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Alberta is home to new Segev LLP office ahead of open market

Segev LLP is making an effort to further solidify its presence throughout Canada.

The law firm, which represents some of the most popular brands in the gaming industry, has announced the opening of a new office in Alberta. Segev has established a physical presence in Alberta in anticipation of the province establishing an open gaming market.

The opening of Alberta’s gaming market is poised to garner increased business for Segev as investor interest in Canadian gambling brands grows due to new opportunities. Segev expects the investor interest to continue throughout 2024 and into next year.

“We try to anticipate the needs of current and future clients and being able to service those needs in Alberta will become a greater priority for many of them,” said Founding Partner Ron Segev.

Segev’s operations in Alberta will be supported by a team of lawyers. The Vancouver-based firm has 23 lawyers who also provide services in Toronto, India, and the U.S.

In addition to gaming, Segev provides services for businesses tackling mergers and acquisitions. It also has expertise in intellectual property, crypto, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. Segev believes AI can have a positive impact on the gaming industry.

“Leveraging big data and machine learning algorithms, there’s an opportunity for betting and gaming companies to deliver highly personalised experiences to their users,” Segev told Canadian Gaming Business in June ahead of the Canadian Gaming Summit. “By analysing user behavior and preferences, operators can tailor game recommendations, promotions, and rewards, ultimately enhancing player satisfaction and lifetime value.”

PENN expects ‘important’ Alberta to be a top market for theScore Bet

On PENN Entertainment’s Q2 2024 earnings call CEO Jay Snowden said that he believes Alberta’s upcoming regulated gaming market will be “a top three or four” market for the company’s Canadian-centric theScore Bet brand.

Snowden confirmed that theScore Bet will enter Alberta’s regulated gaming market when it opens, which he speculated will be late 2024 or early 2025.

“With both online sports betting and iCasino, we expect Alberta to be a very strong market for us given the power of the theScore Bet brand,” Snowden said.

“We would anticipate that the success we’ve seen in Ontario with theScore and theScore Bet, we would be able to replicate that in Alberta,” the CEO said.

“theScore is a very popular brand throughout Canada, it’s not just a Toronto or Ontario thing. So given the success we’ve had in Ontario and given that Alberta will have very similar tax rates, as we understand it, and be both OSB and iCasino, we think it’s going to be a really important North American market for us. Probably a top three or four market.”

Alberta offers great opportunity, say experts

Snowden’s note on comparative tax rates is interesting. There has been no official word from the Alberta government as to where they will land on that front, but industry advocates have urged the province to implement a rate similar to the 20% that Ontario levies on commercial online gaming and betting operators.

Anything significantly higher than that could be a deterrent for operators considering entry, experts have warned.

At the Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto in June, the verdict from a variety of operators, suppliers, regulators, consultants and other industry personnel was pretty unanimous: Alberta offers huge opportunity as a commercial market.

It’s not the only operator making googly eyes at Alberta already. Others including PointsBet have already expressed an early interest and on Super Group‘s earnings call this week, CEO Neal Menashe said Betway is ready and waiting to regulate its existing Alberta presence.

Given how many brands currently operating within Ontario have high brand visibility and awareness in other parts of the country through things such as unlicensed operations or nationwide advertising, “first mover advantage” could work differently in the province than in other jurisdictions. But whatever happens, whenever Alberta opens and however it looks when it does open, theScore Bet intends to be there to take advantage of all that it offers.

Betway ‘ready and waiting’ for regulated Alberta market

Betway is already a visible brand in Alberta, and Super Group CEO Neal Menashe said this week that the company has keen eyes on how the pathway towards a regulated market in the province develops.

“In Canada, obviously, there is regulation coming in Alberta,” Menashe said on Super Group’s Q2 earnings call on Wednesday. “We are super ready for it. Everything we did in Ontario, we’ve learned how to do it even better. So the teams are ready and waiting when Alberta regulates.

“Across the board in all these markets, we are optimizing everywhere. So in Canada, Alberta would be no different than Ontario.”

Super Group’s Q2 earnings call came after the company posted results reflecting its “strongest quarter ever.” Revenue hit €415 million ($622 million CAD), up 9% from the previous year. Betway revenue was up 7.6% year-on-year to €246 million ($369 million CAD). The company credited the African and North American markets for the growth.

iGaming continued to dominate, making up 80% of revenue across all jurisdictions company-wide. North America, including Ontario’s regulated market and other unregulated markets such as Alberta, was the Spin casino brand’s strongest region, with €112 million ($168 million CAD) in revenue.

While Betway is shutting down its U.S. sports betting operations in a move Menashe suggested could cost as much as €45 million ($67 million CAD), both Canadian sports betting operations and iGaming operations continue to grow.

Betway told Canadian Gaming Business last month that its operations in Ontario will not be affected by the U.S. closures.

Betway already visible in Alberta

When Betway launched in Ontario in August 2022, it benefited from the fact it already had a sizeable presence in the province before the regulated market opened that April.

Data from Wells Fargo released in the early weeks of Ontario’s regulated market showed that Betway had the second-highest number of daily active users in Ontario after only theScore. Morgan Stanley also estimated around the same time that Betway accounted for the highest percentage of iGaming and sports betting smartphone app downloads in Ontario on a monthly basis for the whole of 2021.

Just like in Ontario, if Betway does indeed come to Alberta soon after the Wild Rose Country market opens up, it won’t exactly be an unknown quantity.

The brand has been prominently advertising in the province for years, despite not being able to operate within the legal confines of the province’s gaming market, which is still a monopoly for Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ Play Alberta platform, as far as regulated online gaming goes.

Thanks to a partnership with the NHL, ads for betway.net have adorned advertising boards at Rogers Place during Edmonton Oilers games for years and were prominent again during this year’s Stanley Cup Final. The company said, per CBC News, that the betway.net site is its “global website” that doesn’t feature gambling content. betway.ca is the Ontario-accessible betting site; betway.net provides sports news and a big dose of Betway branding.

Rogers said that between April 20 and June 24, the Stanley Cup Playoffs broadcasts on Sportsnet reached 25.4 million Canadians (66% of the population) and averaged 1.5 million viewers. Game 7 of the Final was Sportsnet’s most-watched broadcast ever with an average minute audience of 7.55 million across Sportsnet, Citytv, and CBC. Rogers said that game alone reached 15 million Canadians, or 39% of the country’s total population.

That’s a ton of exposure for Betway. How much of that visibility would translate to sign-ups if and when the brand does begin taking bets in an open Alberta market, only time will tell.

SBC launches Women Empowerment Initiative to uplift women in gaming

SBC has doubled down on its mission to uplift women in sports betting, iGaming, and related fields with the launch of the Women Empowerment Initiative (WE).

WE aims to connect, educate, and empower women, fostering a community of strong, inspired leaders ready to make an impact.

Starting this September, SBC will roll out a special program at the SBC Summit, held at Feira Internacional de Lisboa on September 24-26.

Groups such as All-In Diversity Project, Brazil-focused Association of Women in the Gaming Industry (AMIG), LatAm-facing Asociación Femenina de Gaming (ASFEG), Global Gaming Women (GGW), SheEOs, Malta-based Women in Gaming Group, and Women in Gaming – African Chapter are already backing this effort to unite and empower women.

“Drawing 25,000 delegates from around the world, this flagship event is the perfect opportunity for us at SBC to partner up with leading organizations, associations, and groups dedicated to empowering women,” said Lucía Mouriño, VP Relationships LatAm, SBC. “As an event organizer, we are committed to providing a space for women in our male-dominated industry to discuss what matters to them. We are very pleased with the overwhelming support from our allies worldwide.”

SBC has a history of actively raising awareness about the challenges women in the industry face by hosting networking breakfasts at all its events and curating conferences specifically designed to unite women through mentorship, tailored content, and special features.

Notably, the latest edition of CasinoBeats Summit in May dedicated an entire day to women in gaming, starting with a relaxing yoga session and ending with a poker tournament, providing a holistic, empowering, and fun experience.

With the Lisbon conference less than two months away, SBC is now expanding its mission. Formalizing this initiative by giving it a name and purpose marks the first step in showcasing the company’s commitment to creating a year-round support network that extends beyond SBC Summit and other events.

The SBC Summit 2024 itinerary will feature a robust program designed to foster connections among women. Highlights include a dînatoire, a dedicated meet-up on the expo floor with curated ice-breakers, the beloved GGW breakfast tradition, and conference content addressing the most relevant issues facing women in our industry.

Furthermore, SBC will hold a small special recognition ceremony for two outstanding women in the industry who have not only excelled professionally but have also dedicated themselves to mentoring and advocating for women in sports betting and iGaming.

“As we embark on this initiative, it’s important to honour and celebrate both an established legacy and an emerging star committed to empowering her peers, without waiting for everything to be perfectly in place,” added Mouriño.

SBC encourages women in this industry to reach out to [email protected] to get involved and share their ideas for improving industry representation.

Join us at SBC Summit

Want to submit an entry for the recognition ceremony? You can do it here.

Join us at the SBC Summit at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa from September 24-26, where 25,000 sports betting and iGaming industry professionals will converge for three days of networking and educational sessions led by over 450 senior decision-makers. Get your tickets now (Early Bird Deal is currently available).

Affiliates can apply for a free pass.

Operators can also apply for a complimentary ticket.

IGT names Nick Khin as new IGT Global Gaming president

International Game Technology (IGT) has promoted from within to fill a top-level role, naming longtime chief operating officer Nick Khin as the new president of its Global Gaming division.

Khin has been with the firm since 2013 and has been the company’s COO and SVP of gaming since 2015. In his new role, he will manage the Global Gaming business unit, including studios, technology, sales, games and hardware, manufacturing and services, and systems.

He will report to CEO Vince Sadusky, who called him the obvious choice” for the new role.

“Under his leadership, IGT is consistently releasing top games and strengthening its performance in every game category,” Sadusky added. “Nick’s knowledge, leadership and passion have earned him the respect of colleagues throughout our industry.”

IGT works with a variety of companies and lottery corporations in Canada and is rated by Eilers and Krejcik as the top online gaming supplier in the country.

IGT reshuffles executives ahead of Everi spinoff merger

Khin’s promotion is the latest executive rejig at IGT this year as it prepares to be taken private by Apollo Global Management in a $6.3 billion merger of its gaming division with gaming and payments specialist Everi.

Sadusky will take up the CEO role in the new business while non-executive director Marco Drago has been replaced on the board by his son Enrico Drago, who is stepping down from his role as IGT PlayDigital CEO and has been succeeded by Gil Rotem in a new role of PlayDigital president under Sadusky.

After the merger, all that will remain of IGT as a standalone outside of the merged company will be its Global Lottery business. That arm has a sizable Canadian presence and in January struck a deal with Loto-Québec to supply VLTs across La Belle Province.

Mohegan names Joseph Hasson as permanent COO

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has named its interim Chief Operating Officer Joseph Hasson to the role permanently.

He will be responsible for overseeing the development and execution of short and long-term strategic business plans across all Mohegan properties in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. He will also continue to serve as general manager of Mohegan Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Hasson had been serving as interim COO since April, taking over from former COO Jody Madigan. He will report to Ray Pineault, Mohegan president and CEO.

“Joe Hasson’s expertise, garnered over more than 40 years in the gaming and hospitality industries, coupled with his exemplary leadership at our Las Vegas property, positions him uniquely to ensure strategic alignment and continuity across Mohegan’s diverse portfolio,” said Pineault. “We are confident that his leadership as our chief operating officer will be instrumental in our sustained success.”

Prior to joining Mohegan, Hasson served as COO of Station Casinos LLC and Red Rock Resorts, Inc.

Mohegan in the Windosr Casino race?

Mohegan operates two casinos in Canada: Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino, both in Niagara Falls, Ont. It also became the first land-based operator to join Ontario’s online gaming and betting market in 2022, launching a new digital gaming platform, PlayFallsview, in September of that year.

Mohegan is also rumoured to be one of the contenders to take over the operating license of the Windsor Casino from the incumbent, Caesars Entertainment.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) extended its operating agreement with Caesars by another seven months last week as it continues to search for the next operator. The crown corporation is currently conducting a procurement process to select a new service provider to handle the day-to-day operations of the Windsor Casino. Caesars has run the famous Windsor casino since it opened 30 years ago. 

The Globe and Mail reported in January, citing three gambling industry sources, that Mohegan and Bally’s Corporation are Caesars’ two contestants in a three-horse race for the rights.

OLG said it expects to announce the selected operator by spring 2025. The lottery corporation’s director of media relations, Tony Bitonti, told Canadian Gaming Business that it will not be releasing any further details or comments on the procurement process “until the selected service provider is announced.”

Nuvei to buy Brazilian payments firm Pay2All with eyes on LatAm growth

Montreal-based fintech company Nuvei has agreed to buy licensed Brazilian payments provider Pay2All in a deal it says will help to expand its reach in the broader Latin American market.

Nuvei said in a statement that the deal will allow it to provide payment services as an “issuer of electronic currency” through Pay2All’s payment institution licence from Brazil’s central bank. Nuvei will accept payments, manage e-wallets and betting accounts, and integrate with all of Brazil’s local payment systems.

CEO Philip Fayer says the agreement marks a major milestone in its global expansion strategy and allows it to offer “fully localized” payment methods to Brazilian businesses.

The proposed transaction is subject to closing conditions that include regulatory approvals by the Central Bank of Brazil.

By acquiring Pay2all, Nuvei will gain access to a licensed payment provider in Brazil’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market. Nuvei noted that Stastita forecasts that once open, Brazilian iGaming market revenue will reach $5.6 billion CAD by 2029.

“Securing a Payment Institution license in Brazil has been a top priority, and will mark another significant milestone in our global expansion strategy,” added Fayer. “The proposed transaction not only strengthens our presence in LatAm but also demonstrates our commitment to providing fully localized and modern payment solutions to businesses in Brazil.

“We’re excited to offer our full suite of services to help drive growth for the rapidly growing eCommerce and iGaming operators in this dynamic market.”

Nuvei has already taken steps in the LatAm market. In February, it became the first global payments company in Colombia to offer direct local acquisition.

Nuvei set to go private

Canadian company Nuvei has eyes on the Brazilian market at a time when the company is preparing to be taken private by a U.S. private equity firm.

In early April, Nuvei announced it had signed a deal to be acquired by Boston-based Advent International in a deal that valued the fintech firm at around $8.5 billion CAD. Nuvei went public in the Toronto Stock Exchange’s largest tech IPO ever in September 2020.

When the deal closes, expected to be early next year, Nuvei will continue to be based in Montreal and Fayer will remain as CEO and chair.

That announcement of this deal came weeks after Nuvei revealed it had formed a special committee to evaluate expressions of interest from potential buyers.

Nuvei says it has a presence in more than 200 markets across the world, with local acquiring in 50 markets and connectivity to 680 local and alternative payment methods. In Ontario, it provides payment technology to betting operators including GAN and 888 in Ontario. In 2023, it added Vancouver-born Deadpool actor  Ryan Reynolds to its investor ranks after closing a billion-dollar acquisition of U.S. payment and commerce solutions company Paya Holdings.

SBC Summit: Safeguarding the player – innovations in player protection

The gambling and sports betting industry is experiencing significant transformations in the digital realm, striving to leverage all available innovations. However, one thing remains unchanged: the importance of dedicating time and effort to understanding how to keep player safety at the forefront.

To support this, the upcoming SBC Summit will feature a dedicated Player Protection Zone, providing a framework for a robust gambling harm prevention ecosystem. This event, welcoming 25,000 industry professionals, will take place from September 24-26 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa.

The dedicated show floor will provide delegates with the opportunity to explore the next generation of safeguarding systems and products, as well as meet leading safer gambling service providers and associations. Brands already confirmed include BetBlocker, Crucial Compliance, EPIC, GamCare, Gamble Alert, Gordon Moody, Mindway AI, Neccton, Recover Me, Safer Gambling Training, Verifeye Online and W2 by FullCircl.

In addition, the positioning of the zone on the show floor will provide delegates with seamless access to the Food Festival, featuring a series of food trucks offering multiple catering options and a dedicated lounge.

“The online space has brought a wealth of innovations to the industry, from advanced betting platforms to new marketing avenues. However, with each innovation, there is always a risk that a small minority may seek to exploit it,” said SBC CEO and Founder Rasmus Sojmark.

“The goal of this zone is to educate companies on best practices, tools, and strategies to ensure responsible gambling and safeguard players. This includes teaching them how to monitor player behavior and protect vulnerable groups, educating them on current regulations and legal requirements, and encouraging them to connect with experts who can help enhance their protective measures.”

Delegates aiming to enhance their knowledge can look forward to three days of in-depth discussions on the latest issues affecting the player protection sector. On day one of the educational program, topics will include the future impacts of emerging technology on responsible gambling strategies, how operators can use existing data to make a meaningful difference in the lives of at-risk players, how operators should respond to increased regulatory scrutiny and how the industry can collaborate with influencers to ensure their interactions with players can be safe as well as profitable.

On the second day, discussions will focus on how compliance leaders can stay ahead of the curve and ensure thorough oversight, how technology suppliers are incorporating safer gambling initiatives into both new and existing products and the differences and similarities in player protection across established and emerging markets. Additionally, panels will address whether the introduction of affordability checks and loss limits will benefit or hinder industry growth, and how operators can utilize technology, self-regulation measures and partnerships to enhance regulatory framework implementation.

The final day will spotlight topics including the convergence of responsible gambling with environmental and social governance, the need for internal diversity to effectively address diverse external experiences, strategies for attracting talent from various fields outside the gambling industry, and whether harm prevention initiatives impact long-term profitability.

Player protection and safer gambling experts confirmed to feature across the conference include Fredrik Wastenson (CEO, Svenska Spel Sports & Casino), Tammi Barlow (VP, Global Responsible Gaming, Bally’s), Martin Lycka (SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling, Entain), Andrea McGeachin (CEO, Neosurf), Hugo Baungartner (CCO, Aposta Ganha), Mike De Graaff (Co-Founder & Chief Compliance Officer, BetComply), Rasmus Kjaergaard (CEO, Mindway AI) and Sam McKnight (Head of UK Compliance & Deputy MLRO, Fitzdares).

In addition to the Player Protection Zone, delegates can explore the Sports Betting Zone and Casino & iGaming Zone, the Media Headquarters and dedicated Affiliate Leaders, Payment Expert & ESI Lisbon Summits. Each area will include a dedicated show floor, targeted networking sessions, catering options, and a focused educational program.

Get set for SBC Summit

If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring at the Player Protection Zone, you can either submit this form or contact our sales team at [email protected]. Operators and affiliates can apply for free passes to the event. If you are an operator, you can apply for a free pass here, if you are an affiliate, you can apply for a free pass here. Everyone else can secure their spot at the upcoming SBC Summit with our Early Bird ticket offer, granting access to all three core days of the event, including the exhibition floor, conference content, and evening networking parties, all for the discounted price of just €400.

Bragg Gaming to integrate Kero Gaming micro-betting suite

Bragg Gaming Group will integrate Kero Gaming’s full suite of sports betting options into its aggregation platform thanks to a new deal between the two companies.

Kero is a supplier of micro-betting data feeds, products and services. Its full product suite will now be used by Bragg in its HUB content aggregation platform, which includes the Bragg Remote Games Server that is comprised of in-house developed games from Bragg’s multiple iGaming studios as well as third-party exclusive games from multiple partner studios.

Kero offers in-play betting markets, live chat, and live streaming to allow players to watch games, place bets, and chat seamlessly. The technology is powered by a proprietary recommendation engine that uses algorithms to offer personalized and contextually relevant markets to players and create a casino-style sports betting experience during games.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer our aggregation customers access to Kero’s suite of sportsbook products for the first time,” said Ivica Jovanovski, head of aggregation at Bragg. “We’re confident that this agreement will serve as a useful growth tool as we look to increase the sports betting technologies and platforms available to our customers globally.”

“Kero is focused on enhancing and providing innovation to the sports betting community by integrating our advanced technology with our real-time micro markets offering,” added Kero CEO Tomash Devenishek. “Our partnership with Bragg is a significant step forward in allowing us to deliver our exception.al sports betting products globally. It’s great to advance this agenda with Bragg as a partner.”

Toronto-based Bragg already offers the Fuze marketing and promotional toolset, which includes automated bonusing, free bets, odds and profit boosts and AI-powered recommendations on the sports betting side, as well as a range of tools for iGaming operators.

Bragg noted in a release that it will add other sports betting provider partners in due course as it continues its quest to become the turnkey solutions provider of choice to the worldwide iGaming and sports betting industry.

Bragg continues 2024 movement

Bragg operates in Ontario’s commercial regulated gaming market as well as several states in the U.S., Colombia, and a wide range of European markets.

Its most recent expansion move came in June when it extended its U.S. iGaming partnership with BetMGM into Pennsylvania. The two companies already worked together on online gaming in New Jersey and Michigan.

The company has embarked upon a year of change in 2024.

In May, it appointed a new chief commercial officer, Neill Whyte, and it also named a new interim chief financial officer, Robbie Bressler, in June.

The company is also undergoing a big-picture strategic review after its Q4 2023 results showed dips in both revenue and profit. Bragg has formed a special committee, to be utilized when the company deems it required or necessary to undertake a review of its strategic alternatives. Potential actions include the sale of the company or its assets, a merger, financing or further acquisitions.

Ontario evolution and the power of teamwork: OLG’s Catherine Meade

The SBC Leaders Podcast has returned with SBC’s VP of Growth & Strategy Americas, Sue Schneider, sitting down with Catherine Meade, VP of Community, Sustainability and Social Responsibility at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

Topics of conversation included the evolution of the Ontario gaming market, Meade’s responsible gambling philosophy and the power of teamwork.

Before April 2022, OLG was the only regulated online gaming operator in Ontario. However, following the market opening, there are around 50 operators licensed in the province. While that has led to an influx of new competition for OLG, Meade said the move has been a positive for players in Ontario as they now have a raft of legal options rather than having to look to the unregulated market.

“I think what has been critical in all of this is that it’s given options for people to play legally and have all the protection that comes along with that. If you aren’t going to go with OLG at least you’re going with someone else that is a legal entity and I think that’s positive in the end,” said Meade.

She added that OLG had a record year following the change in regulation, despite the operator losing its monopoly.

Learning RG lessons from others

OLG has been recognized for the strength of its responsible gaming programme in recent years. Meade noted how the opening of the market has also allowed the operator to learn from others and “up our game to make sure that we’re offering at a similar level or better than others.”

“I personally believe that responsible gambling is one area that we’re not really competing in,” she added.

“It doesn’t help us [if] someone self-excluded from another site comes over as a broken player and loses what little they have left. We all benefit from having healthy players making healthy decisions across all of the platforms. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing with us or any of our competitors.”

How Meade leads the way

Given that this was the SBC Leaders Podcast, the conversation then turned to look more in-depth at Meade as a leader, and how she manages her team.

“I’m a servant leader, that’s how I grew up and so that continues, and I am a transformational leader looking for ways to transform the members of my team,” she explained.

“I have a very keen interest in my team members and I look at what I can do to help them achieve what they need to achieve. It’s not the Catherine Meade show, it’s really about how we work together and we rise and fall as a team. I strongly believe in the power of team and teamwork and that’s borne out in what I’ve done, including what I’m doing now with my team at OLG.”

To close out the interview, Meade was asked about her love for motorcycle adventuring and the pair discussed some of the trials and tribulations she has faced while exploring various parts of the world.

“I’m not going to lie, there certainly are times when I’ve seen my life flash before my eyes and I’m thinking what is wrong with me, lots of people vacation by car, why aren’t you one of them? But really, the payoff for that effort is huge,” she said.

“To have the privilege to ride around is worth anything it takes to navigate the roads. It’s a full-on privilege to have the physical and financial wherewithal to do what I do, I’m very fortunate and I know it.”