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PDX Slots gets green light to enter Ontario market

Michigan-based online gaming provider PDX Slots has been cleared to enter Ontario’s lucrative iGaming market.

The company has been granted a license by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to provide its solutions to regulated operators in the province. PDX helps gaming developers launch their games, integrate with online casino operators’ platforms and build scalable operations.

PDX Slots is already live in its home state of Michigan, where it launched with Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers-branded online casino back in May. At that time, its CEO Chris Housel said it intended to follow the home-market launch with expansion into other leading iGaming jurisdictions, citing Ontario and New Jersey as attractive markets.

“Receiving a license to offer our market-leading content in Ontario is another important milestone for PDX Slots as we continue to expand,” said Housel of the Canadian launch.

PDX Slots has partnerships with the likes of Internet Vikings, whose custom hosting solutions it leveraged for its U.S. launch.

It will now enter an Ontario online casino market that has proven to be hugely lucrative through less than three years. The commercial market saw $64 billion in total wagers from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024 and operators made $2.4 billion in gross gaming revenue. iGaming Ontario’s reporting shows that online casino games generated 86% of total wagers and 75% of GGR revenue in the province.

PDX Slots is the second brand to receive a supplier license from the AGCO in the space of a few days, after Vancouver-based dealerless electronic poker and table games provider Jackpot Digital got the green light late last week.

Jackpot Digital earns prize of Ontario license

Jackpot Digital has been licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to enter the province’s casino market.

Jackpot Digital styles itself as the world’s leading provider of innovative dealerless electronic poker gaming solutions. It now has the right to supply its electronic table games to Ontario’s gaming venues, including casinos and other regulated gaming facilities.

The company, one of numerous gaming industry firms headquartered in Vancouver, called the license a “significant achievement” that allows it to enter one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regulated gaming markets in North America.

“Receiving AGCO’s approval is a major milestone,” said CEO Jake Kalpakian. “This approval provides us with the opportunity to offer our top-tier electronic gaming systems to operators throughout all of Ontario, positioning us for further growth in one of the world’s most robust gaming markets. We are excited to bring our innovative products to Ontario’s gaming community and continue our commitment to providing exciting, technology-driven entertainment experiences.”

Jackpot Digital noted it has attracted interest as a supplier from casinos across the province, and intends to immediately engage with gaming operators, exploring strategic partnerships to introduce its products to the Ontario market. It also divulged that it has filed additional licensing applications in several jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S.

Jackpot Digital already works with Saskatchewan casinos

The Ontario approval follows a recent green light from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to supply games to that authority’s seven casinos, beginning with the Jackpot Blitz dealerless poker machines at the authority’s seven casinos.

That deal was the first major jurisdictional, non-tribal license the company received during its continuing expansion into the land-based casino market.

The supplier has a growing North American footprint. It has announced land-based installations or orders in markets including California, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, Washington and several international jurisdictions.

PointsBet adds Play’n GO games to Ontario online casino platform

Online casino game provider Play’n GO already has a significant presence in the Ontario market and has added another operator platform in PointsBet.

Popular titles including Book of Dead, Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness and Reactoonz will now be available on the Australian gaming operator’s iGaming platform.

Play’n GO’s titles have been available to licensed operators in Ontario since the province opened its doors to a wide range of gaming suppliers and operators in April 2022. It has since expanded its operations into Quebec and joined the Canadian Gaming Association in June in a move that it said further demonstrated its commitment to the Canadian market.

“Back in 2022, I said that North America is right at the top of Play’n GO’s priority list, and Ontario is just the first step we plan to take,” said Play’n GO Chief Commercial Officer Magnus Olsson in a statement. “This partnership with PointsBet shows we have yet to take our foot off the gas. We’ve proudly watched our games become instant hits in our two and a half years in the Ontarian region, and we have no plans to slow down any time soon.

“It’s exciting to team up with a fellow Canadian Gaming Association member in PointsBet, and we can confidently say that we are working towards the same goal of a safe, regulated industry that is focused on player entertainment. We’re looking forward to working closely together following this milestone announcement.”

PointsBet provides strong visibility for game suppliers

In PointsBet, Play’n GO now has a partner with a strong and growing presence in Ontario’s regulated market.

iGaming remains PointsBet’s chief source of revenue in Canada. The Australian operator reported in its last earnings call in November that online casino net win rose 50% to reach $4.2 million in the last quarter.

The company said it continues to expand its casino platform in Canada and has already increased game content by 50% in the market in recent months. It has already integrated gaming content from Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming and PlayAGS this year, and Play’n GO is now its latest prominent supplier.

“Play’n GO has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality game content, and we’re thrilled to bring their titles to our platform,” added PointsBet Canada CEO Scott Vanderwel. “At PointsBet, our focus is on providing a safe and engaging entertainment experience for our players, and it’s clear that Play’n GO aligns with those values. Canadian casino enthusiasts recognize PointsBet as a trusted leader in iGaming, and this collaboration further enhances the exceptional experience we offer.”

BCLC enlists marketing firms Cossette and Visionnaire

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has partnered with marketing agencies Cossette and Visionnaire to bolster its creative and marketing initiatives.

Teams from the two agencies, which are both housed under the Plus Company Canada umbrella, will work together in support of the corporation’s aims to drive business transformation and to revolutionize gambling entertainment in B.C.

“We’re thrilled to dive into this new partnership with the BCLC team,” said Robyn Smith, VP and general manager at Cossette Vancouver. “Building on the trusted partnership Cossette Media already has with BCLC, we’re eager to integrate our team’s superpowers to promote safe, legal gambling entertainment and strengthen BCLC’s brand awareness, growth and reach.”

Visionnaire works largely in the multicultural and diversity branding space and will leverage its expertise in creative development and production to deliver BCLC marketing campaigns that authentically engage and foster stronger connections with those communities in the province.

BCLC says the new creative initiatives reflect its ongoing commitment to innovation, equity and inclusion.

“We’re excited to bring our expertise in multicultural marketing to BCLC’s creative projects,” said Jessica Borges, group vice president and business lead at Visionnaire. “This includes representing British Columbia’s depth of diversity in meaningful and authentic ways, through impactful campaigns that resonate and drive results.”

These new creative initiatives reflect BCLC’s ongoing commitment to innovation, equity and inclusion.

“This work reflects BCLC’s values of respect, integrity, and community,” said Emily McDonald, director of marketing, CRM and loyalty at BCLC. “Their expertise will be crucial in deepening our connection with British Columbians across the province. Together, we’re poised to drive greater impact and empower BCLC to continue creating world-class and responsible gaming experiences.”

First Nations gaming group acquires Pure Canadian Gaming

Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP) has acquired Alberta-based casino operator Pure Canadian Gaming following regulatory approvals from Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) and the Canada Competition Bureau.

Pure Canadian Gaming is based in Edmonton and operates four premier casinos across Alberta: two in Edmonton, one in Calgary and another in Lethbridge. While IGP has bought its operating assets, Pure’s real estate assets have been owned by VICI Properties Inc. since January 2023. VICI will now assign the master lease agreement it holds with Pure Canadian Gaming to IGP.

IGP is a new gaming company established by five Nova Scotia-based Mi’kmaw First Nations communities in partnership with Sonco Gaming Inc., a leader in Indigenous-owned casino development and management. It has acquired Pure from ONCAP, a private equity platform of Onex, for an undisclosed amount.

IGP says deal brings lasting opportunities for First Nations

IGP is focused on developing a portfolio of casinos through strategic acquisitions, with a mission to create meaningful economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.

“We’re excited to take this significant step forward in diversifying and building lasting economic opportunities for our Nations,” said Michael Peters, chairman of IGP and CEO of Glooscap Ventures, the business arm of one of the First Nations that comprises IGP.

“This acquisition allows us to enter the gaming industry at scale, creating new opportunities for growth and meaningful benefits for our communities. We appreciate the trust of our partners and look forward to building on their expertise as we expand into this exciting sector.”

This is the latest notable First Nations gaming deal to be struck in Canada in 2024. Over on Vancouver Island, B.C.’s Snuneymuxw First Nation acquired both Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria from Great Canadian Entertainment earlier this year.

More strings to Sonco Gaming’s bow

Sonco Gaming will work with ICP on the day-to-day operations of Pure’s four casinos.

The company has developed and/or managed numerous Canadian Indigenous gaming projects, including Great Blue Heron Casino on Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation in Ontario, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino on the lands of Tsuut’ina First Nation outside Calgary, and Casino New Brunswick.

“Sonco is proud to have partnered with five experienced First Nations on this landmark acquisition,” said the company’s CEO Anthony Novac. “This transaction represents an important step toward economic reconciliation and demonstrates the potential for meaningful partnerships in Indigenous gaming.”

VICI holds right of first refusal

The deal has been supported by VICI, which owns a large North American casino portfolio including the real estate assets of Caesars Palace, the Venetian and nearly all MGM casino hotels in Las Vegas. VICI’s tenants include Hard Rock International and PENN Entertainment.

As part of the IGP agreement, VICI gained rights of first refusal on future IGP sales of gaming real estate.

“This transaction demonstrates VICI’s ability to collaboratively work with existing partners while building new relationships with highly experienced operators and First Nations in international jurisdictions,” said VICI VP of Business Development and Acquisitions Danny Valoy said. “We are pleased to welcome IGP as a new partner, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with IGP and Sonco as they pursue additional growth opportunities in the future.”

Bragg Gaming projects double-digit growth in 2025, will explore M&A

Bragg Gaming Group said it expects double-digit revenue growth in 2025 and remains committed to exploring strategic M&A moves next year to fuel its progress.

In an update on Dec. 10, the Toronto-based B2B iGaming provider’s CEO, Matevž Mazij, divulged that the firm remains “committed to creating shareholder value and liquidity opportunities over the next year through strategic transactions, or other value-enhancing initiatives.”

The update comes less than a month after Mazij told investors that the company’s strategic review this year ultimately yielded the conclusion that things should continue as they were for the time being. The firm had formed a special committee earlier to assess potential strategic alternatives after a mixed set of results in the last quarter of the last Canadian fiscal year. The company said at the time those could include the sale of the company or assets, a merger, financing or further acquisitions, but ultimately decided against any immediate move.

On Tuesday, though, Mazij said that “while the strategic review process has concluded, our dedication to pursuing these objectives heading into 2025 remains unchanged.”

He added that the strategic review process had given leadership important insights about what potential acquirers prioritize when considering bids. Bragg has identified key focus areas, such as stronger cash generation, increased revenue diversification, accelerated proprietary content growth and enhanced margins. “While the formal review process has concluded, it has sharpened our focus on the metrics that matter most,” Mazij added.

Insider stock purchases are evidence of confidence, says Bragg

In its statement on Tuesday, Bragg also announced significant insider share purchases which it said demonstrate management’s confidence in the company’s undervalued shares.

“The recent insider purchases by Bragg’s management and board underscore our confidence in the company’s near-term potential,” added Mazij. “The alignment between management’s insider purchases and our strategic roadmap demonstrates that we’re not just talking about value creation – we’re investing alongside our shareholders while actively pursuing paths to enhanced liquidity … As insiders, we clearly see the potential to see this value realized in 2025.”

Bragg also reiterated its 2025 outlook, which includes double-digit revenue growth, expanded bottom-line profit margins and increased operational leverage through 2025. The company will issue formal guidance early in 2025. In its last earnings update in mid-November, it reported record Q3 revenue powered by a range of new launches and partnerships.

Super Group raises financial guidance after president announces exit

Super Group has raised its full-year guidance in a move that CEO Neal Menashe said is down to “outstanding performance” in 2024.

The parent company of Betway, Spin and other brands has raised its full-year total revenue guidance to $1.68 billion USD ($2.40 billion CAD), up from its previous forecast of $1.63 billion USD ($2.31 billion CAD). It’s also raised its EBITDA significantly, up from $364.3 million USD ($515.9 million CAD) to at least $380.1 million USD ($538.2 million CAD).

The re-evaluated outlook comes six months after Super Group told investors it was pulling Betway out of the U.S. sports betting market following an internal review.

Company leadership had already boosted FY2024 guidance earlier in Q3.

Building on its strong performance, the board has also declared a special cash dividend to be paid in January 2025 to shareholders.

“I’m very proud of our performance this year and delighted we are in a position to raise our full-year revenue and ex-U.S. Adjusted EBITDA guidance again while announcing another dividend for 2024,” said Menashe in a statement. “We have consistently said that we will consider returning excess cash to shareholders, and the outstanding performance of the business throughout 2024 alongside the continued strength of our balance sheet, has given us the platform to be able to do this. It has been a super year for Super Group and we look forward to building on this success as we move into 2025.”

President Richard Hasson leaving in 2025

The update also comes the day after the company announced that longtime executive and current President and Chief Commercial Officer Richard Hasson is resigning from his roles effective next year.

Hasson has been with the firm for 13 years. He is expected to officially leave in the first half of 2025 to enable a smooth transition.

The company clarified that Hasson’s exit “is not the result of any disagreement between the parties whether on any matter relating to Super Group’s operations, policies, practices or otherwise.”

Super Group pleased with Canadian inroads

Menashe said on an earnings call last month that after pulling out of U.S. sports betting, an increased focus on Canada is paying off.

While the U.S. shutdown partially caused a drop in profits, success in Canada and growth in Europe and Africa drove the company to a 13% year-on-year increase in Q3 revenue. Canada is the business’ second-largest region in terms of revenue, after Africa.

The company operates five brands in Ontario’s commercial regulated online market, with the Jackpot City, Royal Vegas and Ruby Fortune online casinos joining Spin and the sportsbook-first Betway. It also has significant brand recognition in other provinces, where the government-run lottery corporations’ platforms are the only regulated online gaming offerings.

October 2024 data shown to Canadian Gaming Business by H2 Gambling Capital suggests that Super Group has captured around 7% of the total regulated market in Ontario, up from 4% last year. H2 data also found the company is by some distance the leading operator in Canada’s unregulated market with a 35% share.

FanDuel unveils new My Spend customer dashboard

FanDuel has launched a new My Spend tool designed to help users track and manage their spending and gaming activity habits.

Customers can view personalized stats including deposit and wager amounts and net winnings over a range of timeframes, from seven days to three months. The dashboard encourages customers to utilize FanDuel’s existing suite of responsible gaming tools, including deposit and wager limits.

My Spend was developed based on internal and external research that demonstrated players’ interest in accessing personalized insights into their activity and a deeper understanding of their own gambling behaviour.

FanDuel is supporting the launch with a new multi-platform advertising campaign that encourages customers to use the dashboard.

“FanDuel believes our customers should always have a budget and plan in mind when they engage with our products, and we are thrilled to introduce My Spend to help customers track their spending and manage their play,” said FanDuel VP of Responsible Gaming and Community Impact, Alison Kutler.

“As we look to continuously raise the standard for what it means to be a responsible operator, we look forward to continuing to bring new and innovative ways support our customers.”

My Spend is available across all FanDuel products, including sportsbook, casino, fantasy, racing and faceoff.

FanDuel strikes new sports betting deals

In the last few weeks, FanDuel have forged two notable sports betting partnerships in Canada and the U.S.

The Flutter-owned operator is now a non-exclusive product and marketing licensing partner of the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) thanks to a deal that granted it rights to expand its use of MLB player intellectual property and introduce player-focused features across its sportsbook platform.

The same week, it teamed up with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) as an official sportsbook partner, as well as striking a deal to become the exclusive in-app streaming partner of the league in the U.S.

FanDuel already has partnerships in Canada with the likes of the NFL, the Canadian Football League (CFL), and Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).

BetMGM names Casey Hurbis as new CMO

BetMGM has hired experienced marketing leader and former RocketMortgage executive Casey Hurbis as its new chief marketing officer.

At the U.S.’s larges retail mortgage lender, Hurbis led marketing strategies including collaborating with BetMGM’s creative agency of record, Highdive, on three top-ranked Super Bowl campaigns. Hurbis also oversaw the launch of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, now the most-awarded event on the PGA Tour.

He also previously spent a quarter of a century in automotive marketing, including leading roles for FIAT and Alfa Romeo.

At BetMGM, he will report directly to chief revenue officer Matt Prevost. He will be responsible for overarching leadership of BetMGM’s existing marketing campaigns, including existing high-profile collaborations with the likes of Connor McDavid, Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx, as well as strategizing future collaborations.

“Sports betting is one of the most competitive and rapidly evolving industries in the marketing world, and I’m honored to join BetMGM at such an exciting time in its growth,” said Hurbis. “BetMGM is a brand with incredible momentum, backed by a team that is redefining how we engage and entertain audiences. I look forward to pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation to not only attract new audiences but enhance the experience for our loyal players to even greater heights.”

“Building BetMGM from the ground up into one of the most recognizable brands in the sports betting and iGaming sphere has been an incredible accomplishment made possible by the tireless efforts of our amazing team,” added Prevost. “Bringing a visionary leader like Casey Hurbis on board adds another impactful advantage for our brand.”

PandaScore solidifies presence in Ontario through partnership with BET99

An esports data and betting odds provider is teaming up with one of Ontario’s top gambling operators.

PandaScore has announced a new partnership with BET99 providing the sports betting and casino operator with access to its innovative Odds feed. PandaScore’s Odds feed, powered by a team of specialized traders and advanced algorithms, provides BET99 with comprehensive coverage of popular esports titles including Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Call of Duty and Dota 2.

“At BET99, our mission has always been to deliver a world-class player experience through personalization and innovation. With esports rapidly emerging as a key vertical, we see an incredible opportunity to engage the next generation of bettors who are passionate about this dynamic space,” said BET99 Head of Sportsbook Andre Bewerungen. “By collaborating with PandaScore, we can provide tailored, engaging, and cutting-edge betting options that resonate with esports fans.”

Made-in-Canada brand BET99 will also enhance its player experience by leveraging PandaScore’s technology to provide bettors with access to PandaScore’s BetBuilder and micro-betting products.

Since 2015, PandaScore has processed $1 billion in esports bets through its platform. The company has a portfolio of clients that includes Scientific Games and Entain Australia. The Paris-based company also has offices in Malta and the United Kingdom.

“Esports betting is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the betting industry, and we’re thrilled to support BET99 as they take this exciting step,” said Oliver Niner, PandaScore’s head of B2B. “With our powerful Odds feed and innovative products like BetBuilder, BET99 is uniquely positioned to deliver a premium esports betting experience to players across Ontario. Our collaboration with BET99 is representative of the incredible momentum PandaScore has built in expanding our operator network. We’re excited to collaborate with BET99 and support their ambitious plans to become a leader in esports betting.”