Canada
PointsBet and NBCUniversal Amend Media Services Agreement and Extend Partnership
PointsBet Holdings Limited has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, PointsBet USA Inc (PointsBet), and NBCUniversal Media LLC (NBCUniversal), a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, have agreed to amend the Media Services Agreement dated 27 August 2020 (Original Agreement).
“NBCUniversal have been a wonderful partner to work with since the inception of this agreement. PointsBet has trialled and learned a lot since going live in the US market. We are thrilled to have agreed with NBCU mutually beneficial adjustments to our Agreement that fit perfectly within our more targeted, localised strategy which is informed by those learnings. Put simply, we very firmly believe a dollar spent in marketing on any other platform does not go close to rivalling the terms and efficacy of the partnership we have with NBCU. We are fortunate to have access to unrivalled media properties via NBCU and they are an integral component of our overall strategy that is contributing to PointsBet’s strong US growth,” Sam Swanell, Managing Director and Group CEO at PointsBet, said.
Under the amended agreement, the remaining committed marketing spend for Years 3 to 5 of the Original Agreement will be invested over an additional two years, now representing Years 3 to 7, thus significantly reducing the average annual marketing spend to match PointsBet’s optimum desired level of investment under its more localised, targeted strategy.
PointsBet maintains preferred pricing benefits and integration exclusivity in the sports betting category at a local and regional level, including across NBCU’s Regional Sports Networks. PointsBet also maintains its online casino integration exclusivity at a local, regional, and national level.
PointsBet has relinquished sports betting integration exclusivity over NBCUniversal’s national media assets, however, PointsBet retains a “second look” for all national NBCUniversal assets. NBCUniversal will be permitted to appoint one additional “Official Sports Betting Partner” of NBC Sports.
As part of the amended agreement the portfolio of available assets for investment is expanded to now also include Peacock, sports programming on USA Network and CNBC digital. In addition, the amended agreement allows PointsBet to more heavily utilize Comcast’s EffecTV platform. With an estimated reach of 96 million US adults, EffecTV allows PointsBet to target audiences with postcode level precision across linear TV, streaming and video on demand.
The total committed marketing spend for the remaining 5 years (28 August 2022 to 27 August 2027) is $294 million, with $25 million of this commitment having already been paid as at 31 December 2022 (leaving $269 million remaining).
The total commitment for the current year (ending 27 August 2023) (Year 3) is $50 million (a reduction of 43% from the Original Agreement).
Should the Options issued to NBCUniversal at the time of the Original Agreement not be exercised, instead of a lump sum repayment of the Option Premium Value (approximately A$105 million) by the Company at the end of Year 5, this amount will be applied to make increased payments for Media Services across Years 6 and 7. Where this is the case, the total cash commitment over the remaining 5 years of the term, applied largely on an equal annual basis, will be $270.4 million (as noted above, $25 million of which has already been paid), with the balance to be covered by the remaining value of the Shares previously issued to NBCUniversal.
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AGCO
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.
On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.
In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.
As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.
Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.
A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.
The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions ULC (hereinafter “IGT”), signed an eight-year agreement with Atlantic Lottery to supply its IntelligenEVO video lottery central system technology across Atlantic Canada. The agreement includes the option for multiple extensions and positions the Atlantic Lottery to become the first World Lottery Association (WLA)-affiliated lottery operator to deploy IGT’s next-generation central management system in a game-to-system (G2S) distributed market.
“By leveraging IGT’s IntelligenEVO technology, Atlantic Lottery will power its video lottery network with the industry’s best-in-class central system and position itself to maximize future contributions to good causes. As an organization that prioritizes system security and exceptional player experiences, Atlantic Lottery believes that IGT’s IntelliegnEVO solution will help generate high player satisfaction and optimal network performance,” said Michael MacKinnon, Atlantic Lottery VP, Product.
“As a long-time supplier to Atlantic Lottery, IGT looks forward to helping the Lottery achieve its growth and player engagement goals with our leading-edge IntelligenEVO video lottery central system. IGT’s IntelligenEVO is a scalable technology for the WLA market that is backed by decades of experience and operator feedback, and maximizes the benefits of real-time data, cloud-based technologies and in-depth analytics,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, EMEA and LATAM, Gaming Sales.
With peak system security, network availability and responsible gaming functionalities, IntelligenEVO is a reliable, scalable solution that can meet the needs of today and in the future. The solution will accelerate time-to-market and enables the Atlantic Lottery to benefit from the system’s suite of player-focused functionality. The technology’s G2S and open API design optimizes data collection and delivery and will enable Atlantic Lottery to customize their program for evolving player needs.
The post IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
NetGaming, a fast-growing online casino content supplier, is proud to announce its launch in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive, Inc., a leading online casino and sports betting company in the United States, Canada and Latin America. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for NetGaming as it continues to expand its footprint across regulated North American markets.
As part of the launch, Ontario players on BetRivers can now enjoy a diverse portfolio of NetGaming titles, known for their high-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and unique themes. Standout games such as Zeus’s Thunderbolt, Bison Gold, and Fireball Inferno are among the first to go live, with additional titles set to follow soon.
This partnership is just the beginning. NetGaming plans to extend its collaboration with Rush Street Interactive into Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mexico over the coming months.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, commented: “We are thrilled to go live with Rush Street Interactive, a powerhouse operator with a strong presence and loyal player base. This launch marks a significant milestone in our
North American expansion strategy and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences tailored to local player preferences across the region.”
Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, commented: “We are pleased to partner with NetGaming to bring innovative, premium games to our players in Ontario. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to offer world-class
entertainment through engaging, action-packed online casino games. We look forward to expanding this partnership into additional regulated markets in the months ahead.”
This strategic partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to providing high- quality, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players in regulated markets.
The post NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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