Canada

NBA 2K LEAGUE’S FIRST-EVER “WINTER CLA$H” TIPS OFF FRIDAY

Published

4 years ago

December 1, 2020

– Online Tournament Featuring NBA 2K League and NBA G League Ignite Players, Social Media Influencers and Fan-Organized Teams will be Livestreamed on Twitch and YouTube –

– Fan Bracket Registration Begins This Week at NBA2KLeague.com –

NEW YORK – The NBA 2K League announced today the league’s first-ever “NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h,” a three-part online tournament beginning Friday, Dec. 4 featuring NBA G League Ignite players, social media influencers and fan-organized teams, competing alongside and against NBA 2K League players for a share of a $35,000 prize pool. The NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h will be livestreamed on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Registration for the fan bracket begins this week at NBA2KLeague.com^*.

“Coming off our most-watched season to date, we’re excited to continue our positive momentum by engaging with NBA G League Ignite players, fans and influencers through offseason events like the NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h,” said NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue. “This unique event will bring together some of the most recognizable personalities from the NBA 2K League, the 2K community and beyond to showcase their skills in a variety of game modes on NBA 2K21.”

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

In the three tournament stages, teams comprised of influencers, NBA G League Ignite players and NBA 2K League players will accumulate points for two designated captain duos consisting of Artreyo “Dimez” Boyd (Mavs Gaming), Dayvon “G O O F Y 7 5 7” Curry (Blazer5 Gaming) and two influencers to be announced in the coming days. On Wednesday, Dec. 2, “BFW Live Presented by Bud Light” on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch channel will feature a special NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h episode, where each captain duo will draft three NBA 2K League players and three additional influencers or NBA G League Ignite players who will earn points for the duo for the duration of the tournament. At the conclusion of the tournament, the influencer captain belonging to the captain duo whose drafted players have earned the most points will receive $7,000, with the runner-up influencer captain receiving $5,000.

The first stage tips off Friday, Dec. 4 with a 5-on-5 NBA 2K21 Pro-Am match. Teams will include a captain duo, influencers and NBA G League Ignite players.

The second stage will begin on Monday, Dec. 7 – Tuesday, Dec. 8 and will feature eight fan-organized teams in each of two distinct console brackets, competing against each other in 2-on-2 competition on NBA 2K21’s MyPark game mode. The winning and runner-up teams from each fan bracket will advance to eight-team main brackets played on their respective consoles on Friday, Dec. 11, where they’ll compete against teams made up of NBA G League Ignite players, NBA 2K League players and influencers.

The third and final stage will take place Friday, Dec. 18 and will be a 5-on-5 NBA 2K21 Pro-Am match. Each team will feature a captain duo and three NBA 2K League players.

All games in each stage of the NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h will be played in a best-of-three format.

Below please find a current list of NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h participants. A full list of participants and the complete game schedule will be announced in the coming days.

AnnoyingTV – Influencer and content creator with over 519K subscribers on YouTube and 8K subscribers on Twitch
Alexander “Steez” Bernstein (76ers GC) –The former financial advisor helped lead 76ers GC to the 2019 NBA 2K League Finals
Artreyo “Dimez” Boyd (Mavs Gaming) –The No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural NBA 2K League Draft averaged 15.6 ppg and 3.4 apg at shooting guard during the 2020 season
DeMar “Deedz” Butler (Heat Check Gaming) – The former U.S. Navy member was selected by Jazz Gaming in the inaugural NBA 2K League Draft
Dayvon “G O O F Y 7 5 7” Curry (Blazer5 Gaming) – The 2018 NBA 2K League Champion with Knicks Gaming averaged a double-double (11.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg) with Grizz Gaming during the 2020 season
Cody Demps (NBA G League Ignite) – Appeared in 40 games for the Stockton Kings during the 2019-20 NBA G League season and averaged 14.4 ppg along with 5.4 rpg
Dominus – Influencer and NBA 2K content creator with 272K subscribers on YouTube
Brendan “Reizey” Hill (Magic Gaming) – The point guard was named 2019 NBA 2K League Rookie of the Year
IpodKingCarter – Influencer and NBA 2K content creator with 646K subscribers on YouTube; also streams on Facebook Gaming
ItsPikaaa – Influencer with 293K followers on TikTok
Jonathan Kuminga (NBA G League Ignite) – Ranked the No. 4 high-school player in the 2020 ESPN 100 and the top player in New Jersey in the Class of 2020
William “Strainer” Morales (Cavs Legion GC) – Shooting guard who averaged 21.7 ppg and 4.1 apg during the 2020 season
Sten “SAV” Valge-Saar (Lakers Gaming) – The Canada native was named a finalist for 2020 NBA 2K League Rookie of the Year Delivered by Panera Bread after averaging 32.9 ppg and 8.7 apg
Justin “Sherm” Sherman (Hornets Venom GT) – Point guard who averaged 22.6 ppg and 5.3 apg with Mavs Gaming during the 2020 season
StaxMontana– Influencer and NBA 2K content creator with 36K subscribers on YouTube
TyTheGuy – Hip hop recording artist, influencer and content creator with 494K YouTube subscribers

The NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h has a total prize pool of $35,000. Below please find the prizing breakdown:

$16,000 available in the tournament’s second stage in the main brackets ($5,000, $2,000 and $500 awarded to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd/4^th place, respectively on each console)
$12,000 available to the influencer captains based on points accumulated throughout the three stages ($7,000 and $5,000 awarded to the winning and runner-up influencer captains, respectively)
$5,000 awarded to the winning team of the 5v5 Pro-Am influencer game
$1,000 awarded to the winners of each fan bracket in the tournament’s second stage

For more information, fans can follow the NBA 2K League on Twitter (NBA2KLeague), Instagram (nba2kleague), Facebook (NBA 2K League), Twitch (NBA2KLeague) and YouTube (NBA 2K League) and visit NBA2KLeague.com.

*Fan participation in the NBA 2K League Winter Cla$h subject to Official Rules. Not all fans who sign up will get to participate.

Canada

IGT Delivers World Premiere of Powerbucks Blackjack Online Game in Canada

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

igt-delivers-world-premiere-of-powerbucks-blackjack-online-game-in-canada

International Game Technology PLC announced that its new Powerbucks Blackjack game is now available to online players in multiple jurisdictions in Canada. The theme links to IGT’s Powerbucks omnichannel wide-area progressive (WAP) jackpot prize pool, Canada’s largest jackpot connecting land-based, online and mobile games.

“IGT is excited to build on its omnichannel jackpot leadership in Canada and the success of our Powerbucks portfolio by delivering a new evolution of one of the most popular casino card games. Designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience, IGT’s Powerbucks Blackjack offers players the opportunity to win life-changing jackpots and provides operators with another compelling content option to help drive strong performance results,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, EMEA, and LATAM Gaming Sales.

Bringing a player-favorite card game to a new level, IGT’s Powerbucks Blackjack offers a state-of-the-art user interface with vibrant animations, language localization, and a sleek design for an engaging experience.

Launched in 2016, IGT Powerbucks slots is the world’s first omnichannel WAP game that links the jackpot prize pool between gaming machines found in land-based casinos with digital-based games in Canada. Since their debut, Powerbucks slots have paid over 50 jackpots of 1 million dollars or more across the country.

Canada

THE CANADIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

the-canadian-gaming-association-announces-election-of-new-board-members

The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) announced the appointment of four new members of the Association’s Board of Directors, which took place during the CGA’s Annual General Meeting on December 4, 2024.

Peter Czegledy, Aird & Berlis LLP

Peter Czegledy is a Partner and member of the Corporate/Commercial Group at Aird & Berlis LLP, as well as Chair of the firm’s Gaming Group, and co-Chair of the firm’s Esports & Gaming Group and Sports, Media & Entertainment Group. Peter has substantial expertise in the area of gambling and gaming law, with experience both in the acquisition/establishment phase and as ongoing corporate counsel managing compliance with applicable regulatory regimes and advising on technological applications. He is regularly consulted by governments and their regulators for policy and legal advice. He has acted in both private transactions and public procurements, and has represented a multitude of leading participants in the casino, track, igaming, mobile gambling, skills gaming and social gaming industries.

Lindsay Slader, GeoComply

Lindsay Slader is the SVP of Compliance at GeoComply, a cybersecurity and fraud prevention firm that delivers geolocation and user authentication technologies to the gaming, media & entertainment, online banking, payments, and cryptocurrency industries. Having worked in the internet gaming and digital services industries for seventeen years, Lindsay is a recognized expert in her field. Over the last decade, she has provided expert witness testimony on regulatory compliance, geolocation technologies, and her gaming industry expertise at several legislative hearings. Prior to GeoComply, she spent five years specializing in regulatory compliance and business development at Gaming Laboratories International. Lindsay’s contributions to the iGaming industry have led her to win awards such as the 2019 Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 and the 2021 iGaming Business Most Influential Women. Lindsay also currently serves on the board of directors of MVB Financial Corp.

Derek Ramm, Kinectify

Derek Ramm is the Global Head of Advisory Services at Kinectify, an AML risk management technology and advisory company that focuses on the gaming industry. He has extensive experience in the compliance and financial intelligence fields, and has brought his expertise to both the public and private sectors, providing him with a unique and well-rounded perspective to business challenges. Prior to joining Kinectify, Derek served as the Director of Anti-Money Laundering at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, where he led the agency’s AML regulatory oversight initiatives in the gaming, horse racing, liquor and cannabis industries. Derek was previously the Managing Principal at MT>Play, an advisory venture of McCarthy Tetrault that provided strategic advice to gaming organizations and governments around the world. He has also held senior roles at Canada’s federal financial intelligence unit (FINTRAC), the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, and was the chief anti-money laundering officer at one of North America’s largest independent investment management firms. He was also appointed by the Government of Bermuda to serve as a Commissioner on the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission.

Terry McInally, Gateway Casinos

Terry McInally is the Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Technology & Interactive Officer for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, one of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada. At Gateway he oversees compliance, surveillance, security, AML, RG, internal audit, insurance, risk, interactive and all aspects of technology. He has 20+ years of industry experience in compliance, operations, risk management, audit, stakeholder management, business strategy development, change/project management, regulatory reform, and IT. Prior to joining Gateway, Terry has been a gaming executive in numerous organizations including, an executive with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), Managing Director and National Consulting Gaming Practice Leader for PwC Canada and a Risk & Technology Partner and Gaming Practice Leader with Richter LLP. Along with his extensive private and public experience, Terry is also a CPA and holds a CISA and Honors BA from the University of Toronto.

In addition, Neil Erlick and Chuck Keeling were reappointed for a second three-year term.

“We are delighted to welcome Peter, Lindsay, Derek, and Terry to the Board. Their diverse expertise and insights will play a critical role in helping CGA further its mission to support a regulated and responsible industry through education, collaboration, and advocacy,” said Paul Burns, President and CEO of the CGA. “Their perspectives and regional representation will strengthen our efforts and ensure we continue making meaningful progress.”

The Full 2024/2025 CGA Board of Directors

Bruce Caughill, Managing Director, Canada, Rush Street Interactive
Peter Czegledy, Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP
Neil Erlick, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Nuvei
Charmaine Hogan, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Playtech
Dale Hooper, General Manager Canada, FanDuel
Chuck Keeling, EVP, SH Engagement, Community and Social Responsibility, Great Canadian Entertainment
David Lucchese, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Everi
Adrianne McGrath, Vice President, Business Development, Konami Gaming
Terry McInally, Chief Compliance Officer & Chief Information Officer, Gateway Casinos
Niaz Nejad, Managing Director, Americas – Gaming, Light & Wonder
Bob Parente, SVP Chief Revenue Officer, Gaming, Light & Wonder
Derek Ramm, Global Head, Advisory Services, Kinectify
Lindsay Slader, SVP Compliance, GeoComply
Richard Taylor, President, MGE Entertainment – Fallsview
Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer Canada, PointsBet Canada

Canada

Loto-Québec Reports Net Income of $771.3M for Q2

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

loto-quebec-reports-net-income-of-$771.3m-for-q2

As expected at the end of the first quarter, Loto-Québec had an excellent second-quarter performance. Therefore, halfway through fiscal 2024–25, the corporation is in an excellent position with better results over the same period last year and still in line with its forecasts. It is thus on its way to reaching its net income target for the current year.

For the second quarter, which ran from June 25 to September 30, 2024, Loto-Québec posted total revenues of $814.2M (+16.1%) and a net income of $421.6M (+18.5%). Overall, for the period from April 1 to September 30, 2024, its total revenues reached $1.504B (+6.5%) and its net income was $771.3M (+4.7%). It is worth noting that lottery winners have received nearly $720M in prizes since the current fiscal year began.

Quotes from the President and CEO

“If we’re in such a good position halfway through the fiscal year, it’s thanks to the work done across all our sectors over the last few months. We obtained excellent results despite the economic context, reinforcing our confidence that we’ll reach our net income annual target. Remember that 100% of our profits are reinvested in the community,” said Jean-François Bergeron.

“Responsible commercialization has remained a priority in everything we offer. We’ve created an enhanced program—Wise Play—to consolidate our actions in this field. We proudly launched it in mid-September, along with a campaign raising people’s awareness of the importance of setting limits. Among other things, through this program, we can present a unified message so that a game remains a game.”

Cumulative Results by Sector

For the period from April 1 to September 30, 2024

• Lottery product sector revenues amounted to $474.2M.

• Casino and gaming hall sector revenues were $608.9M. This sector is once again on the way to a record year.

• Gaming establishment sector revenues totalled $432.5M.

Quarterly Highlights and Social Contributions

For the period from June 25 to September 30, 2024, the lottery crowned 28 new millionaires, bringing the total of new millionaires since the beginning of the fiscal year to 50.

On September 10, Lotto Max became more generous than ever. Its maximum jackpot increased from $70M to $80M—no Canadian lottery had ever awarded such an amount. A few days later, the record $80M jackpot was won in the September 17 draw, and one of the two winning selections had been purchased in Québec. An Outaouais resident took home half the jackpot with a play he bought online.

The Loto-Québec responsible gambling website had a makeover as part of the launch of the enhanced Wise Play program. It presents content such as information to help players better understand the notions of chance and odds, valuable tips to manage their gambling, and ways of getting help if needed. The website can be reached at wiseplay.ca.

The Collection Loto-Québec is proudly celebrating its 45 years this fall. To mark the occasion, some thirty of its works were showcased at the end of September in the Voir bleu exhibition, which was entirely curated in-house and shown in the Collection’s new exhibition space at the corporation’s head office.

Loto-Québec was honoured to be a presenting partner at the celebrations surrounding the 150th anniversary of Parc Jean-Drapeau, home to the Casino de Montréal for over 30 years. The iconic park hosts several major events, some of which are part of the Rendez-vous Loto-Québec.