Canada

Comparing US Gambling Regulations with Other English Speaking Markets

Published

3 years ago

July 4, 2021

The iGaming market in the US is poised for huge growth in the near to medium-term, with this projected to grow from $74.17 billion in 2021 to a whopping $158.20 billion by the end of 2028.

This represents a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period, while the expected GGY for online gambling stateside is likely to double over the course of the reporting period.

This is despite a relatively complex set of regulatory stipulations in the US, as America’s laws are different in each state. But how exactly do the regulations stateside compare with other English speaking markets in the world? Let’s find out!

The Lack of a Central Point of Control

If we look at prominent English-speaking markets such as the UK, Australia and New Zealand, we see that each one is governed by an omni-potent and central point of control.

More specifically, the UK Gambling Commission, the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the New Zealand Gambling Commission comprehensively regulate iGaming in their relevant jurisdictions, while single bodies of legislation also exist to help license and oversee operators.

Conversely, iGaming laws pertaining to online casino gameplay and sports betting are determined at state level in North America, meaning that local authorities have the autonomy to legalise and regulate specific verticals while monetising them for tax purposes.

Interestingly, the last main federal law pertaining to gambling in the US (namely the PAPSA legislation of 1992) was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018. This had previously prohibited sports betting at a national level, and more than 20 US states have since legalised this practice fully.

The Prominence of Gambling Affiliates

Given that most US states have only moved to legalise sports betting since the decision to reverse the PAPSA legislation a little over three years ago, this burgeoning market is still in its infancy stateside.

This also means that the market for iGaming affiliates remains relatively underdeveloped for now, especially when you consider the size of the North American market and the fact that the average punter loses just under $400 per annum through wagering.

Gambling affiliates operate by promoting selected gambling services and platforms, earning a fixed rate of commission when their customers click on a relevant link and open an account.

The market for gambling affiliates remains huge in countries such as the UK and New Zealand, from large-scale programs that apply huge commissions to independent entities such as Online Casino New Zealand (which also works as a reliable comparison site and serves as an affiliate for some of the leading online casinos in New Zealand).

However, operators in the US may be about to begin closing this gap, especially as brands continue to engage in high-profile mergers and acquisitions with UK firms.

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. recently acquired the iconic William Hill PLC brand for approximately $4 billion, for example, offering them access to the UK firm’s proprietary technology, intellectual property and cutting-edge affiliate strategies.

The Approach to Responsible Gambling

When the UK Gambling Commission announced its core strategic objectives through 2021, at the heart of this was its commitment to safeguarding vulnerable players on these shores.

Make no mistake; responsible gambling remains a huge priority for mature markets such as the UK and Australia, whereas it’s a concept that’s still in its infancy on the other side of the Atlantic.

Once again, this is a key reason why US brands are looking to strategically partner with UK operators, with the latter having invested huge amounts of cash in developing cutting-edge responsible gambling technology.

This includes William Hill, who previously procured the independent Mr. Green brand that had developed its own proprietary responsible gambling tool. This enabled players to monitor their activity in detail and measure this against insights from the operator, in addition to affording them direct controls over deposit limits and the time spent wagering online.

We definitely expect the US to make further strides in this respect in the years ahead, particularly as the not-for-profit Entain Foundation recently launched its new responsible gambling app called “Gamble Responsibly America”.

This app is the first of its kind in the US, and may well emerge as a trail-blazer for similar entities to follow!

Canada

Play’n GO announces partnership with Canadian operator Loto-Québec

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

play’n-go-announces-partnership-with-canadian-operator-loto-quebec

Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a partnership with Canadian operator Loto-Québec, launching the Swedish gaming giant’s games into another Canadian province.

Already active in another Canadian province , this partnership sees Play’n GO’s content available in the province of Québec exclusively with Loto-Québec, a state-owned corporation, where online players now have access to titles such as Tome of Madness.

Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer, Play’n GO said: “At Play’n GO, we have always been clear in our vision to be active in every regulated market in the world, and this partnership with Loto-Québec is the next step on that journey.

“Our past success in Canada gives us confidence that players in Québec will enjoy the best Play’n GO content, and we look forward to many years of success with Loto-Québec in the province.”

Stéphane Martel, Head of Product and Innovation at Loto-Québec added: “As the sole iGaming operator in Québec, we pride ourselves on offering titles that truly add value to our platform, lotoquebec.com. We are happy to bring Play’n GO games to our players.”

Canada

Court Decision Upholds iGaming Ontario’s Model

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

court-decision-upholds-igaming-ontario’s-model

iGaming Ontario has welcomed the decision of the Ontario Superior Court, which found that iGaming Ontario’s model is consistent with the Criminal Code and that iGaming Ontario is conducting and managing igaming in the province.

“We have always been confident in our model and are pleased that the court has ruled in our favour, and that Ontarians can continue to play with confidence in our regulated igaming market,” said Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario.

“Ontario’s model meets the requirements and contributes to the public good by protecting players, their data and their funds, while helping to fund priority public services in Ontario, and bringing well-paid, high-tech jobs and economic development to Ontario,” Otton added.

In dismissing the application brought forward by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK), the Superior Court found that iGaming Ontario is the “operating mind” behind Ontario’s competitive igaming market in accordance with the conduct and manage requirements of the Criminal Code.

iGaming Ontario will continue to conduct and manage igaming as it has since the launch of the regulated market on April 4, 2022.

Bragg Gaming Group

Bragg Gaming Appoints Renowned iGaming Executive Neill Whyte as Chief Commercial Officer

Published

7 days ago

May 10, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

bragg-gaming-appoints-renowned-igaming-executive-neill-whyte-as-chief-commercial-officer

Bragg Gaming Group, a global iGaming technology and content provider, announced that Neill Whyte has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective 1st May 2024, establishing a new global commercial structure at the Company and bolstering its leadership team.

Whyte brings over 18 years of experience in the iGaming sector, most recently in the role of Chief Commercial Officer at Digital Gaming Corporation’s (DGC), B2B iGaming Division. After joining DGC in early 2020, he was responsible for the commercially successful launch and growth of its content distribution business in the US.

Prior to joining DGC, Whyte held multiple positions in the gaming industry including as Head of Business Development at Isle of Man-based iGaming specialist Apricot Investments, as Board Member at Swedish iGaming product and Lottery content distributor Genera Networks, and in various senior roles over eleven years at leading iGaming content supplier Microgaming, including as Head of Product Channels.

In his new role with Bragg, Whyte will be tasked with leading the Company’s global commercial teams to drive growth across all of the Company’s product verticals which include proprietary online casino content from its Atomic Slot Lab, Indigo Magic and Wild Streak Gaming studios, exclusive content from content partners, HUB a leading casino content aggregation platform, Fuze player engagement, as well as its award-winning player account management (PAM) platform and turnkey solutions.

Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer at Bragg, said: “I am very pleased to be announcing today the appointment of Neill Whyte as Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg. His iGaming product and market knowledge, together with his record in driving growth from developing successful and mutually beneficial commercial partnerships are exceptional.

“As we leverage our broad content and product portfolio to grow in existing and new markets, including in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe, Neill’s unique combination of knowledge, skills and experience in this sector are a perfect fit for our ambitions at Bragg.”

Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg, said: “It’s an honor to join Matevž and the wider teams at Bragg already in place across North America, Europe and in India. I have been impressed with the depth and quality of the content, product and technology offerings at Bragg, and its ability to rapidly adapt, certify and deploy this content and technology in newly regulated markets is a distinct advantage.

“We also have a huge opportunity to grow our footprint with our existing customers in markets in which we are already established. Our content and product roadmaps are second to none, and I’m planning to get on the road in the coming weeks and months to meet the team and our customers and to start building for the next stage of mutual growth. I can’t wait to get going.”