Canada
“We’re thrilled with our partnership with Delaware North” – Exclusive interview with GAMING1 CBDO Victor Araneda
GAMING1 recently embarked upon a joint venture with Delaware North, a global hospitality company with a portfolio of regional casinos, allowing GAMING1 to deliver solutions to operators in North America.
The provider’s Chief Business Development Officer, Victor Araneda, took us through the ins and outs of the deal as well as its next steps in the US and LatAm’s growing potential.
With GAMING1’s recent deal you’ve now debuted in North America! Congratulations – can you tell us about the deal?
Thank you! We’re thrilled with our exclusive partnership with Delaware North, and it has, in all respects they are the ideal partner for us. They share our land-based DNA, operate in multiple jurisdictions, understand the challenge of maintaining a relationship with the communities we serve and the importance that reputation has for our patrons. Our groups share the same philosophy in terms of business with being both family-owned and having built the businesses through long-term partnerships. This is at the core of our B2B division and something we all take pride in and look forward to expanding through our joint venture, Gamewise.
In terms of the next few months – give us a snapshot of how rollout will look and how you’ll be executing your plans for the US?
It’s a uniquely exciting time to be operating sports betting and iGaming in the US and it’s easy to get distracted with some of the seismic shifts we are seeing in the market. That said, our group has significant experience with similar dynamics in other markets, so our plans remain unchanged. Our rollout will focus on those states where our partners are active and operational. Creating a fully omnichannel experience and enhancing the relationships we have with our land-based partners is the core of our technology as we’ve demonstrated in counties like Belgium, Portugal and France.
What potential does GAMING1 see stateside and how much further expansion should we expect to see on the continent?
We understand that every state is different, and the individual legislations reflect this. The competitive environment will be different depending on the make-up of each opportunity and this will influence how we position our product and brand. In terms of potential, both GAMING1 and Delaware North have been champions of iGaming and believe more states will follow in the steps of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan in adding this vertical. We are also closely monitoring the opportunity in Canada which is part of our scope with Gamewise.
Moving further south to LatAm, GAMING1 has been active for quite a while in Colombia via your Zamba joint venture – what can you tell us about your operations there?
Zamba was the third operation to be licensed in Colombia and was the first operation outside the European Union for GAMING1. We’ve grown in leaps and bounds since 2018 and today boast the best casino product in the country. While our land-based casino partners faced very difficult times during the pandemic, we are now rolling out our most ambitious marketing plan yet and look forward to the continued growth in that market.
You were the first to take live casino online in the Colombian market with Evolution – how much potential do you see for this vertical in LatAm?
We were proud to be the first to bring live casino to Colombia which is a testament to the long-term relationship we have with Evolution Gaming. The result has been as predictable as the rest of this answer will be. The product bridges the major gap that exists in emerging markets, so it seems to be tailor-made for the region. Our results in Colombia have been extraordinary and we expect this trend to continue in other markets.
Aside from Live Casino, which other verticals do you see as key in LatAm and how is GAMING1 personalising its delivery for regional audiences?
The cutting edge of eSports will dominate the conversation very soon, especially in markets like Brazil. In terms of slots, we are working to address the glaring lack of local games. GAMING1 has also put a lot of effort into improving our loyalty program in order to cater to local tastes and this is proving to be the right decision.
Further afield, and looking at the likes of Argentina, Peru and Chile – where do you see potential for LatAm growth given your extensive experience?
These are three markets with untapped potential that have been slowed down by a lack of legislative goodwill. I’m happy for Argentina finally being able to transition Buenos Aires into a solid framework. Peru has a working model, but the bill MINCETUR has been eager to pass for years is by far superior to the current model. Chile, on the other hand, has been a complete disappointment. The most connected and tech-savvy country in the region has stalled. They could have protected their land-based operators and benefitted from the increased tax, but instead they are simply letting illegal operators run rampant.
Last but not least – any parting thoughts to share with our readers on the development of the Americas for the rest of the year?
Keep an eye out for more iGaming/mobile casino to come to more states in the US and expect GAMING1 to be present in all of them.
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Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’”
The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.
While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?
“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”
Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto!
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
The post Surrey Resident Wins Record-Breaking $80-Million Lotto Max Jackpot appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has contacted more than a dozen traditional and digital media platforms, calling on them to stop promoting unregulated online gambling and sports betting sites like Bodog to Ontario residents.
Operated by Il Nido Inc., Bodog is an offshore operator actively targeting Ontarians by advertising on popular traditional and digital media platforms. Despite blocking players in Quebec and Nova Scotia from accessing their unregulated gambling and sports betting sites, Bodog continues to allow Ontarians to access these sites while advertising heavily on traditional and digital media platforms targeting Ontarians.
Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992, Bodog and other online gambling sites are required to register with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario in order to operate in Ontario. Ontario’s regulated igaming framework requires operators to meet comprehensive requirements related to game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering and information privacy. Bodog’s efforts to direct Ontarians to unregulated gambling undermine player protection and other safeguards which exist in the regulated market, as well as fair market principles.
By airing ads for Bodog and other unregulated operators, legitimate media platforms are providing a veneer of legitimacy to unregulated and high-risk sites and creating confusion for Ontarians. The AGCO is therefore calling on these platforms to take a stand against the promotion of unregulated online gambling sites and remove the ads. By doing so, broadcasters and digital media companies will help reduce the risks these sites pose to Ontarians and support the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s regulated igaming market – all key objectives of the AGCO.
The AGCO will continue to work with its partners – both in Ontario and internationally – to combat these unregulated sites and protect the public.
“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and ensuring they have the safest experience by playing on regulated igaming sites. By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media organizations can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market.” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
The post AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has selected Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider in the Windsor Casino procurement process. This is the final procurement process in the OLG’s land-based gaming modernization initiative.
Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to be selected as the service provider for the Windsor Casino by the OLG. Caesars has a long history of managing Windsor and looks forward to continuing to deliver exceptional guest service and experiences at the property.”
Caesars and its predecessor companies have partnered with the OLG to operate Caesars Windsor (fka. Casino Windsor) since the opening of the temporary facility in 1994. Caesars will assume responsibility for gaming and non-gaming operations of the Windsor casino on behalf of the OLG under a 20-year operating agreement, which is expected to begin in 2026.
OLG requires an 18-month restriction on any organizational changes consistent with other gaming bundle modernizations in Ontario. Unionized employees will continue to be governed by the terms of their collective agreement.
The post OLG Selects Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider for Windsor Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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