Canada
PLAYMAKER HIRES HEAD OF MONETIZATION TO ENHANCE REVENUE GENERATING CAPABILITIES ACROSS ITS PORTFOLIO OF DIGITAL SPORTS MEDIA ASSETS
Playmaker Capital Inc. (TSXV: PMKR; OTCQX: PMKRF) (“Playmaker”), the digital sports media company that delivers authentic content experiences through its portfolio of sports media and technology brands, is pleased to announce that it has hired Felipe Cortelezzi as its new Head of Monetization. Mr. Cortelezzi will maximize revenue-generating capabilities across Playmaker’s portfolio of digital sports media assets, and his efforts will bring immense value to corporate advertisers and sports betting operators looking to access Playmaker’s vast ecosystem of highly engaged sports fans.
Mr. Cortelezzi brings to this role a deep understanding of multiplatform advertising sales, publisher Ad operations and performance, affiliate partnership generation, and video-based media distribution. Most recently, Mr. Cortelezzi served as Director, AVOD Monetization & Operations at ViacomCBS where he led the process for the sale and placement of a variety of advertising campaigns on ViacomCBS video-based content, including some of the most-watched video and television content throughout the Americas. Prior to his role at ViacomCBS, Mr. Cortelezzi held various leadership positions in sales and advertising throughout Argentina, South Africa, and the U.S.
In his new role as Head of Monetization at Playmaker, Mr. Cortelezzi will have direct oversight for monetization efforts across Playmaker’s portfolio of sports media brands throughout North America and Latin America. Playmaker’s brands in the aggregate generated over 210 million web sessions from 85 million unique users in December 2021, and its owned and operated social media presence is in excess of 100 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.
Playmaker’s monetization capabilities are powered by Bench, an in-house tech stack that includes best-in-class technology tools integrated into a software platform that is designed to enhance user engagement and supercharge monetization. Bench is currently operational for Playmaker brands, Futbol Sites (Latin America) and Yardbarker (U.S.) and the migration of monetization of The Nation Network (Canada) is in process. Once fully implemented, Bench, along with the expertise of Mr. Cortelezzi and Playmaker’s ad operations team, will provide industry-leading monetization capabilities for Playmaker.
“We are very happy to add Felipe to the Playmaker team. I have known Felipe for more than 15 years and I deeply believe in his professional and personal skills and everything he can contribute to Playmaker,” commented Federico Grinberg, EVP of Playmaker and CEO of Futbol Sites, a Playmaker brand. “In his role, Felipe will help to quickly unify and scale the monetization capabilities of Playmaker Bench across all of Playmaker’s assets.”
“To succeed we need to have the best team and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to add someone with Felipe’s capability and experience,” said Jordan Gnat, CEO of Playmaker. “We will continue to add the best and brightest to the Playmaker family.”
As regulated sports betting continues to become more widely adopted throughout the Americas, Playmaker will monetize its web-based and social media platforms through more affiliate revenue partnerships, for which Mr. Cortelezzi will be instrumental in executing on. Mr. Cortelezzi will report to Federico Grinberg, and he will be based in Miami, FL.
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Alberta iGaming Corporation
Alberta iGaming Corporation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council
The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) has announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) that will make RG Check accreditation a mandatory requirement for all internet gaming (iGaming) sites entering Alberta’s regulated market.
This collaboration demonstrates Alberta’s commitment to player protection by ensuring every regulated operator meets the highest evidence-based standards for responsible gambling.
“Alberta is committed to building a safer, regulated iGaming environment where player protection comes first. By requiring RG Check accreditation, we’re ensuring that every iGaming operator in our market has demonstrated their commitment to player safety through independent verification of their responsible gambling programs,” said Dan Keene, Interim AiGC CEO.
RG Check is a Canadian-made, globally trusted, independent responsible gambling accreditation program. Developed by RGC more than a decade ago, RG Check evaluates sites against rigorous, evidence-based standards, covering governance, player safeguards, staff training, and marketing practices. The accreditation provides clear, measurable accountability and has become the gold standard for responsible gambling across multiple jurisdictions.
“This partnership with AiGC demonstrates the power of regulators and responsible gambling experts working together to protect players from day one. Alberta is building on a strong foundation established in Ontario, where RG Check has proven its value in creating safer gambling environments. This proactive approach ensures that player protection isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into the market from the ground up,” said Sarah McCarthy, CEO of RGC.
Alberta’s requirement will ensure that:
• All iGaming sites must achieve RG Check accreditation
• Operators must maintain their accreditation in good standing while operating in Alberta
• RGC will conduct assessments based on internationally recognized responsible gambling standards
• AiGC will work closely with RGC to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement.
Requiring accreditation in Alberta’s market reflects AiGC’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling, and will create a level playing field where protecting players is a competitive advantage, not just a compliance checkbox.
For operators who currently hold RG Check accreditation in another jurisdiction, the transition to Alberta will be streamlined. While a distinct Alberta accreditation is still required, existing accreditations will be recognized to simplify the process and reduce costs. Operators will benefit from an efficient onboarding process that reduces administrative burden while maintaining the same rigorous standards for player protection.
The post Alberta iGaming Corporation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet
Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider, St8 has officially gone live in Ontario’s regulated market through a new partnership with international brand Tonybet.
Through the partnership, Tonybet gains access to St8’s casino games aggregation platform, offering a wide range of premium titles from leading providers through a single API, alongside bonusing and promotional tools, compliance and licensing solutions, advanced reporting and data capabilities.
Built as a single scalable platform, St8’s products are designed to help operators launch and grow across regulated markets with fast, flexible technology solutions while maintaining full compliance.
The agreement marks a further step in St8’s global growth strategy as the company continues to expand its presence across regulated jurisdictions.
Vladimir Negine, CEO at St8, said: “Going live in Ontario is an important milestone for St8 and reflects our continued commitment to growth in regulated markets. Since receiving our Ontario licence, we have focused on building strong local partnerships and delivering a platform that combines scalability, speed and compliance.
“As a respected international brand, Tonybet shares our commitment to building reliable solutions for regulated markets, and we look forward to working closely together as we continue to expand our presence in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.”
Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at Tonybet, added: “As we expand our presence in Ontario, it is important for us to work with technology partners that support continued growth while meeting the highest regulatory standards.
“St8’s platform gives us the flexibility to integrate a wide range of content and tools through a single connection, helping us scale smoothly while maintaining a strong focus on player experience.”
St8 continues to lead the way as a partner of choice for regulated markets. In addition to its Ontario licence, the company holds licences in key regulated jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, Sweden and Romania, among others.
The post St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives
Rivalry Corp. announced that its Board of Directors has approved a significant reduction in operating activity as the Company evaluates strategic alternatives in respect of its assets and operations.
The Company is engaged in discussions with third parties regarding potential transactions. However, in light of recent performance volatility, the Board has determined to materially reduce the scale of operations while assessing whether a strategic transaction or other alternative can be advanced.
Effective immediately, the Company is implementing substantial cost reductions, including a significant workforce reduction and reduced operating expenditures. The Company has paused player activity on its platform and is facilitating player withdrawals in the ordinary course.
The Company is assessing a range of potential alternatives, which may include asset-level transactions, corporate transactions, restructuring initiatives or other strategic outcomes.
Given the Company’s reduced operating scale and the ongoing evaluation process, there can be no assurance that any strategic alternative will be completed or that operations will continue in their current form.
The post Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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