Canada

Raptors Uprising Achieve First Undefeated Regular Season in NBA 2K League History

Published

6 years ago

August 10, 2020

Raptors Uprising GC, NBA 2K League affiliate of the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors, became the first franchise in NBA 2K League history to achieve an undefeated regular season Friday evening, sweeping Cavs Legion GC (2-0 series) to record the team’s 16^th consecutive victory.

All five Raptors Uprising starters finished in double-digit scoring in the series opener (95-67). Point guard “Kenny Got Work” (Kenneth Hailey) led with 41 points and nine assists, while centre “Sick One” (Jerry Knapp) notched a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in his first game against his former team since being acquired from Cleveland via trade midway through the 2019 season. Raptors Uprising completed the series sweep (90-47), restricting Cleveland to only 47 points – the lowest total Uprising have allowed all season. “Kenny Got Work”, the reigning NBA 2K League Player of the Month and league-leading scorer, notched 48 points, six assists, and five steals while “Sick One” added 17 points, 12 rebounds, eight dimes, three steals, and three blocks in Game 2.

“Congratulations to Raptors Uprising GC on their historic 2020 regular season. Not only are they the first NBA 2K League team to finish the regular season an undefeated 16-0, but they also won the first two tournaments of the season – THE TIPOFF and THE TURN powered by AT&T – and have their sights set on a championship,” said NBA 2K League Managing Director Brendan Donohue. “Their season is a testament to an amazing Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) organization that is committed to building a winning culture on the court and in the community.”

In addition to a plethora of new records established this season, Raptors Uprising went undefeated through 27 matchups in all competitions, winning the two in-season tournaments along the way: THE TIPOFF and THE TURN powered by AT&T. In doing so, they became the first team in the league’s three-year history to capture the first two tournaments of the season, taking home USD $192,000 in prize money for their efforts.

“We came into this season having learned a lot from our first two seasons in terms of the formula for success in the league,” said Shane Talbot, Esports Manager, MLSE. “The group’s unique blend of talent, hard work and chemistry made it clear we had something special this season but we know the job is not finished yet. Our focus now solely shifts to bringing an NBA 2K League championship to Toronto.”

“Kenny Got Work,” the franchise’s first-ever draft pick in 2018, has enjoyed a record-breaking season thus far which has included eight individual accolades since May: four Player of the Week (Weeks 1, 3, 8 and 11), two Player of the Month (May and July) and two Tournament Most Valuable Player (THE TIPOFF and THE TURN) awards. The 30-year-old Memphis native is the longest-serving Raptors Uprising player and is the only player to represent Toronto in all three NBA 2K League seasons.

Following the historic undefeated regular season, Raptors Uprising enter the 2020 NBA 2K League Playoffs as the No. 1 seed and earn a bye into the quarter-finals where they will face the winner of Hornets Venom GT (9-7) and NetsGC (8-8). The 10-team playoffs, with USD $920,000 up for grabs, will tip off remotely Thursday, August 20 and culminate with a best-of-five 2020 NBA 2K League Finals on Saturday, August 29.

Canada

RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026

Published

15 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

respwned-partners-with-lotus-8-to-bring-girlgamer-festival-to-winnipeg-in-2026

RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 have signed a partnership to launch the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026, marking the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand’s expansion into Canada.

RESPWNED manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, while LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships. The companies said they will jointly develop and deliver the Winnipeg event, combining global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local execution.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED. “Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”

Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada. This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value. Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is planned as a family-oriented event with business networking, brand activations, and community programming, and is expected to include international and local talent. Additional details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.

The post RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026

Published

15 hours ago

May 6, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

respwned-and-lotus-8-to-launch-girlgamer-winnipeg-festival-in-2026

RESPWNED, the company that manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, and LOTUS 8, a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships, today announced their partnership to the launch of the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival.

The strategic partnership marks a significant step in expanding the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand into Canada.

This brings its globally recognized platform for competitive gaming, inclusivity, and industry engagement to a new market.

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is envisioned as a family-oriented event, with business networking, brand activations, and community-driven experiences.

Under the terms of the agreement, RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 will work collaboratively to develop and deliver the event, combining their respective expertise in global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local market execution.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED.

“Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”

Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada.

This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value.

Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival will feature a combination of international and local talent, brand partnerships, and programming designed to foster diversity, inclusion, and innovation within the gaming and esports ecosystem.

Further details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.

RESPWNED LTD

RESPWNED is a United Kingdom-based company specializing in esports IP management, event production, and industry consultancy.

The company manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, a global platform dedicated to creating opportunities and visibility for women in gaming and esports.

LOTUS 8

LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based premier esports organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dedicated to building championship-calibre teams across North America, they are at the forefront of innovation in competitive gaming.

As pioneers in the industry, they have developed the Performance Mindset Mindfulness, a system designed to support mental health in esports.

This holistic approach blends mental wellness practices, meditation, nutrition, fitness, and proper sleep hygiene into their competitive strategy.

The post RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Canada

Analysis flags World Cup 2026 stress test for Canada’s patchwork betting rules

Published

18 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

analysis-flags-world-cup-2026-stress-test-for-canada’s-patchwork-betting-rules

Canada’s provincial gambling model is likely to face a major stress test during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to new research published by CasinoCanada.com. The analysis argues the tournament will highlight uneven betting access and channelisation across provinces as Canada co-hosts the event.

The research draws on provincial regulatory reporting, iGaming Ontario’s annual figures and data from Blask’s 2025 iGaming Landscape Report. It says Ontario’s open market—described as having nearly 50 licensed operators—has reached an 83.7% channelisation rate, meaning most online bettors are using regulated platforms.

Outside Ontario, CasinoCanada.com estimates significantly higher offshore leakage, including 93% in Saskatchewan, 88% in Alberta and Manitoba, and about 49% retention in British Columbia despite the long-running PlayNow provincial platform. The report frames those gaps as a competitiveness issue for regulated offerings.

CasinoCanada.com also highlights timing risk in Alberta’s transition to a competitive market. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) registration deadline for operators is 13 July 2026—after the World Cup reaches the quarter-final stage—raising the likelihood that peak tournament betting volume continues to flow through unregulated operators, the report says.

Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said: “The 2026 World Cup is not just a commercial opportunity for the Canadian market – it’s a live stress test for how the country regulates gambling. Ontario has built something that works, and the numbers show it. However, for most Canadians outside that market, the tournament is going to arrive at a system that was never designed for this level of demand.

“The offshore leakage figures are not abstract. They represent real bettors choosing unregulated platforms because the regulated alternative isn’t competitive enough. The World Cup will make that gap very visible, very quickly.”

The post Analysis flags World Cup 2026 stress test for Canada’s patchwork betting rules appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.