Sports Next, PlaymakerCapital, SGPN, The Game Day, and XLMedia.

Meanwhile, the shortlist for the prestigious industry-wide Leader of the Year award features FanDuel’s Amy Howe, OneComply’s Cameron Conn, Sportradar’s Carsten Koerl, Gambling.com Group’s Charles Gillespie, Penn Interactive’s Jon Kaplowitz, Rush Street Interactive’s Richard Schwartz, and Boom Entertainment’s Stephen A. Murphy.

The Employer of the Year shortlist comprises Better Collective, Boom Entertainment, DraftKings, Gambling.com Group, GoldenRace, Inspired Entertainment, Penn Interactive, Rush Street Interactive, and VBET.

The SBC Awards North America ceremony will be the culmination of a week of events in New Jersey and New York, where professionals from the international gambling industry can also take in the SBC Summit North America conference and tradeshow, the Player Protection Symposium, and the Sports Betting Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Kings Entertainment merging with Bet99 parent

Updated May 31

Kings Entertainment Group and Sports Venture Holdings (SVH), the parent company of the Bet99 online sports and casino betting brand, have agreed to combine their operations into one sports betting and gaming-focused company.

SVH is a holding company of subsidiaries that operate Bet99, a former grey-market operator in the province and one of several brands going through the licensing process with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

The deal is subject to closing conditions and should be completed at approximately the end of the third quarter of 2022. One condition of the merger is that Bet99 receives its license to operate in Ontario.

Steve Budin, CEO of Kings Entertainment, said the business combination of Kings and SVH will be “transformative” for the Canadian sports betting sector. “Our vision for Kings has always been to build leadership positions within each of the regulated jurisdictions that we enter, and this agreement will certainly accelerate that goal within the Canadian landscape and beyond.”

Jared Beber, CEO of SVH and the executive who will become the CEO of the merged company, which will rename itself Interactive Entertainment Group Inc., added that bringing Bet99 to public capital markets will support its expansion and give the brand a wider audience of betting enthusiasts.

Budin will continue to lead LottoKings operations and act in an advisory role.

Bet99 expects Ontario entry soon

Bet99 made headlines recently by signing Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews as a brand ambassador in a deal that saw Matthews become the first active NHLer to sign with a sportsbook. The brand has also partnered with the likes of UFC Hall of Famer Georges-St-Pierre, two-time Olympian Alysha Newman, the Ottawa Senators, the CF Montreal, the Montreal Alouettes, and more.

The brand is currently licensed only by the Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commission in Canada and has operated in the country’s grey market since 2020 prior to the launch of Ontario’s regulated gaming market. It also recently joined the Canadian Gaming Association.

Beber told Covers that Bet99 is “getting close” to being ready to go live in the province. While he couldn’t detail a specific timeline, he said that “we are well through the process and very much so nearing the finish line”.

He added that while Ontario is a highly competitive market, Bet99 feels it has made a name for itself and is approaching this market in a unique way.

A recent Bet99 press release noted that Bet99 has taken more than $1.2 billion in bets in Canada through its online sportsbook and casino since launching in 2020.

Ontarians betting big on basketball in early weeks

A new survey aimed at shining light on the early weeks of Ontario’s regulated betting market has found that over three in 10 residents are betting on sports at least once a week and their preferred league is the NBA, reports the Canadian Press.

OntarioBets.com, a resource site that provides research and reviews of sportsbooks and online casinos and a part of the Gambling.com Group, found that 35 per cent of Ontarians surveyed said they bet on sports at least once a week while 39 per cent they don’t at all.

Max Bichsel, vice-president of OntarioBets.com, noted that the 35 per cent participation level was about on par with the average seen in a new jurisdiction, albeit in the slightly low range, which he attributed to Ontario’s considerable existing grey market before the regulated legal market went live on April 4.

One in four wagers three or more times daily and 48 per cent consider themselves moderate bettors as opposed to expert or professional.

Meanwhile, the NBA was the top choice of 28 per cent of respondents, ahead of the NHL (22 per cent), the NFL (13 per cent), MLB (eight per cent), the English Premier League (three per cent), the CFL (one per cent), and other leagues at four per cent.

Bichsel said the NBA’s popularity wasn’t too surprising given the Toronto Raptors’ still-recent success, but he expects hockey to remain popular throughout the remainder of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The survey also found that established betting giant Bet365 was the top betting preference at 18 per cent, with the British firm just ahead of BetMGM (17 per cent), FanDuel (11 per cent), Caesars Sportsbook (eight per cent), and PointsBet (seven per cent). Sportsbooks outside the top five combined to make up 40 per cent of preferred brands.

As for types of bet, one in four respondents cited moneyline bets as their favourite, ahead of point spread (15 per cent), over/under (13 per cent), live betting (12 per cent), and parlay and future bets (both five per cent). Approximately 70 per cent claimed to have won at least $1 on a bet, and only five per cent said they’d won $1,000 or more on a bet.

After DraftKings became the 18th gaming company operating in Ontario, Bichsel said he expects that number to climb, “probably double that, at least.”

“By the end of the year, we may see 40 or 50 operators,” he said. “But I think it’s way better to do things appropriately and correctly because that first rush of new customers is so valuable that if you irritate them or make things difficult, you may lose them forever.”

OLG launches Canada’s first lottery and gaming affiliate program with Paysafe

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has become the first Canadian lottery corporation to launch an affiliate partnership, extending its work with Paysafe with a new program powered by the affiliate software of Income Access, Paysafe’s marketing technology and services provider.

A Paysafe release says the OLG.ca affiliate program, which will be both powered and managed by Income Access, marks a milestone for the Canadian gaming industry as the first affiliate program for a provincial lottery and gaming brand.  Affiliates in Ontario, across Canada, and internationally will now be able to promote OLG.ca for play within Ontario.

The new program builds upon OLG’s longstanding partnership with Paysafe. The payments provider has processed payments for OLG.ca since the online gaming brand’s launch in January 2015.

Dave Pridmore, OLG’s Chief Digital and Strategy Officer, added that Paysafe and its Income Access platform will help OLG continue to provide gaming and betting solutions to Ontarians and grow its customer base in a saturated market.

The OLG.ca affiliate program’s integration with the Income Access platform, with its robust tracking and reporting technology, will enable affiliates to deploy data-driven affiliate campaigns across multiple channels, including offline, says the Paysafe release.

Meanwhile, the software’s campaign management functionality will allow campaigns to be targeted down to an Ontarian city level as well as by language (for French-speaking communities), time of day and device.

Geoff Smorong, Vice President of Operations at Paysafe’s Income Access, said that “as a company with deep Canadian roots”, Paysafe and Income Access are proud to launch the country’s first provincial lottery and gaming affiliate program.

1X2 Network extends its Canadian footprint to Ontario

UK-based games developer 1X2 Network has secured approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for a full launch in the Canadian province.

Ontario will be the second Canadian province in which 1X2 has launched, adding to its longtime supply agreement with Loto-Québec for its full gaming suite.

Included in the Ontario launch will be 1X2’s titles such as Wolf Strike, Blazing 777s, Battle Maidens, Battle Maidens Cleopatra, Book of Ba’al and Phoenix Inferno titles, developed by the 1X2gaming and Iron Dog Studio subsidiaries.

Rory Kimber, Account Management and Marketing Director at 1X2 Network, said: “Ontario promises to be one of the largest online casino markets in North America, so it made absolute sense for 1X2 Network as a leading provider of premium slot and table game content to enter the province.”

1X2 has a longstanding agreement with Loto-Québec, having first secured the partnership with the Quebec state lottery and gaming provider in 2010. It bolstered that agreement with the firm earlier this year to offer its Branded Megaways mechanic.

The firm has further laid out plans for a future roadmap of new titles designed to “appeal to player preferences” in Canada, reports CasinoBeats.

“Having gained experience in delivering our games to players in Canada via our partnership with Loto-Québec, we know exactly what it takes to engage, entertain and excite players, and the suite of content that we will launch in Ontario has been designed to do just that,” Kimber continued. “It is great to see that some of the biggest brands in the market are planning to integrate our content into their game lobbies, and we look forward to seeing players in Ontario enjoy the thrilling experience that each title has to offer.”

Meanwhile, 1X2 Network has also expanded its game portfolio with the launch of a new series of Arcade Games via its 1X2gaming subsidiary. The new suite of Arcade Games includes both Instant Win and Mine Games, which provide a unique spin on the classic feel of 80s mine-sweeper games, as well as titles such as Pop ‘Til You Drop, Megablox 777, Coin Field and Coin Vault.

Jumbo to complete Stride acquisition after Canadian approvals

Lottery retailer Jumbo Interactive hopes to complete its acquisition of lottery management provider Stride Management in the coming days after securing approval from both the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) and Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA).

Jumbo entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Stride in August 2021 in a deal it said would support its global expansion strategy.

The AGLC and SLGA have now approved the proposed acquisition and it is anticipated the deal will be completed on June 1.

Jumbo had initially said the deal would go through before the end of 2021, but the retailer in December said this would not occur until the fourth quarter of its 2021-22 financial year due to the extensive application and review process of both the AGLC and SGLA.

Calgary-based Stride provides services to over 750,000 active lottery players in the Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces, and the deal will enable Jumbo to move into the Canadian charity lottery market for the first time.

Mohegan Gaming becomes first land-based operator licensed in Ontario

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has become the first land-based operator to be licensed to operate an online brand in the province by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Mohegan Gaming now just needs to execute an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO) before its new online casino and sportsbook product PlayFallsview can launch.

The company formed its Mohegan Digital branch last summer. Rich Roberts, who was appointed as president of the iGaming division, will be overseeing PlayFallsview.

That name comes from Fallsview Casino Resort, which is one of two casinos owned by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation but managed and run by Connecticut-headquartered Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, along with Casino Niagara.

“We’re taking advantage of our Fallsview name, which is arguably the most recognized casino property in Ontario, and really building a product that reflects what Fallsview is, an extension of the property,” Roberts told Sports Handle. “Think of this as Fallsview in your pocket. When you leave the casino, you bring the brand with you. And the goal is for the brand to bring you back to the casino.”

Roberts hopes that the brand can officially launch this summer.

“When you get inside the 5-yard line, you find that running is a bit tricky within that position,” he added. “There is a number of things that we need to get done. We’re the first land-based operator to get licensed, so we have a number of things we have to work out with the retail counterpart that works with OLG.”

PlayFallsview’s licencing follows Mohegan Gaming selecting Kambi as its sports betting provider. The two companies already had an existing relationship through Unibet, which operates a sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Pennsylvania.

Roberts adds that PlayFallsview is initially intended to be a complementary product for its existing retail casino customer base, rather than competing directly with the many online-focused sportsbooks already live in Ontario.

“Our goal is to give our retail customers that digital experience that they’re looking for. Whether it’s casino, table games, sportsbook, we’ll provide them with the content they want to enjoy when they’re off the property,” Roberts added.

Image: Idawriter via Wikimedia Commons

FanDuel creates managing director of casino role, appoints former PokerStars director

Flutter Entertainment-owned FanDuel Group has appointed former PokerStars director Asaf Noifeld as its first-ever managing director of casino.

In the newly created role, Noifeld will be responsible for the oversight of the FanDuel online casino business. He moves into the position after eight-and-a-half years with fellow Flutter-owned brand PokerStars, where he served as director of product and innovation before going on to become managing director of casino.

Prior to this, Noifeld spent four-and-a-half years at 888 and also worked as a project manager at Comverse.

“Asaf brings deep experience building online casino businesses across the globe,” FanDuel president and chief executive Amy Howe said in a news release. “I am delighted to add him to our leadership team, as he has extensive knowledge in the space which will help grow our online casino business in North America.”

FanDuel operates its online casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and entered the new Ontario market on day one at the start of April. In the U.S., it also runs the Stardust Casino brand in New Jersey and the Mohegan Sun Casino brand in Connecticut.

Paysafe strikes unified payments partnership with Strive Gaming

Leading specialized payments platform Paysafe has announced a new partnership with Strive Gaming, a Vancouver-based advanced player account management (PAM) platform designed for the multi-state requirements of online operators in the North American market.

Strive had recently linked up with Paysafe partner Golden Nugget Online Gaming in Ontario, and has now integrated Paysafe’s payments technology into its PAM platform to provide Golden Nugget Online Gaming and its other U.S. and Canadian iGaming clients with a full suite of traditional and alternative payment methods via a single interface.

Meanwhile, Paysafe launched on day one of the Ontario regulated market opening on April 4, partnering with brands including theScore Bet and PointsBet Canada.

Through Paysafe, operators that adopt the Strive Gaming PAM platform will be able to offer their customers a complete range of depositing and payout options tailored to their specific preferences. Paysafe will also support the PAM platform with real-time reporting and analytics tools, which allow for the monitoring of transactions and individual payment methods to optimize online payment acceptance, as well as enhanced security to protect player and operator data.

Zak Cutler, CEO of North America iGaming at Paysafe, said in a press release: “We’re proud to support Strive Gaming’s core mission of bringing operators closer to their customers through our leading payment solutions. We look forward to evolving our partnership with Strive Gaming to support North American iGaming operators’ growth in new and existing markets.”

Max Meltzer, CEO of Strive Gaming, added: “Strive Gaming has become a leading platform in the U.S. and Canada quickly because of our scalable technology, enabling speed to market and efficiencies for leading operators. Integrations and partnerships at the deepest levels, and quickly achieved, are a hallmark of our tech stack with no technical debt. Integrating and collaborating with Paysafe makes so much sense for our customers, and we are pleased to be working with Paysafe now and over the long-term.”

Meanwhile, Strive Gaming has appointed former TwinSpires vice president Andrew Holmes to the role of Chief Operating Officer, wherein he will  focus on developing Strive’s online gaming platform in preparation for changes in regulation across the U.S. and Canada. He will be based at the company’s main office in Vancouver.

“Appointing Andrew as our new COO represents another significant step forward for Strive Gaming as we continue to deliver on our promise of becoming the leading B2B real money iGaming platform in North America,” said Meltzer.