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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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has mandated all Ontario-registered sportsbook operators to halt offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events immediately. This measure is being taken to protect the Ontario betting public following concerns that WBA-sanctioned boxing matches are not adequately being safeguarded against match-fixing and insider betting.
Since December 2023, the AGCO has been conducting a comprehensive review of suspicious wagering activity on a WBA-sanctioned title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro that was held in Orlando, Florida. Suspicious betting patterns on the bout lasting over 5.5 rounds were reported to the AGCO by two registered independent integrity monitors and detected in Ontario by a registered igaming operator. Media reports also alleged that Tellez’s Manager placed $110,000 on the match lasting longer than 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The bout ended with Tellez knocking out Navarro in the 10th round.
Following an intensive review that included outreach to the WBA, Ontario-registered gaming operators, independent integrity monitors, and regulators in other jurisdictions, the AGCO has concluded that bets related to WBA events do not currently meet the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
The AGCO requires all Ontario-registered gaming operators to ensure the sport betting products they offer are on events that are effectively supervised by a sport governing body. At a minimum, the sport governing body must have and enforce codes of conduct that prohibit betting by insiders.
Registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate to the AGCO that the WBA prohibits betting from insiders, which could include an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, medical professionals, or others with access to non-public information. Further, registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate that the WBA took any action to investigate or enforce the allegations of potential match-fixing and insider wagering.
The AGCO has indicated to registered operators that in order for WBA betting products to be reinstated in Ontario, operators must demonstrate that the WBA effectively supervises its events, thus bringing them into compliance with the Registrar’s Standards. In December 2022, the AGCO required gaming operators to stop offering bets on UFC events for similar issues related to insider betting safeguards. Within a month, UFC amended its policies and implemented new protocols that allowed the AGCO to reinstate betting on UFC events in the province.
“Ontarians who wish to bet on sporting events need to be confident that those events are fairly run, and that clear integrity safeguards are in place and enforced by an effective sport governing body. Knowing the popularity of boxing in Ontario, we look forward to reinstating betting on WBA events once appropriate safeguards against possible match-fixing and insider betting have been confirmed,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of AGCO, said.
Andrew Cochrane Chief Business Officer of GiG
GiG increases Ontario market presence, powering the launch of Casino Time
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG), has announced the launch of Casino Time, powered by its award winning iGaming platform and pioneering real-time rules engine LogicX, with revolutionary sportsbook, SportX soon to follow, to further extend its footprint in the regulated Canadian province of Ontario.
The launch of Casino Time carries extra significance, marking only the second time that on-demand, regulated online Bingo has been made available in Ontario. The new Bingo product vertical, launched alongside a strong Casino offering, will be boosted by GiG’s new sportsbook, SportX, as part of a planned release later this year.
GiG has focused its solutions on driving exponential growth in revenue for operators with its highly scalable iGaming platform, offering localised third party content and leading suppliers for the Ontarian market. GiGs peerless gamification layer creates an optimised and immersive casino experience tailored to regional preferences, swelling client retention and player engagement.
Canadian owned and operated, Casino Time is a joint venture amongst leading retail operators in Ontario’s Charitable Gaming sector, delivering Bingo, Slots and Live Dealer Casino Games. Promising a personalised service and community experience, Casino Time is continuing its long-standing partnership with local charities, introducing its joint fundraising model into the iGaming space for the first time.
Now coming towards the end of its second year of licensed operations, Ontario has emerged as one of the largest iGaming markets in North America, second only to New Jersey according to data supplied by Vixio. The first and as yet only Canadian province to launch a regulated market, Ontario boasts more than 1.6 million active player accounts spread over 40 plus operators, generating €1.3 billion in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in its first year of trading, with this data supplied by iGaming Ontario.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Business Officer of GiG, said: “GiG continues to set the pace with a strong cadence of brand launches in 2024, and I’m pleased that when operators are seeking platform solutions in regulated markets, GiG is leading the pack. Our partnership with Casino Time, will help deliver something new and exciting to the Ontarian market, and further helps to demonstrate the flexibility of our solutions, adapting to match the regional aspirations of our partners to deliver growth.”
D’Arcy Stuart, CEO of Casino Time, said: “We are thrilled to partner with GiG as the core technology provider of our iGaming platform. Their powerful suite of player engagement tools, as well as diverse content and regulatory integrations, underpin our ability to serve and delight our player community. Our hybrid online and offline customer network, as well as unique bingo offerings, will drive exciting opportunities as the platform and the marketplace continues to grow.”
Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ronen Kannor, has notified Bragg’s board of directors (Board) that he will resign from his position to pursue other career opportunities, effective June 3, 2024. The Company confirms that the search for a replacement CFO has commenced.
Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, commented: “We thank Ronen for his dedication and commitment to Bragg over the past four years and for his unwavering service as a pivotal member of the leadership team.
“During his tenure as CFO, the Company has undergone huge positive transformation including being uplisted to the Toronto Stock Exchange, dual listed on the NASDAQ and successfully completing two acquisitions, all while reporting consecutive years of revenue, gross profit and adjusted EBITDA growth. We wish Ronen all the very best in his future endeavors.”
Ronen Kannor commented: “It has been an honor to be part of the Bragg team which has successfully navigated many challenges and continued to deliver consistent growth over the past four years. I thank the Board for their support throughout my time with Bragg, and I am now fully focused on ensuring a smooth handover to my successor.
“Special thanks goes to my finance team, who work tirelessly to deliver the positive change and financial growth that the Company continues to achieve. I wish them and all of my colleagues continued success with Bragg now and in the future.”
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