Canada
“Some of our games have registered performance increases of up to 300%” Exclusive LatAm interview with BetGames.TV’s Eddie Morales
While live casino has already been a strong performer in LatAm this year given the cancellation of sport – BetGames.TV has netted some of the industry’s highest surges in bet counts this year to make it one of the region’s standout suppliers.
Keen to find out more about the keys to their success, we had a virtual chat with BetGames.TV’s LatAm Sales Director to get the latest on the company’s expansion – as well as his insights on how we should expect the market to play out in the coming months.
It’s clear that certain verticals have taken a hit in recent months. How have live dealer games performed from BetGames.TV experience?
From our understanding, our live dealer titles have outperformed the average comparative title of late. We believe this is down to their unique fixed odds nature, which brings them closer to the sports betting audience which has been prime for cross-selling into casino this year.
Some of our games have registered performance increases of up to 300% in the first half of 2020, and this correlates with the same period that the global sporting calendar was limited and players were locked down and looking for new, vibrant content on digital and mobile channels.
Is the online gaming space catching up with the region’s long-held land-based focus in recent months?
Pre-pandemic, it had showed signs that the trend was changing in favour of online, but the sudden shock of lockdown has given many operators a reality-check that the transition needs to be prioritised.
Saying that, online gaming laws remain an important factor in this shift, and these too need to progress sustainably to develop a safer, regulated, and balanced marketplace. I personally don’t see the move to digital occurring as fast as some have predicted, but I expect it to play out with a form of natural selection where only the strongest, best prepared suppliers and operators will survive.
How has your experience with regulators been in terms of the roll-out of live dealer games?
If you look at the LatAm region, there has tended to be a lag in Live Casino product regulation. It tends to come after teething problems have been ironed out in the likes of casino and sportsbook, which almost always become the first to be regulated in newly opened markets.
There’s a lot to learn from various European markets, like the UK or Italy, where the variety of product offerings and certification processes protect both business and players in a more controllable, transparent online setting.
Is there a certain demographic uptake that explains your recent success? Is this a new audience your products have targeted, or do you think you’ve attracted players from other verticals?
Our games’ characteristics, namely being fast-paced, simple to pick-up, visual, and low-risk with regular reward, appeal to both sports and casino players from both player feedback and data analysis.
The key to our success is arguably a combination of both appealing to the expected base, but also not creating game environments that rule out gambler interaction from other verticals. We know we still have a long way to go, and we’ll continue to hone this wider market strategy, working with partners to build further product knowledge and make improvements that work across multiple borders.
With many players in the region relatively new to online gambling, let alone live dealer games, how do you go about building that initial trust?
Building trust with a new player in the digital space relies heavily on their local environment and the interaction with the operators that first serve them. A regulated country gives that first ‘plus’ mark to the player, but this can also be achieved by a strong, respected brand, or via associated partners and sponsors.
As a game supplier, we can assist by providing games that are recognisable to the local user, while also making them easy to play, entertaining and low risk, which is key to driving long term gaming longevity. We can also work with operators on tutorials, promotional and marketing tools, and offer our local expertise wherever we can to partners, so they can deliver a safe gaming environment that players will feel comfortable in.
Are there learnings from other geographies that you can take to LatAm or do you need a wholly localized approach?
Of course. There is always general learning that can be introduced to the region, particularly from Europe. It has instilled country-by-country localisation successfully, and I believe the “think global and act locally” mantra can be perfectly applied here. Although there is no reason why we cannot go further and add some local ‘spice’ and knowhow, especially on aspects affecting player lifecycle behaviour, marketing and in operations.
How do you see the wider market performing as it comes out of this pandemic? Are there certain territories or verticals that could significantly benefit or struggle?
I see the retail channel as the clear ‘loser’ from this pandemic. This applies to territories and companies where their online evolution has not been sufficient, or where they maintain high dependencies on a small number of territories with overly concentrated retail cashflow.
In terms of who might come out of this better, I have to say we are looking good at BetGames.TV, while virtual sports suppliers look to be the most improved of late. On a macro level, it’s also clear that online and mobile are those who have won big from bricks-and-mortar casino’s recent hiatus.
Powered by WPeMatico
Online gaming industry veterans BetConstruct announce that they are now able to assist partners in acquiring the prestigious Tobique Gaming Licence.
Issued by the Tobique First Nation of New Brunswick, Canada, the Tobique Gaming Licence provides a gateway in the form of vigorous regulatory framework and responsible gaming practices. The licence is overseen by the Tobique Gaming Commission. Operators holding the Tobique Gaming Licence are required to be in full compliance with local regulations, amounting to increased trust between markets and operators.
Here’s Why Operators Need the Tobique Licence:
- Entry to new and emerging markets: Operators holding the licence will be able to expand their reach into diverse local markets, all while remaining compliant with regulations. This will allow them to acquire a wider customer base.
- Upholding responsible gaming: With responsible gaming being of high importance in the industry, the Tobique licence helps operators foster a secure gaming environment, highlight the significance of responsible practices, and enhance customer trust.
- Favourable tax policy: Operators holding a Tobique licence benefit from exemptions on various taxes and levies related to gaming activities, allowing for substantial profit growth while in full compliance with relevant regulations.
- Streamlined payment and supplier risk management: The licence ensures faster onboarding processes while maintaining confidence in the jurisdiction’s robust controls.
Additional Benefits of Holding the Tobique Licence:
- Easy application process through an online portal with fast processing times.
- A dedicated team of professionals readily available for timely assistance.
- Minimal application and maintenance fees (with no taxes).
- No requirements for local company presence, personnel, or infrastructure in the jurisdiction.
As a reputable company, BetConstruct remains committed to endorsing regulatory policies and championing responsible gaming. Through collaborating with the Tobique First Nation, the company is eager to aid partners in upholding regulatory compliance, particularly within the framework of entering new markets. This amounts to a safer industry for all involved
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has significantly enhanced its presence in the Ontario market through an agreement with leading Canadian operator, PointsBet.
This partnership reinforces Relax Gaming’s aim to become a standout provider across North America, having already gained early success in Ontario. Relax became one of the first suppliers to deliver content to the region’s players in March 2022, debuting with over 120 games across multiple operators.
PointsBet pride themselves as one of Canada’s leading operators offering unmatched speed, ease of use, and a comprehensive array of pre-game and in-play sports betting options. This is complemented by a top-tier online casino which will now be boosted with the integration of Relax’s portfolio of slots and live dealer options.
With its authentic Canadian approach, PointsBet prioritises technology that minimises external dependencies to maintain control over its platform and has a commitment to responsible gambling best practices, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all players.
Martin Stålros, CEO at Relax Gaming, said: “Since we launched in Ontario we have enjoyed tremendous success, with our content hitting the sweet spot for the broad range of players in the Canadian province. This partnership with PointsBet will strengthen our presence in the market as the region’s leading operator integrates our rich content portfolio which will engage its player base.”
Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer at PointsBet, added: “Relax Gaming has established a strong reputation across North America and in Ontario in particular. The impressive range of content that will be integrated into our platform will increase engagement within our online platform and we are delighted to be able to provide more immersive experiences to our audiences.”
Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 names the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.
Jackpot Digital, a leading manufacturer of electronic multiplayer dealerless poker tables, has announced that it has received approval from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to act as a registered supplier of gaming supplies and services to regulated casinos in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
The approval follows the Company’s news release dated February 6, 2024, announcing the signing of a licensing agreement with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) to install the Company’s Jackpot Blitz dealerless poker ETGs into SIGA casinos.
SIGA operates seven casinos and Playnow.com in Saskatchewan. At the outset, SIGA proposes to install Jackpot Blitz machines at its Dakota Dunes and Gold Horse Casino properties, located in Saskatoon and Lloydminster, respectively.
Jackpot CEO Jake Kalpakian said: “We are excited to receive approval as a gaming equipment supplier in Saskatchewan. This represents the first major jurisdictional, non-tribal license received by Jackpot during our continuing expansion into the land-based casino market. We have many more license applications underway in the US and other Canadian provinces, which will dramatically impact our ability to accelerate the rollout of Jackpot Blitz across North America.”
-
Australia6 days agoAUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas Announced as Speaker for Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney
-
Central Europe5 days ago
SOFTSWISS Steps In to Assist Southern Poland After Severe Flooding
-
Latest News5 days ago
Week 40/2024 slot games releases
-
Asia6 days ago
Online Casino Platform 96M Partners with Formula 1
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Playnetic reinforces European foothold following regulatory approval from the Malta Gaming Authority
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
UKGC Appoints Two New Members to the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling
-
Latest News6 days ago
Sportingtech selects Continent 8 Technologies to safeguard betting and gaming platform
-
Amusnet5 days ago
Amusnet Strengthens its LATAM Presence by Partnering with Rush Street Interactive’s RushBet Brand in Mexico
