Canada
Sports betting: Saul Alvarez v Dmitry Bivol preview
Pound for pound boxing superstar Saul Alvarez returns to the ring on Saturday 7th May when taking on Dmitry Bivol at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. This is another step up in weight for the famous fighting Mexican who continues to defy logic as he aims to take the WBA light heavyweight world title. This is a fighter that won his first title at welterweight and has been a success in every weight category he has entered since. But has he bitten off more than he can chew at the third-highest division? Fight fans can’t wait to find out.
If Canelo is to add another world championship belt to his already sizeable haul, he must defeat a naturally bigger and stronger opponent who is used to trading blows with light heavyweights. Bivol knows he enters as the underdog to win this contest, but the current keeper of the WBA belt is confident he has the physical attributes to silence his doubters. Is Bivol the man to finally halt the Canelo express train?
The top sportsbooks certainly don’t think so, and traders in Las Vegas have Alvarez priced as the most likely winner of this bout. Followers of professional boxing can make their predictions at VIP sports betting sites, and there are more options available than you may think. You can keep it simple and pick the fight result – Alvarez, Bivol or the draw. There are also specials, such as the method of victory, total rounds, number of knockdowns, the bout to be won in an odd or even number of rounds or a fighter to be knocked down but go on to win.
Where does the smart money go? You’ll find out in this big fight preview, and we have enlisted the help of former professional boxer and current fight-game betting writer Frankie Monkhouse who makes his predictions. Let’s get ready to rumble.
Alvarez is creating a legacy
Canelo will duck between the ropes at the sold-out Las Vegas arena on fight night with a stunning professional record detailing 57 wins against one defeat and two draws. The only loss on his card was inflicted by the self-proclaimed “Best Ever” Floyd Mayweather, who collected a convincing points victory in Sin City. That was back in 2013, and much has changed for the beaten man since. Alvarez hasn’t lost a bout since, despite ranking among the most active fighter at championship level in the world. He is a gladiator that simply loves to compete, test himself against top-level opponents and win world titles.
Saul isn’t happy simply keeping busy and winning fights. He is determined to create a lasting legacy that will take many years to better, if possible. Since losing to Mayweather, the hit-list of Canelo includes Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Gennady Goloivkin, Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders. Both Smith and Saunders were unbeaten world champions before running into the Mexican, and he dispatched both in the kind of fashion that left followers suggesting neither will return to the top level of the sport, such was the savage beating they received.,
We last saw Alvarez in action against Caleb Plant in a bout he was expected to win, and one, he got the desired result without too much fuss. There was no lack of needle between Alvarez and Plant, but when the bell went, there was only ever going to be one winner. Canelo dominated the fight before finishing it in round 11. Caleb was dropped to the canvas twice before referee Russell Mora stepped in to save him from any further punishment.
Bivol is unbeaten
All the talk and hype pre-fight focuses on Canelo and his strengths, but what about Bivol. Who is the champion, and what does he bring to the table? The Californian-based fighter brings a perfect 19-fight record, with 11 of those wins coming inside the distance to create a 58% KO average.
He scored a stunning 12-round points decision over Craig Richards in Manchester, England, on the undercard of Derek Chisora v Joe Parker and followed that with another win on the scorecards in Russia last time out, beating Umar Salamov. He is a hard-hitting fighter, but each of his last six wins have come on points, and he’ll aim to take Canelo into the later rounds in Vegas.
Powered by WPeMatico
Stats Perform, the global leader in sports AI, data and technology, has announced an official data partnership with the Northern Super League (NSL). The partnership will allow world-leading Opta data to be collected live from every NSL league game for the next three years.
Beginning this month, the Northern Super League (NSL) establishes a new era in Canadian sport as the country’s first professional domestic women’s soccer league — an ambitious and transformative initiative co-founded by former Canadian international and Olympic medallist Diana Matheson. Its inaugural season kicks off on April 16 and will feature six teams who have assembled multinational player rosters with extensive club and international experience, including 100-cap Canadian internationals Desiree Scott and Quinn.
Once the action begins, detailed data from every on-ball event, including advanced AI-powered Opta Analytics metrics such as Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Assists (xA), will be captured and distributed via feeds and Stats Perform products, including OptaAI Studio. This will enable various broadcasters, publishers and rights holders to generate stories and insights throughout the NSL season and provide them straight to the league’s fans in real time.
As part of the agreement, the NSL’s League Office and every NSL club will also have access to Opta Search, part of OptaAI Studio. This will allow their content creators to leverage all Opta data collected during the NSL season in the creation of data-led stories on the stand-out performers, and will help them generate key talking points for publication on official league and club platforms. Opta Search will also empower the NSL’s media team to create a range of data visualizations, including player shot maps and touch maps, to visually illustrate the impact of different players’ on-field performances.
Christina Litz, NSL President, said: “We are thrilled to have Stats Perform on board as our official data partner. When we talk about detailed performance data in soccer, Opta is the gold standard, so we are delighted to have it powering each of our official digital channels. As the season progresses, we want to put the spotlight on all the on-field heroes who emerge and having access to world-class data will help us tell their stories and inspire a new generation of Canadian soccer fans.”
Steve Xeller, Chief Revenue Officer at Stats Perform, said: “Stats Perform has been a huge supporter of expansion leagues around the world, so we are very pleased to be partnering with NSL in the lead-up to their first domestic campaign. Seeing a fully professional women’s soccer league launch in Canada is an incredibly exciting development for the sport in North America and we see considerable potential in working proactively with the League’s Head Office to help the competition grow, using the power of AI and data-led storytelling to build fan communities across the continent.”
The post Northern Super League Partners with Stats Perform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Africa
INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER
Leading B2B games provider, Incentive Games, today announced its new agreement with premium gaming company and content provider Light & Wonder, Inc.
Through this agreement, Incentive Games will distribute its premium pay-to-play games – including new arcade-style titles – to key global regulated markets including the USA, Canada, South Africa, UK, and within Europe via Light & Wonder’s extensive operator network. Additionally, Incentive Games’ popular free-to-play content will be made available to a wider audience through Light & Wonder’s content marketplace.
The agreement brings together two industry leaders in iGaming and the strengths of both companies to deliver exceptional player experiences and elevate customer engagement.
Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games said, “This agreement is a landmark moment in our company’s history. Previously, we’ve worked directly with major operators such as bet365, FanDuel, and Sky Bet. Now, we can distribute our games via Light & Wonder, an exceptional aggregator that we trust will handle our games with care.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partners at Light & Wonder, said: “We are excited to work with Incentive Games, a leader in gamification solutions. We look forward to leveraging their innovative platform and bringing their customisable crash and fast game content to all major regulated markets.”
The post INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
With the Ottawa Senators securing a playoff spot in the NHL, ToonieBet will be there every step of the way, engaging fans with exclusive giveaways, premium entertainment, and a casino experience that mirrors the team’s energy and excitement.
The Ottawa Senators and Tooniebet, an online casino for players across Ontario, announced a partnership that will make Tooniebet the NHL team’s Official Online Casino Partner.
Tooniebet, which launched in 2024 is part of Soft2Bet – one of the world’s fastest growing iGaming turnkey solutions providers with iGaming brands around the world with a portfolio of 19 global licenses, including Ontario.
Additional highlights of the Ottawa Senators and TonnieBet partnership will include:
- In-Arena & Broadcast Branding: Digitally enhanced dashboards for home and away games
- In-rink board signage for home games
- Virtual slot signage for various games
- Digital inventory throughout the Ottawa Senators site on NHL.com
- Direct Fan Engagement: Social contests and promotions hosted on Senators’ digital platforms
- Television Broadcast Branding: Digitally enhanced rink boards for home and away games
- In-arena rink board signage for home games
Martin Ballard, VP Corporate Partnerships, Ottawa Senators stated: “We are thrilled to welcome ToonieBet as an official partner of the Ottawa Senators. Cooperating with a brand that shares our commitment to providing fans with an exceptional and trusted experience is incredibly exciting. Together, we look forward to delivering memorable moments and engaging our passionate fanbase in new and innovative ways.”
Oksana Tsyhankova, Chief Marketing Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Partnering Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet brand with the Ottawa Senators is a significant milestone that reinforces our strong brand presence in Ontario. In a short period, we have achieved impressive performance and retention results, with a primary focus on localised, engaging experiences for Canadian players, which makes ToonieBet truly set itself apart.”
By tapping into the Senators’ digital platforms and in-arena presence, ToonieBet will stay close to the action and connect with fans in real, engaging ways while continuing to offer a top-quality online casino experience.
ToonieBet offers a fast, localised online casino experience for players in Ottawa and across Ontario. Through this partnership, fans will have the chance to win Senators merchandise and tickets while ToonieBet grows its presence in a competitive Ontario market. With in-arena branding, regional broadcast coverage, and digital promotions, ToonieBet will be highly visible to the team’s loyal supporters.
The post Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
Africa7 days agoINCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER
-
Asia6 days ago
DigiPlus Bags 7 Wins at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards
-
Better Collective7 days ago
Network Gaming partners with Better Collective to launch pioneering gaming ecosystem
-
Australia6 days ago
Martin Pakula Named Chair of Crown Melbourne
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Navigating Legal Frontiers: Nordic Legal’s Vision for the Finnish Gambling Market
-
Latest News6 days ago
SCCG Becomes Sponsor of SFT Combat
-
Asia7 days ago
Grand Korea Leisure Partners with Robotis
-
Canada7 days ago
Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner
