Canada

PlayColorado.com: Sports betting reaches $207.7 million in September, surpassing Indiana

Published

4 years ago

October 26, 2020

Colorado scored its biggest month of sports betting yet, as an unparalleled sports schedule that featured the first games of the NFL season, MLB, and the NBA and NHL playoffs sent the state’s bettors into online and retail sportsbooks in September. Edging Indiana with a record $207.7 million in bets for the month, and with a bevy of new operators making their debut, Colorado joins a group of five states that have generated more than $200 million in a single month, according to analysts from PlayColorado.

“Colorado is nowhere near maturity as a market, and yet its gains continue to put it among the top markets in the U.S.,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayColorado.com. “Interest in the Denver Broncos was bound to help spur interest in the NFL’s first few weeks. But September still managed to outpace what we could have reasonably expected just two months ago.”

September’s handle, which was released Friday by the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Division of Gaming, was up 61% from $128.6 million in August. September’s wagers led to $4.2 million in gross gaming revenue, down 45% from $7.5 million in August.

Colorado edged Indiana to temporarily take over the No. 4 spot among U.S. legal sports betting markets. Indiana also enjoyed a record September with $207.5 million in handle. Fledgling Illinois, which leapfrogged the Centennial State with $140 million in August bets, has yet to announce its September data.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

September’s gains netted a loss of $3.4 million in betting proceeds, down from $1.9 million in August, a product of bad luck and heavy promotions for the state’s sportsbooks. Despite the loss, $69,772 was injected into state coffers.

The return of the Denver Broncos and NFL was a key reason why betting was so brisk. WIth three full weekends of NFL action, football generated $38.6 million in wagers. Baseball, though, showed surprising strength by generating $47.1 million. Heavy interest in the Denver Nuggets, who weren’t eliminated from the NBA playoffs until Sept. 26, led to $36.9 million being bet on basketball. Hockey chipped in $11.3 million.

“The NFL is king in every major U.S. sports betting market, so it is no surprise that Colorado bettors showed significant interest, but baseball is proving formidable,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayColorado.com. “Colorado is quickly developing into a well-rounded market with significant betting interest in a wide array of sports, including table tennis, which remains shockingly popular.”

Online sportsbooks have proven to be by far the overwhelming preference for Colorado’s bettors. $203.9 million, or 98.2%, of all September’s wagers were made online. That is essentially even with 98.5% in August. No other major legal sports betting market has seen such a high percentage of its monthly handle generated online.

Operators have clearly noticed. In September alone, Colorado welcomed the launch of four new online sportsbooks, including theScore, William Hill, Betfred, and Sportsbetting.com.

“The Colorado market will continue to sort itself out for the foreseeable future, and its growth prospects remain enormous as more and more operators enter,” Welman said. “Illinois’ population will make it nearly impossible for Colorado to keep pace, but catching Indiana so quickly is impressive. In fact, Colorado’s race with Indiana remains among the most intriguing storylines of U.S. sports betting.”

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Colorado, visit PlayColorado.com/news.

AGCO

Jackpot Digital Receives Approval from AGCO as a Registered Gaming Supplier

Published

3 days ago

December 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

jackpot-digital-receives-approval-from-agco-as-a-registered-gaming-supplier

Jackpot Digital Inc., a leading provider of innovative dealerless electronic poker gaming solutions, has announced that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has approved the Company to be licensed as a registered Gaming Related-Supplier (the “Supplier License”) under the Gaming Control Act in the Province of Ontario.

This significant achievement allows Jackpot Digital to enter one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regulated gaming markets in North America. The Supplier License authorizes Jackpot Digital to supply its electronic table games to Ontario’s gaming venues, including casinos and other regulated gaming facilities.

Jackpot Digital’s flagship product, the Jackpot Blitz electronic table game system, offers a modern, dealerless, player-friendly solution that integrates traditional multiplayer poker games with cutting-edge digital technology. The Supplier License will enable the Company to offer its innovative gaming solutions to operators throughout Ontario, driving new revenue opportunities and enhancing player experiences.

“Receiving AGCO’s approval is a major milestone. This approval provides us with the opportunity to offer our top-tier electronic gaming systems to operators throughout all of Ontario, positioning us for further growth in one of the world’s most robust gaming markets. We are excited to bring our innovative products to Ontario’s gaming community and continue our commitment to providing exciting, technology-driven entertainment experiences,” said Jake Kalpakian, CEO of Jackpot Digital.

Canada

Play’n GO announces partnership with Canadian operator PointsBet

Published

6 days ago

December 13, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

play’n-go-announces-partnership-with-canadian-operator-pointsbet

Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has announced further expansion of its Canadian operations via a partnership with leading operator PointsBet in the province of Ontario.

The Swedish-founded gaming giant’s games will now be available to PointsBet players in the Canadian province, meaning classic titles such as Book of Dead, Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness, and Reactoonz will now be available on the PointsBet platform.

The province of Ontario regulated online casino gaming in 2022, which saw Play’n GO enter the Canadian market for the first time. The company expanded into the province of Quebec earlier this year, and, as of June 2024, is also a proud member of the Canadian Gaming Association.

Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented, “Back in 2022, I said that “North America is right at the top of Play’n GO’s priority list, and Ontario is just the first step we plan to take”. This partnership with PointsBet shows we have yet to take our foot off the gas. We’ve proudly watched our games become instant hits in our two and a half years in the Ontarian region, and we have no plans to slow down any time soon.

“It’s exciting to team up with a fellow Canadian Gaming Association member in PointsBet, and we can confidently say that we are working towards the same goal of a safe, regulated industry that is focused on player entertainment. We’re looking forward to working closely together following this milestone announcement.”

Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer at PointsBet, shared “Play’n GO has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality game content, and we’re thrilled to bring their titles to our platform. At PointsBet, our focus is on providing a safe and engaging entertainment experience for our players, and it’s clear that Play’n GO aligns with those values. Canadian casino enthusiasts recognize PointsBet as a trusted leader in iGaming, and this collaboration further enhances the exceptional experience we offer.”

Anthony Novac

VICI Properties Inc. Enters into Agreement with Indigenous Gaming Partners Related to PURE Canadian Gaming

Published

7 days ago

December 12, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

vici-properties-inc.-enters-into-agreement-with-indigenous-gaming-partners-related-to-pure-canadian-gaming

VICI Properties Inc. announced that it has entered into an amendment and consented to the assignment of the master lease agreement with PURE Canadian Gaming Corp. (PURE) to an affiliate of Indigenous Gaming Partners Inc. (IGP), in connection with the acquisition of the operating assets of PURE by an affiliate of IGP.

IGP is a partnership of five institutional First Nations established to acquire gaming assets in North America. IGP has partnered with Sonco Gaming, one of Canada’s most experienced casino developers and managers, who will assist in the sourcing and execution of casino gaming investments, as well as management oversight of IGP’s portfolio.

Danny Valoy, Vice President of Business Development and Acquisitions, said: “This transaction demonstrates VICI’s ability to collaboratively work with existing partners while building new relationships with highly experienced operators and First Nations in international jurisdictions. We are pleased to welcome IGP as a new partner, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with IGP and Sonco as they pursue additional growth opportunities in the future.”

Anthony Novac, CEO of Sonco, said: “We are excited to work with VICI, an established partner in providing financial solutions to the gaming industry. We believe having a partner like VICI will give us a competitive advantage as we seek growth opportunities in the Canadian market.”

In connection with entering into the amendment to the PURE Canadian master lease, VICI received a 5-year right of first offer (ROFO) on future sale-leaseback transactions. Any additional properties acquired pursuant to the ROFO will be added to the master lease.

The annual base rent of C$22.0 million (US$15.5 million based on the CAD:USD exchange rate as of December 9, 2024) and other economic terms of the PURE Canadian master lease will remain unchanged, including a base term of 25-years with four 5-year tenant renewal options, escalation of 1.25% per annum in lease year 3, with escalation equal to the greater of 1.5% and Canadian CPI (capped at 2.5%) starting in lease year 4, and a minimum capital expenditure requirement equal to 1.0% of annual net revenue. The lease, currently in lease year 2 and escalating on February 1 of each year, encompasses the following assets in Alberta, Canada: PURE Casino Edmonton, PURE Casino Yellowhead, PURE Casino Calgary and PURE Casino Lethbridge.