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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Alberta iGaming Corporation
Alberta iGaming Corporation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council
The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) has announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) that will make RG Check accreditation a mandatory requirement for all internet gaming (iGaming) sites entering Alberta’s regulated market.
This collaboration demonstrates Alberta’s commitment to player protection by ensuring every regulated operator meets the highest evidence-based standards for responsible gambling.
“Alberta is committed to building a safer, regulated iGaming environment where player protection comes first. By requiring RG Check accreditation, we’re ensuring that every iGaming operator in our market has demonstrated their commitment to player safety through independent verification of their responsible gambling programs,” said Dan Keene, Interim AiGC CEO.
RG Check is a Canadian-made, globally trusted, independent responsible gambling accreditation program. Developed by RGC more than a decade ago, RG Check evaluates sites against rigorous, evidence-based standards, covering governance, player safeguards, staff training, and marketing practices. The accreditation provides clear, measurable accountability and has become the gold standard for responsible gambling across multiple jurisdictions.
“This partnership with AiGC demonstrates the power of regulators and responsible gambling experts working together to protect players from day one. Alberta is building on a strong foundation established in Ontario, where RG Check has proven its value in creating safer gambling environments. This proactive approach ensures that player protection isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into the market from the ground up,” said Sarah McCarthy, CEO of RGC.
Alberta’s requirement will ensure that:
• All iGaming sites must achieve RG Check accreditation
• Operators must maintain their accreditation in good standing while operating in Alberta
• RGC will conduct assessments based on internationally recognized responsible gambling standards
• AiGC will work closely with RGC to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement.
Requiring accreditation in Alberta’s market reflects AiGC’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling, and will create a level playing field where protecting players is a competitive advantage, not just a compliance checkbox.
For operators who currently hold RG Check accreditation in another jurisdiction, the transition to Alberta will be streamlined. While a distinct Alberta accreditation is still required, existing accreditations will be recognized to simplify the process and reduce costs. Operators will benefit from an efficient onboarding process that reduces administrative burden while maintaining the same rigorous standards for player protection.
The post Alberta iGaming Corporation Partners with Responsible Gambling Council appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet
Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider, St8 has officially gone live in Ontario’s regulated market through a new partnership with international brand Tonybet.
Through the partnership, Tonybet gains access to St8’s casino games aggregation platform, offering a wide range of premium titles from leading providers through a single API, alongside bonusing and promotional tools, compliance and licensing solutions, advanced reporting and data capabilities.
Built as a single scalable platform, St8’s products are designed to help operators launch and grow across regulated markets with fast, flexible technology solutions while maintaining full compliance.
The agreement marks a further step in St8’s global growth strategy as the company continues to expand its presence across regulated jurisdictions.
Vladimir Negine, CEO at St8, said: “Going live in Ontario is an important milestone for St8 and reflects our continued commitment to growth in regulated markets. Since receiving our Ontario licence, we have focused on building strong local partnerships and delivering a platform that combines scalability, speed and compliance.
“As a respected international brand, Tonybet shares our commitment to building reliable solutions for regulated markets, and we look forward to working closely together as we continue to expand our presence in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.”
Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at Tonybet, added: “As we expand our presence in Ontario, it is important for us to work with technology partners that support continued growth while meeting the highest regulatory standards.
“St8’s platform gives us the flexibility to integrate a wide range of content and tools through a single connection, helping us scale smoothly while maintaining a strong focus on player experience.”
St8 continues to lead the way as a partner of choice for regulated markets. In addition to its Ontario licence, the company holds licences in key regulated jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, Sweden and Romania, among others.
The post St8 launches in Ontario through partnership with Tonybet appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives
Rivalry Corp. announced that its Board of Directors has approved a significant reduction in operating activity as the Company evaluates strategic alternatives in respect of its assets and operations.
The Company is engaged in discussions with third parties regarding potential transactions. However, in light of recent performance volatility, the Board has determined to materially reduce the scale of operations while assessing whether a strategic transaction or other alternative can be advanced.
Effective immediately, the Company is implementing substantial cost reductions, including a significant workforce reduction and reduced operating expenditures. The Company has paused player activity on its platform and is facilitating player withdrawals in the ordinary course.
The Company is assessing a range of potential alternatives, which may include asset-level transactions, corporate transactions, restructuring initiatives or other strategic outcomes.
Given the Company’s reduced operating scale and the ongoing evaluation process, there can be no assurance that any strategic alternative will be completed or that operations will continue in their current form.
The post Rivalry Corp. Announces Significant Reduction in Operations and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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