Canada

Why Nova Scotia Won’t Ban Problem Gamblers from Casinos

Published

2 years ago

November 2, 2022

The Nova Scotia government won’t ban problem gamblers from going to the province’s casinos. The decision was announced on Monday, following an online survey in which the government asked Nova Scotians if it should ban people who don’t want to gamble from casinos and slot facilities. The government says 86 per cent of the 3,000 people who responded said no; 15 per cent said yes and one per cent didn’t know or refused to answer.

However, Health Minister Leo Glavine also said that, if a problem gambler has gambling problems, the matter should be dealt with through the justice system or addiction services.

A brief history of gambling in Canada

Gambling has been a part of Canadian culture for centuries, with many Canadians taking part in different forms of gambling including lotteries and casinos. However, as gambling becomes more accessible, an increasing number of Canadians are developing gambling problems. This led to the introduction of Bill C-290, which proposed stricter regulations on the industry to protect problem gamblers. The bill was passed unanimously by Parliament but was never fully implemented due to a lack of funding.

Gambling in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has long been known as the center of gambling in Canada and is home to over 1,000 slot machines. A recent push from anti-gambling groups to ban problem gamblers from entering casinos was dismissed by Premier Stephen McNeil as they believe it would be a violation of their freedom. In place of this, they have created a voluntary exclusion program that would allow people who are struggling with gambling addiction to voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos. Many online casinos that legally operate in Nova Scotia also welcome any one willing to bet.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Gambling addiction facts

Problem gambling is a serious and persistent public health problem. About 1-3% of the population has a gambling addiction, which means there are about 250,000 people in Canada who need help. It’s estimated that about 10% of the population gambles at any one time, but this doesn’t mean they’re all addicted to it.

Gambling disorder is considered an impulse control disorder like other impulse control disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and pathological gambling. Gambling disorder can be difficult to diagnose because gamblers may not be aware they have a problem until their life is impacted negatively by their behavior.

In general, provinces regulate casinos, but municipalities can create bylaws that prohibit or restrict casino development on their territory.

The connection between problem gamblers and casinos

Problem gamblers can be defined as people who spend an excessive amount of money on gambling or individuals who have trouble controlling their gambling behavior. There are many different factors that contribute to the development of a problem gambler, but it is often believed that spending time in a casino increases the risk for developing these behaviors.

Casinos are designed to make gambling more enticing by providing a variety of options and rewarding players with freebies. The layout of casinos contributes to this too – they are laid out so that slot machines and table games surround the player, which makes it difficult for them to leave without passing by even more gambling opportunities. The tendency of casinos to offer customers easy access to everything they want at any hour also encourages longer play sessions and worsens gambling addiction.

How can we solve this problem?

Nova Scotia should consider introducing a self-exclusion program that would allow people to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos. This would make sense because casinos are the only place problem gamblers can legally gamble. They also offer other forms of entertainment such as live music, movies, and restaurants.

Self-exclusion programs have proven effective in other countries with gambling addiction issues, so this could be a good way to stop problem gambling while allowing those who don’t have an issue to enjoy themselves.

Problem gamblers and online casino

Problem gamblers are no different than alcoholics or drug addicts, but the stigma around gambling addiction is much less. These people need help and support just like any other addict would. Banning them from casinos doesn’t mean they won’t continue to gamble; it just means they will do it in private and without help.

The government needs to focus on prevention and rehabilitation for this issue, not punishment. The focus should be on those who suffer from a gambling addiction rather than those who don’t. We know there’s going to be more at-risk populations if we don’t offer some sort of service, said Smith. If you’re doing harm reduction, then let’s look at those folks first.

In summary

Nova Scotia’s gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Authority of Nova Scotia (AGANS), has said that it will not ban problem gamblers from casinos. The decision comes after a recent report by the provincial government found that an estimated 11% of casino patrons are problem gamblers, up from 7% five years ago.

There is no evidence that banning these people from casinos would reduce their gaming activity. Rather than banning them, AGANS has chosen to implement a self-exclusion program where problem gamblers can voluntarily sign themselves out.

A self-exclusion program has been in place at the Casino Nova Scotia since 2006.

Canada

Northern Super League Partners with Stats Perform

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

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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.”

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Africa

INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER

Published

1 week ago

April 14, 2025

George Miller

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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.”

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Canada

Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner

Published

1 week ago

April 14, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

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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.

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