Canada

IGT and Scientific Games Release Joint Statement on Brazilian LOTEX Concession

Published

6 years ago

October 8, 2020

International Game Technology (IGT) and Scientific Games Corporation have released the following joint statement regarding the Exclusive Instant Lottery (LOTEX) concession in Brazil:

“IGT and Scientific Games jointly participated in a bid for the award of the first national instant lottery concession in Brazil (LOTEX Concession). The parties were awarded the LOTEX Concession in October, 2019. Pursuant to the award, IGT and Scientific Games were required to satisfy certain conditions precedent for the execution of the concession agreement by September 21, 2020. Prior to and since receiving the award of the LOTEX Concession, the parties repeatedly informed the Government of Brazil that it was critical, to ensure the success of the national instant ticket business in Brazil, to have a signed distribution agreement with CAIXA Econômica, operator of the largest lottery retailer network in Brazil. Following more than seven months of diligent discussions with CAIXA, the parties successfully completed contract negotiations. However, despite reaching an agreement on the final version of the contract more than two months ago, CAIXA failed to authorize its execution by the concession deadline, and our request for an extension of the process was not granted. The 13,000 lottery retailers within the CAIXA network are fundamental to a successful launch of the instant ticket business in Brazil and without such distribution network, the companies were not prepared to move forward,” said Walter Bugno, IGT EVP New Business and Strategic Initiatives and Michael Conforti, Scientific Games, President Global Strategic Accounts.

“In addition, on September 30, 2020, the Supreme Court of Brazil ruled that the federal government’s lottery monopoly was unconstitutional, paving the way for states to develop state lotteries for each of Brazil’s 26 states and one federal district. As a result, and despite being fully prepared to fulfill all of the financial and non-financial conditions precedent of the concession agreement, prudent capital management dictates that we withdraw from the process and re-evaluate the business case of implementing a lottery operations model in Brazil. Should the Government of Brazil consider an extension of the process for CAIXA to authorize and execute a contract because of the high contribution potential of this venture to a number of government programs, we will explore the possibility of re-engaging in the process.”

Ben Scobie-Trumper Head of Sales at mkodo

GGPoker selects GeoLocs geolocation service for regulated Ontario market

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

ggpoker-selects-geolocs-geolocation-service-for-regulated-ontario-market

mkodo’s GeoLocs will handle in-platform location checks for GGPoker players in Ontario, removing the need for a separate verification app.

GGPoker has selected GeoLocs by mkodo as its geolocation service provider for the operator’s regulated Ontario offering.

Under the partnership, GeoLocs will provide in-platform location verification for GGPoker players across Ontario, with the aim of supporting regulatory compliance without requiring an additional app download or separate approval process.

“Our priority is to ensure players have a seamless experience on GGPoker whilst staying fully compliant with regulations. We chose GeoLocs because of their proven expertise, industry and regulatory knowledge and the fact that players don’t need to verify location through a separate app or download.” – Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker.

“The partnership with GGPoker is very exciting. We’re proud to support a globally recognised operator in delivering a seamless, compliant player experience in Ontario. With Alberta opening in July, the partnership with GGPoker in Ontario further reinforces GeoLocs’ expansion across the Canadian gaming market.” – Ben Scobie-Trumper, Head of Sales at mkodo.

GeoLocs is a geolocation product built by mkodo for regulated markets, supporting web and mobile location checks for gaming, sports betting, poker and lottery operators, according to the company.

The post GGPoker selects GeoLocs geolocation service for regulated Ontario market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Business Development

Xsolla expands Atlantic Canada event push with Game Invest East and XP Game Connect

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

xsolla-expands-atlantic-canada-event-push-with-game-invest-east-and-xp-game-connect

Xsolla will take part in two Atlantic Canada industry events—Game Invest East and XP Game Connect Atlantic—running June 3-5, 2026, as it increases its presence in the region’s game development ecosystem.

The company said it will join discussions with developers, publishers, investors, and other stakeholders focused on game development, investment, and innovation. At Game Invest East, held in partnership with Scaffold, Xsolla will participate in a panel titled “If You Can Make It Here.” Xsolla’s Manny Hachey, Senior Director of Developer Success, will appear alongside Kate Edwards, CEO and Principal Consultant of Geogrify, and Amir Satvat, Business Development Director at Tencent Games, founder of Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), and a 2026 GamesBeat Visionary Award honoree.

Xsolla’s Halifax stop comes on June 5 at XP Game Connect Atlantic. John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada at Xsolla, and Ted DiNola, Developer Evangelist at Xsolla, will host a workshop titled “Full Picture to Fast Lane: Xsolla Ecosystem Overview & Live SDK 3 Integration.”

Nguyen will also host a panel, “What Does the Future of Game Development Look Like in Atlantic Canada?”, joined by Ryan Filsinger from Iron Fox; Shawn Woods, CEO at Alpha Dog and VP of Interactive Society of Nova Scotia; George Greer, Founder of Besszong; and Jade Yhap, President of Interactive NB.

“Atlantic Canada continues to emerge as an exciting hub for game development talent and innovation,” said John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada, at Xsolla. “Xsolla is proud to support these events and contribute to conversations that help empower developers, build ecosystems, strengthen industry connections, and accelerate growth across the region.”

The post Xsolla expands Atlantic Canada event push with Game Invest East and XP Game Connect appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

SkillOnNet Goes Live with Ready Play Gaming Across Ontario, Mexico and Canada

Published

3 hours ago

June 3, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

skillonnet-goes-live-with-ready-play-gaming-across-ontario,-mexico-and-canada

Ready Play Gaming now live on SkillOnNet network with more jurisdictions to follow

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet has successfully launched Ready Play Gaming’s slot portfolio across Canada, Ontario, and Mexico, with additional international markets scheduled to follow later this year.

Players at SkillOnNet’s portfolio of cutting-edge iGaming sites, such as PlayOJO, PlayUZU, Slingo, Mega Casino and LuckyNiki, can now enjoy Ready Play Gaming’s premium quality online slot games, which are designed to deliver immersive entertainment through engaging gameplay, longer-session appeal and community driven fun.

These include the company’s signature Reel Jackpots series, with games like Reel Bingo and Reel Triple – “soft slot” experiences crafted for the bingo generation.

Operating under the brand promise, “Ready Play Gaming. Immerse yourself!” the studio combines creative game design, engaging mechanics and striking visuals to create content tailored for modern casino audiences.

SkillOnNet is a multiple award-winning market leader in some of the most competitive gaming markets worldwide. The company operates numerous iGaming sites, each catering to unique player preferences and regional market demands.

Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “We are proud to welcome Ready Play Gaming as we continue to strengthen our global content offering with innovative and high-performing studio partners. In a crowded market, they’ve focused on building games with personality and strong entertainment value, and we believe that’s exactly the kind of content today’s players respond to.

Christoph Härtel, COO at Ready Play Gaming said: “Partnering with SkillOnNet is a major milestone for Ready Play Gaming as we continue to expand our international footprint. SkillOnNet’s strong presence in regulated markets and extensive operator network make them an ideal partner to help bring our games to even more players globally.”

The post SkillOnNet Goes Live with Ready Play Gaming Across Ontario, Mexico and Canada appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.