Canada
Comprehensive COVID-19 Secret Shopper Study Reveals Las Vegas Hospitality and Gaming Brand/Cleanliness Perceptions

Experience Strategy Associates, a boutique consulting group focused on assisting organizations with customer experience and branding strategy, in partnership with HS Brands Global, a global leader in deploying field resources to verify and assess expectations of some of the world’s favorite brands, announced results from a comprehensive secret shopper study focused on perceptions of how brands are managing operations through a COVID-19 lens.
Secret shoppers were sent out to evaluate 600 customer touch-points across the LV Strip, LV Locals and Downtown LV gaming properties on re-opening weekend and again two weeks later to learn how well brands were maintaining consistent safety standards and where there may be opportunity to continue to focus for optimal brand perception.
According to the study, the LV Strip properties and Downtown properties scored the highest consistently among all three key segments.
“This is a very positive story,” said Greg Chase, Founder and Chief Thought Provoker of Experience Strategy Associates. “This data was very specific to key elements that would ultimately make a customer feel safe or not, such as if sanitizer machines were functional and if they observed employees cleaning public areas, which we know has a lot of consumer focus in the present time.”
Secret shops were conducted across three key segments, Downtown LV properties, LV Locals Casinos and LV Strip Properties on both re-opening weekend and again two weeks post re-opening, totaling over 560 customer touchpoints.
- Top 5 Areas for Opportunity Across All Segments to Improve Customer Perception Amid COVID-19
- Allowing customers to see some element of sanitation practice on table games
- Ensuring Staff are proactively offering masks to customers who are not wearing them or do not have on their person
- Supporting staff in enforcing social distancing standards in F&B venue lines
- Allowing customers to see staff cleaning and sanitizing F&B tables and chairs
- Ensuring sanitizer dispensers are properly functional
“As a member of the Las Vegas community, HS Brands is proud to provide our partners with tools necessary to measure their COVID protocols to better protect their employees and guests.” Michael Mills Vice President of Sales at HS Brands
To learn more about this study, please view the attached infographics or visit https://hsbrands.com
About HS Brands Global
Founded in 1992, HS Brands is the leader in deploying the global field resources necessary to assess and verify customer experiences, brand image, compliance standards, and operational integrity. Based in Las Vegas with 13 global offices, HS Brands is the largest mystery shopping provider to casinos in the world.
About Experience Strategy Associates (ESA)
Founded in May 2019, Experience Strategy Associates is a Las Vegas-based boutique consulting group focused on assisting organizations with customer experience and branding strategy. Composed of Las Vegas industry experts, ESA brings rich insights to the forefront to help clients understand their customers with data-driven studies, develop customer experience strategies and foster strong employee and customer engagement.
SOURCE Experience Strategy Associates
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Canada
absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.
Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.
The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.
“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”
Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”
The post Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.
Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.
The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.
The post iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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