Search
Choose a style
Dark
Light

PointsBet sets sights on Alberta

PointsBet Canada is looking to Alberta’s Calgary-Edmonton Corridor as a “possible expansion point” as the company casts its eyes away from Ontario.

The company has already secured Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) registration to operate as a licensed iGaming operator in the province’s wide regulated market.

Now, it is exploring similar opportunities in Alberta.

In a press release, PointsBet Canada highlighted that the province’s “avid sports fan base and business-friendly environment” are among the reasons it is exploring operations within its borders.

CEO Scott Vanderwel said that the company believes “Alberta has the talent and highly-skilled workforce that can help us be at the forefront of iGaming in Canada”.

“In addition to the economic growth created by an iGaming workforce, Alberta has an even greater economic opportunity should it choose to pursue a regulated and competitive iGaming market in the province,” added Vanderwel. “Doing so would create a level-playing field in a responsible and licensed gaming market for Alberta’s sports fans.”

Unlike Ontario, which is set to issue licenses to numerous operators and create a deeply competitive open regulated market, Alberta is expected to walk a more conservative line. On the sports betting side, it is looking for just two initial proponents.

PointsBet has been ramping up its Canadian operations since the early summer of 2021 and boasts partnerships with organizations such as the NHL Alumni Association, Daily Faceoff and The Nation Network, and Curling Canada.

Jay Downton, co-founder of The Nation Network, added that “as a proud Edmontonian, I am excited to see [PointsBet] looking to Alberta to expand their operations.”

PointsBet emphasized that the fact it owns and controls its own technology instead of outsourcing core functions to third parties, operating a hands-on and in-house approach, will create opportunities for operations, investment, and jobs to either open or remain in Alberta.

The company has a Memorandum of Understanding with Invest Alberta, a corporation dedicated to investment attraction and providing high-end support to companies, investors, and major new projects in the province.

That organization’s CEO, Rick Christiaanse, noted that the MOU “will support the company on its investment journey as PointsBet looks to Alberta as a potential destination for high-impact investment.

Ontario lifts casino capacity limits, vaccine mandates to follow

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on February 14 that the province is lifting all casino capacity limits starting at 12:01 a.m. on February 17, three days ahead of schedule.

Mandatory proof of vaccination for casino guests will then be scrapped from March 1, assuming that health indicators continue to improve. That will see Ontario follow provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan in lifting its proof of vaccination mandates for all settings.

Last month, Ontario released its plan to lift public health measures and restrictions, a framework that had included reopening gaming centres in the province at 50 per cent of casino capacity from January 31.

Noting that COVID-19 positivity rates and new hospital admissions have fallen week over week, signalling that “the Omicron peak is behind us”, Ford has now brought forward the date for moving to the next stage.

Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.

RELATED: Quebec casinos will reopen on February 28

Ontario casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming centres had previously been shut down once again on January 5. That closure had been the latest in a long line, with casinos having previously been shut in spring 2020 and then again in the winter of 2020-21.

From February 17, they will be able to enjoy unrestricted operation for the first time since late October.

BCLC trials sports bar betting concept

The British Colombia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is launching a new sports betting pilot project at bars, restaurants, and a casino for this weekend’s Super Bowl LVI.

The concept, which will be trialed in 12 bars across the province as well as the Chances Kelowna casino, will see live odds, information about the BCLC’s PlayNow.com sports betting site and promotions, and advice on responsible gambling displayed on digital screens in each of the trial venues.

PlayNow.com customers at participating locations will also receive a $10 free-bet voucher for the platform, which they can access by scanning a QR code at the venue.

“This marks the first step in testing how PlayNow.com, B.C.’s local sportsbook, can be implemented at land-based locations,” BCLC interim chief operating officer Dan Beebe said. “This pilot will help BCLC to understand the preferences of sports bettors and help inform future experiences and programs to help support safe, positive play.”

Meanwhile, the corporation has officially begun its search for a new president and chief executive after the announcement of Jim Lightbody’s resignation.

Lynda Cavanaugh, who has served as president and chief executive on an interim basis since last month, will remain in temporary charge until an appointment is made.

“We are excited to find our next president and CEO to build on BCLC’s successes to innovate our business in a way that serves the best interest of our players and communities,” BCLC board chair Greg Moore said. “Working collaboratively with BCLC’s board of directors and executive team, the successful candidate must be a values-driven leader who is passionate about social purpose and furthering an empowering, equitable and inclusive culture for our employees and industry.”

Nova Scotia launches single-event sports betting

Nova Scotia has become the final province to launch single-game sports betting, starting on Friday, February 11.

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) is now offering the options to bettors, meaning that all 10 Canadian provinces now provide singles bets after the passage of Bill C-218 six months ago.

Prior to February 11, punters were limited to parlay bets tying together two or more wagers onto the same ticket. Just in time for the Super Bowl, they are now able to place wagers on a single event.

“Atlantic Lottery is excited to offer this sports betting experience to those Atlantic Canadian adults who choose to play, both online and at retail locations,” ALC communications strategist Greg Weston said in an email to Sports Handle. “By offering this option to ProLine players, Atlantic Lottery will keep more sports betting revenues within our region while offering world-class responsible gambling features to players.”

ALC, which oversees sports betting in Nova Scotia, also regulates the market in the neighbouring provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Endward Island. All three of those provinces launched single-event betting within days of Bill C-218 coming into effect.

Nova Scotia had delayed its own launch because of its provincial election on Aug. 17, 2021, with the intent of allowing the new government to review its sports betting regulations.

While provinces such as Ontario and Alberta are gearing up to open their market to private operators, ALC is likely to remain the only Nova Scotian option for the foreseeable future. The corporation has partnered with numerous gaming content providers in recent months, including Everi and NeoPollard.

The Canadian Gaming Association estimates that the Nova Scotia sports betting market is worth $26 million annually.

Westen added, per Play Canada, that “by offering this option to ProLine players, Atlantic Lottery will keep more sports betting revenues within our region while offering world-class responsible gambling features to players.” He added that it is estimated that approximately $100 million leaves the Atlantic region each year through play on unregulated gaming websites.

“Atlantic Lottery recognizes the importance of offering its players a regulated, responsible alternative to the thousands of unregulated gambling sites that are already operating in this market.”

Pariplay appoints director to lead Canada & US expansion

Aspire Global-owned gaming supplier Pariplay has appointed Matthew Kelemen as its business development director for North America, wherein he will be charged with expanding the brand’s presence in Canada and the U.S.

Kelemen brings over 20 years of iGaming experience to Pariplay, having previously held senior roles at Boss Media, RealTime Gaming, and Peak Interactive.

Pariplay is currently licenced for iGaming in New Jersey, West Virginia and Michigan in the U.S. and is collaborating with NeoPollard Interactive in Alberta, where its digital gaming content was recently rolled out on Alberta, Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ (AGLC) PlayAlberta platform.

“We’ve made great strides in the United States and Canada in the past year, and we’re delighted to strengthen our footprint there by welcoming Matthew to the team,” said Pariplay managing director Adrian Bailey. “As an experienced executive in our targeted markets, he brings a wealth of competence and it will prove invaluable as we continue our growth trajectory.”

Kelemen is Pariplay’s first North America-based in-house employee and is representative of the brand’s desire to focus on making a splash in markets on the continent.

Kelemen himself added:  “The direction Pariplay is travelling is clear and extremely exciting, and I’m thrilled to join the team. We’re already making waves in the U.S. and Canada and I look forward to adding value to the company and bringing my expertise to the wider team as we expand.”

Nearly half of Ontario bettors plan to wager on Super Bowl

A new survey from the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) suggests that more than 40 per cent of Ontario sports bettors intend to place a wager on this year’s Super Bowl on February 13.

The RGC found that 42 per cent of sports bettors in Canada’s most populous province intend to make a Super Bowl bet. Among those, 47 per cent said they will bet with their friends, 44 per cent said they will buy “sport-based lottery tickets,” and 40 per cent plan to bet in a pool.

The survey also found that 36 per cent of bettors will wager using Ontario Lottery and Gaming’s PROLINE offerings, while 39 per cent will use other online sportsbooks.

Ninety percent of Ontario bettors intend to use at least one strategy to manage their betting risk, the RGC survey adds. Meanwhile, over half (52 per cent) of bettors said they will stick to pre-set betting limits.

The RGC‘s report highlighted several responsible gambling concerns, such as the fact that 38 per cent of Ontario adults “believe their sports knowledge gives them an edge in predicting outcomes” and nearly three in four (72 per cent) of those aged 18 to 34 — commonly cited as the demographic that is most susceptible to problem gambling — said their sports bets had been affected by peer pressure.

Leading betting integrity body IBIA launches in Canada

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), a leading global betting integrity body, is launching its integrity monitoring services in Canada and the U.S.

A press release explains that the launch is being endorsed by leading U.S. operators FanDuel and DraftKings, and the integrity body has already secured licenses in a number of U.S. states – Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey,  New York, and Wyoming – with others pending. It is currently protecting over 60 per cent of the regulated U.S. online market from betting corruption.

The association has also applied to enter Ontario, which requires operators to be part of an integrity monitoring system as it opens up its iGaming and sports betting market.

The North American launch is the beginning of a process to secure a license in jurisdictions such as Ontario that mandates that operators must be part of a monitoring body, as well as to engage with gambling regulators more generally across the continent.

The release notes that the North American market is the fastest-growing and most dynamic gaming industry in the world and is expected to reach around C$122 billion in handle in 2022 as Canada’s biggest jurisdictional market throws its considerable weight into the booming industry.

IBIA’s world-leading betting integrity monitoring system will play a major role in ensuring the integrity of the North American market, which is essential to maintaining the continued growth of the industry. IBIA anti-corruption platform detects and reports suspicious activity on its members’ betting markets and allows IBIA to protect its members and the betting market from corruption through collective action.

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “IBIA is delighted to announce that we are touching down in the North American market. With the largest customer transaction-based betting integrity monitoring system in the world, we will play a crucial role in protecting and supporting the growth of the betting industry in the US and Canada. IBIA is run by sportsbooks for sportsbooks, and our mission is to provide the best and broadest protective coverage of the market. With the accelerated growth of regulation, existing IBIA members have encouraged the association to extend its global betting integrity coverage to North America, which we are delighted to do.”

“Protecting the integrity of sport while creating an engaging product for sports fans is at the heart of everything we do,” said Roy Pollitt, DraftKings’ Vice President and Head of Regulatory Affairs. “We are impressed with the progress IBIA has made in promoting high standards for the betting industry and we warmly welcome their arrival to North America.”

BetMakers will support CrossBet’s Ontario entry

BetMakers will be providing its sports wagering platforms and services for CrossBet’s planned entry into Ontario’s soon-to-be regulated betting market.

CrossBet is a licenced bookmaker that implements cloud computing platforms to provide sport and racing betting to customers. Both it and BetMakers are headquartered in Australia and have worked together before in their homeland. A move into Ontario would complement BetMakers’ roll-out in the U.S., where it holds a significant position as a provider of pari-mutuel betting platforms in New Jersey and intends to launch the first platform for fixed odds betting on racing in the Garden State.

Meanwhile, a launch in Ontario would represent CrossBet’s first-ever international expansion.

“BetMakers have been key in our growth strategy in Australia, so it was an easy decision to continue the relationship as we look to expand our fast growth trajectory in Ontario,” said Scott Cross, CrossBet founder and CEO. “We know that BetMakers’ market-leading technology will give us the tools we need to successfully implement our global growth strategy.”

Christian Stuart, who was recently appointed as BetMakers’ North America CEO, said that launching in Ontario “will be an exciting achievement for BetMakers as we continue to make inroads into the North American wagering market”.

Jake Henson, the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), added: “Since launching via BetMakers technology into the competitive Australian wagering landscape, CrossBet has quickly grown into a true up-and-comer in the digital space with their brand expanding into national sports league sponsorship in recent months. Their entry into Canada would represent BetMakers’ first sports betting platform launch into the North America market, complementing our existing digital racing platforms and demonstrating the depth and breadth of our digital capabilities.”

OLG’s PROLINE named NFL’s first Canadian sportsbook

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has announced that it has signed a five-year deal that will see its flagship PROLINE offering become the first official Canadian sportsbook partner of the NFL.

The announcement came just days before Super Bowl LVI and nearly a week after the corporation had unveiled its expanded PROLINE retail sports betting platform in Ontario. PROLINE and its online counterpart PROLINE+ are currently the only legal sports betting options in the province until Ontario’s regulated iGaming market launches on April 4. OLG will now also be the official retail lottery and sportsbook partner of one of the most lucrative sports leagues in the world.

The partnership between the OLG and the NFL will see unique events and promotions across retail and online platforms, new football content delivered across OLG.ca and NFL digital platforms, and exclusive player opportunities. A new weekly online sports video series titled “Game Plan” will also debut on Feb. 9 with special guest Joe Montana, hosted by former CFL receiver and The Bachelor Canada star Brad Smith.

“We are so excited to announce this partnership given that PROLINE is the only platform for sports bettors in Ontario to place legal, single-event wagers and other exciting bets on the Super Bowl at both retail outlets and online at PROLINE +,” said Dave Pridmore, OLG’s chief digital and strategy officer. “This exciting collaboration with a world-class organization like the NFL creates new sports entertainment experiences that give sports fans all across the province an incredible opportunity to get closer to the sport they love through exclusive, one-of-a-kind gameplay.”

“As the sports betting landscape continues to evolve, we are excited to partner with OLG in Ontario with the opening of the sports betting market in Canada,” said Gavin Kemp, NFL director of corporate partnerships. “OLG will bring NFL fans in the province a whole new experience in sports gaming entertainment. We look forward to working together to create new responsible and innovative ways for football fans to share in the action of the NFL.”

South of the border in the U.S., the NFL has a long list of official partners and sportsbooks including Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBET.

Entain makes big Canadian play with $300m Avid Gaming purchase

Entain announced in a press release Monday on February 7 that it has purchased Avid Gaming, owners of the Canadian operator Sports Interaction, from Middlebrook Investments for $300 million.

Founded in 1997, Sports Interaction is currently the official sports betting partner of the National Lacrosse League in Canada and previously had partnerships with a number of CFL teams, including the Ottawa Redblacks and Edmonton Elks.

The CEO of Avid Gaming, Will Golby, and other members of the executive team will transition to Entain, which already owns 50 per cent of BetMGM with MGM as well as Canadian brands bwin and Party.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, CEO of Entain, called Sports Interaction the leading Canadian sports betting and gaming brand and said it is “is aligned perfectly with our own ambitions of great customer service and ambitious growth, coupled with an unwavering commitment to sustainability.” Nygaard-Andersen added that Sports Interaction is “highly complementary to our existing operations in Canada”.

It is operated by Mohawk Online, which is wholly owned by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke and is regulated and licensed by the Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commission in Quebec. Mohawk Online revenue is invested back into the indigenous community of Kahnawá:ke to provide essential funding for cultural and language programmes, schools, healthcare, and other public services. Roughly 50 per cent of Avid Gaming employees in Kahnawá:ke are Mohawk.

“Entain is a world-class operator with a genuine desire to positively contribute to the communities in which it operates,” added Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, grand chief of Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke. “Kahnawá:ke is well-known in the gaming industry, not only for our internationally recognized jurisdiction through the Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commission but also for our socioeconomic initiative, Mohawk Online. This new partnership between Entain and the Mohawks of Kahnawá:ke is mutually beneficial, and brings with it prime opportunity for bolstering our self-sufficiency through the continuing success of Sports Interaction.”

As the Ontario regulated market players begin to emerge, it remains to be seen whether Sports Interaction will receive licensing through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). In the release, Entain called Canada a “highly attractive, fast-growing sports betting and gaming market”.

The acquisition is expected to deliver approximately $15 million in synergies for Entain in 2023 through sharing technology, content, and procurement efforts.

Meanwhile, Entain has also announced that it has joined an alliance of gaming and technology companies calling for higher standards and safeguards to better protect people who enjoy gaming. The Global Gaming Alliance, which also includes DraftKings, is a new forum seeking to address shared responsible gaming and player protection challenges in the rapidly-evolving global gaming industry.