Canada
HAWKS TALON GC EDUCATES GAMERS AT FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL Q&A
Hawks Talon Head Coach Wesley Acuff Joined by Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute Sports Medicine and PlayVS in Afternoon Panel
Earlier this afternoon, Hawks Talon Gaming Club, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, hosted a gaming and esports virtual Q&A focused on esports, the video game industry and how gamers, regardless of age, can maintain a healthy lifestyle during these difficult times. Nearly 100 people were in attendance to hear this special panel moderated by the Atlanta Hawks digital reporter Annie Finberg.
As part of the discussion, Hawks Talon GC Team Manager and Head Coach Wesley Acuff answered questions about the team’s performance highlighting their current three-game winning streak. In addition, he provided insight into his role as a professional esports coach in the Atlanta market.
“Sharing our platform with the team at Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute Sports Medicine and an industry leader in inclusivity, teamwork and sportsmanship like PlayVS made this event worthwhile,” said Acuff. “As more and more youth spend time playing video games during this unprecedented time, we are grateful that they took a break to learn how they can improve themselves as they train to become the future esports professionals.”
Joining Acuff were experts from the Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute Sports Medicine including Orthopedic Surgeon & Chief Dr. Vonda Wright, Senior Sports Physical Therapist Dr. Matt Lopez and Registered Dietician Lauren Cicinelli. These experts answered a handful of questions about maintaining a healthy lifestyle as an e-athlete as well as provided beneficial tips for those who play video games.
“We are so proud to support Hawks Talon and all gamers as they learn more about education and comprehensive care,” said Dr. Wright, “Through this partnership, we are thankful to influence the lives of these young athletes.”
Rounding out the group was Clint Kennedy, director of education, at PlayVS, an esports competition platform dedicated to inclusivity, teamwork and sportsmanship. Kennedy touched on a few topics ranging from the video game industry to how parents can ensure their kids are being good stewards while playing video games online.
“We partnered with the Georgia High School Association to help young people foster a healthy, positive relationship with gaming, so we’re honored to be part of the conversation to educate students and parents,” said Clint Kennedy. “Thank you so much to Hawks Talon and the Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network for inviting me to share the stage on behalf of PlayVS.”
Hawks Talon (3-1) will continue its regular season competition as part of six weeks of remote gameplay. The club’s next match takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 against the undefeated Raptors Uprising GC (5-0), the official affiliate of the Toronto Raptors.
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Canada
Fennica Gaming Expands its Partnership with Loto-Québec by Launching eInstant Games
Building on the momentum of its successful market entry, Fennica Gaming announced the expansion of its partnership with Loto-Québec by launching also its portfolio of eInstant games. This second phase follows the recent successful launch of Fennica Gaming’s online casino games, making its full suite of innovative online games available to players on Loto-Québec’s digital platform, the only legal online gaming offer in the province of Québec.
The launch of the eInstant portfolio completes the initial offering, delivering a diverse and engaging gaming experience designed with Fennica Gaming’s signature player-first approach. The move solidifies Fennica Gaming’s commitment to the Canadian market and its strategy of building long-term, sustainable partnerships with regulated lotteries and operators.
“Launching our casino games was the first step; following it up swiftly with our eInstants is about delivering on our promise. Our partnership with Loto-Québec is built on shared values of responsibility and providing engaging, high-quality entertainment. This isn’t just a content drop; it’s a commitment to our partner’s long-term success and to bringing fresh, reliable gaming experiences to the players in Québec,” said Joni Hovi, SVP of Customers and Marketing at Fennica Gaming.
“Our eInstants are designed with a Nordic innovativeness; they are intuitive, visually engaging, and extremely entertaining – built for sustainable fun. We’ve added the best of mobile gaming expertise, seasoned it with a high-quality, player-centric experience. We are confident that this creative energy offers a distinct flavour that will stand out and connect with players in Québec,” said Kirsi Lagus, SVP of Portfolio and Product Development.
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Canada
CGA Announces Leadership Evolution and 2026 Board of Directors
Amanda Brewer becomes Senior Vice President of Policy & Communications and Brandon Aboultaif becomes Vice President of Western Canada; Salim Adatia (GLI) and Mike Maodus (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP) join the CGA Board as Scott Vanderwel (PointsBet Canada) is appointed Chair.
Amanda Brewer has joined the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) as Senior Vice President of Policy and Communications, and Brandon Aboultaif has assumed the position of Vice President for Western Canada.
Amanda has served as a consultant to the Association for over 15 years, playing a pivotal role in achieving numerous CGA milestones. “I am confident she will apply her enthusiasm and expertise to this new position, which more precisely aligns with her ongoing contributions on behalf of our members,” said Paul Burns, President and CEO, CGA. Amanda remains actively engaged in AML and advertising bill initiatives in Ottawa, along with the Alberta consultation process, where the Association is collaborating with the Government of Alberta and AGLC to prepare the province for its iGaming market launch.
Brandon is the former Press Secretary to Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction and will be a great addition to the CGA. “With the Alberta market soon opening, it has been an important goal to expand our presence into the western part of the country,” added Mr. Burns. His key responsibilities include advancing industry research and education initiatives, supporting member engagement across Western Canada, and fostering collaboration on responsible gaming, innovation, and market development initiatives that strengthen Canada’s gaming ecosystem.
In addition, Salim Adatia, Managing Director, Canada for Gaming Laboratories International, LLC, and Mike Maodus, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, have joined the CGA’s Board of Directors, and Scott Vanderwel, CEO for PointsBet Canada, becomes the Association’s new Chair.
The full 2026 board is as follows:
- Salim Adatia, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC
- Bruce Caughill, Rush Street Interactive
- Peter Czegeldy, Aird & Berlis LLP
- Neil Erlick, Nuvei
- Kurt Gissane, Aristocrat
- Charmaine Hogan, Playtech
- Dale Hooper, FanDuel
- Chuck Keeling, Great Canadian Entertainment
- Mike Maodus, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
- Terry McInally, Gateway Entertainment
- Niaz Nejad, Non-Member Director
- Derek Ramm, Kinectify
- Lindsay Slader, GeoComply
- Richard Taylor, Niagara Casinos
- Shane Thompson, Konami
- Scott Vanderwel, PointsBet Canada (Chair)
- Scott Woodgate, BetMGM
We are also pleased to welcome three past chairs as Emeritus members of the board:
- Ilkim Hincer, IC360
- Carrie Kormos, CK Consulting Inc
- Bob Parente, Light & Wonder
“Amanda and Brandon have joined the CGA as full-time members to oversee several important national campaigns,” stated Scott Vanderwel, Chair of the Board. “We are also pleased to welcome Salim and Mike to the Board. The Board has worked closely with Paul over recent years to advance the Association’s leadership and board structure. We have full confidence in Amanda and Brandon as they step into these key roles, as well as in the valuable contributions that Salim and Mike are expected to bring as we prepare for an active 2026 workload.”
Mr. Burns stated that the newly announced executive and Board appointments will strengthen CGA’s position and support its expansion into Western Canada. “Amanda brings extensive CGA experience, while Brandon contributes knowledge of government policy at both federal and provincial levels. Coupled with our enhanced Board, I am confident they will help drive CGA’s objectives and ongoing growth.”
Source: canadiangaming.ca
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Adam Pentecost Chief Revenue Officer at Gaming Corps
Gaming Corps partners with BetMGM for exclusive Ontario launch
Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has announced a landmark content partnership with BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, marking BetMGM as the first partner to bring Gaming Corps’ full portfolio to players in Ontario. The exclusivity will run for an initial period before the portfolio is rolled out more widely in the market.
The agreement brings BetMGM players in Ontario the full force of Gaming Corps’ premium line-up, from blockbuster titles like 3 Pigs of Olympus and Gates of Hellfire to signature mechanics including the adrenaline-fuelled A-MAZE-CADES
and instant-win Smash4Cash
series.
Available at BetMGM Casino, the portfolio also features the innovative X-MY-WAY
challenge, as seen in Hoop Champion and Golf Champion, which introduces new layers of interactivity and personalised gameplay experiences.
Adam Pentecost, Chief Revenue Officer at Gaming Corps, said: “Ontario has quickly become one of the most exciting regulated markets in North America, and we’re thrilled to be making our debut with BetMGM as our first operator partner in the province. The opportunity to launch with such a high-profile brand, on an exclusive basis, allows us to showcase our content to an engaged player base and demonstrate the unique experiences we can deliver. This is an important milestone in our North American expansion strategy, and we look forward to seeing how Ontario players respond to our portfolio.”
Oliver Bartlett, Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM, said: “Exclusivity matters because it gives our players something they can’t find anywhere else and sets us apart in a competitive market. Gaming Corps’ engaging and interactive content portfolio is a fantastic addition to BetMGM Casino.”
The post Gaming Corps partners with BetMGM for exclusive Ontario launch appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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