Canada
Hawks Talon GC Scout Matthew Morgan Answers Questions Before 2021 NBA 2K League Draft on Saturday, March 13
Hawks Talon Gaming Club will have three selections in the 2021 NBA 2K League Draft which will take place on Saturday, March 13. These picks are 11th overall (first round), 34th overall (second round) and 48th overall (third round). Helping Head Coach Wesley Acuff over the past few months with the scouting process has been @WalkOnWarriors (Xavier Daniel) and @MattMorg__ (Matthew Morgan). Below is a Q&A with @MattMorg_.
Name: Matthew Morgan | Gamertag: MattMorg_ | Twitter Handle: @MattMorg_
Q: Been Playing NBA 2K Since…
“2K9. It feels like forever, but I also started playing competitively in ProAm with 2K17.”
Q: What does it mean to you to have an opportunity to be a scout with Hawks Talon?
“It means the world to me, honestly. Being a former player and now a scout and an opportunity to get my foot in the door of the NBA 2K League with a great organization like Hawks Talon GC. They’ve welcomed me and appreciated what I can bring to the table. I can’t thank Coach Wes enough for the opportunity as well as the mentorship of what goes on behind the scenes in the league.”
Q: What do you look for when you scout players?
“As NBA 2K grows and the league itself also grows, people would think you watch the moves players can do, but with streaming and the YouTube channels and the overall talent that we have playing the game now, I scout the players’ reactions, communications to good and bad plays. This is because everyone knows how to do the moves. It’s about when to do them — is it open, is there a counter, does the player see what I see or vice versa. As a scout, I am supposed to get players that will make the right plays and Coach Wes will get those players in positions to make those plays.”
Q: What is your favorite build to watch and why?
“Point guard. Basketball is poetry and essentially a chess match. I think there are moves to set up another move at another time. I like to watch how the point guard manages the game of when to pass, when to shoot, when he picks his spots and when he picks for his teammates to get involved. When all of that is clicking, it becomes a beautiful game of NBA 2K basketball.”
Q: What does it take to be a good scout?
“I think it’s understanding and listening. There are also an insane amount of hours of film study. I don’t think I’d be here today as a scout if I didn’t hit the floor as a player and listen to the players and have dialogue with them. Sometimes, I play devil’s advocate, so my own opinions take form. It’s good to see things from all views and then come to my own conclusions as I find common themes and such.”
Q: What are your favorite moments in 2K League history?
I have a few:
- When BearDaBeast passed to TurnUpDefense who made the three-point shot to beat Blazer5 Gaming
- When Mama Im Dat Man scored a single-game NBA 2K League record 77 Points
- When Regg debuted with 36-point and 41-point performances
- When JBM put up a 50-point game in last year’s playoffs
Q: Do you have to be an exceptional 2K player to be a good scout?
“No, but you must understand the game every year to scout it, so being good can help.”
Q: Why basketball?
“I love it. I love the game truly, like I said it’s an art. It is poetry in motion. Sometimes, you do one move to set up another move. Sometimes, you’re countering someone’s first move the correct way in just a matter of seconds. When those things are all in sync at its best, you get performances like (those) notable performances. Sometimes, you get rollercoaster stories that even the best writers couldn’t script.”
Powered by WPeMatico
Canada
IAGR announces Toronto as host city for 2025 conference
Hot on the heels of its most attended conference in history, the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) is excited to announce that its 2025 conference will take place in Toronto, Canada, from October 20 to 23, 2025.
The event will be held in partnership with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) at the Westin Harbour Castle, offering stunning waterfront views and a premier, downtown Toronto location.
‘Fresh off the success of our Rome conference, we’re thrilled to continue the momentum with next year’s event in Toronto,’ said Ben Haden, IAGR President.
‘The IAGR 2025 conference promises to be another unparalleled opportunity for our global community to come together, collaborate and shape the future of gaming regulation. We’re looking forward to working with AGCO to bring it all together.’
AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr, added, ‘We’re excited to welcome IAGR and its members to Toronto. This partnership provides a great opportunity to share Ontario’s innovative regulatory practices and foster meaningful discussions that drive positive change in the industry.’
Stay tuned for registration details early next year.
Bombee Global Entertainment Ltd
ESE Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Gaming Production Company, Bombee Americas
ESE Entertainment Inc., a gaming company that provides a range of services to leading video game developers and publishers, has announced that it has acquired Bombee Global Entertainment Ltd. (Bombee Americas), the North American arm of Bombee Event Production AB, (Bombee), a global production company specialized in live production, special effects, broadcast, and event management for the gaming sector.
Bombee has successfully collaborated with ESE to bring its premier event production services and world class customer service to North America and beyond. The North American arm of Bombee, Bombee Americas, will continue to grow and scale in this new organizational structure under ESE, while maintaining its entire team and global support.
Konrad Wasiela, CEO of ESE, said: “Today marks the next stage of ESE—a 2.0 version of our company. With the acquisition of Bombee Americas, we are not only solidifying our presence in North America but also paving the way for growth and innovation in the gaming industry. This is a major step, positioning us to deliver even greater value to our partners and elevate the gaming experience for our clients globally. We’re thrilled about the opportunities ahead and the exceptional talent joining our team.”
Transaction Terms
The Acquisition was completed by way of a share purchase agreement (the SPA) among the Company, Bombee Americas, and the shareholders of Bombee Americas (the Vendors). Pursuant to the SPA, ESE acquired all of the outstanding shares of Bombee Americas in exchange for: (i) $750,000 in cash paid on closing, (ii) $375,000 in cash to be paid six (6) months following closing, subject to customary adjustments based on the working capital of Bombee Americas on closing, (iii) $375,000 in cash to be paid twelve (12) months following closing, and (iv) 30,000,000 common shares of ESE (the Consideration Shares), issued at a deemed issue price of $0.10 per share.
In connection with the Acquisition, the founders of Bombee Americas have signed three-year service agreements and will continue to run the business following the closing, along with the rest of the personnel of Bombee Americas who will remain in place, ensuring a smooth transition of operations. As part of the Acquisition, the Company has acquired the liabilities of Bombee Americas, mainly consisting of customary current obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business for Bombee Americas, which are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s operations or financial position.
No finder’s fees were paid or payable in conjunction with the Acquisition.
The Acquisition was an arm’s length transaction within the meaning of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) and constituted an “Expedited Acquisition” in accordance with Exchange Policy 5.3 – Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets. The Acquisition remains subject to the final approval of the Exchange.
Canada
Suspected Digital Fraud Coming from Canada Up Nearly 11% Since H1 2023, Reveals New TransUnion Analysis
In the first half (H1) of 2024, Canada saw a significant increase in suspected Digital Fraud attempts, with nearly 5.74% of all attempted digital transactions where the consumer was located in Canada involving suspected Digital Fraud, revealed a new TransUnion® (NYSE: TRU) analysis. This is nearly an 11% year-over-year (YoY) rate increase from H1 2023, and TransUnion also documented an 11% increase in the volume of suspected Digital Fraud from Canada during this period, despite a less than a one percent (0.7%) YoY increase in the volume of transactions.
According to a recent TransUnion survey,1 more than half (54%) of Canadians said they were recently targeted by email, phone call or text message fraud attempts. Phishing was the most common scheme type (45%), followed by smishing (42%) and vishing (39%).
The increasing use of digital transactions, combined with rising suspected Digital Fraud attempts are also impacting businesses as they potentially face revenue losses and increased operational costs due to fraud. According to a TransUnion business survey for the H2 2024 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud report, 200 Canadian business leaders said their companies lost approximately 6% of equivalent revenue – representing $78 billion – over the past year due to fraud. The most prominent causes of fraud loss cited by them were:
- Scam/Authorized fraud (31%): Dishonest scheme intended to trick a person into giving up something of value (e.g., account access, money, information)
- Account takeover (19%): Unauthorized individuals taking over someone’s online account (e.g., bank, social media, email) without their permission
- Synthetic identity fraud (18%): Use of a combination of personal information to fabricate a person or entity to commit a dishonest act for financial or personal gain
TransUnion also found that suspected Digital Fraud attempts – where the consumer was transacting in Canada and targeted businesses globally – increased on average by 10.5% YoY in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023 and impacted all industries.
Top Three Industries Globally with Highest Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada in H1 2024
- Gambling (online sports betting, poker, etc.) – 9.6%
- Retail – 9.2%
- Government – 7.7%
Top Three Industries Globally with Highest YoY Increase (H1 2024 vs H1 2023) in the Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada
- Logistics – 172.9%
- Gambling – 79.3%
- Video gaming – 67.8%
“Protecting customers and their businesses from fraud is essential to enabling safe and tailored consumer experiences. These findings reveal that despite the good-faith efforts that are being undertaken by companies to identify and prevent fraud to date, fraudsters continue to evolve and it’s vital that fraud prevention methods keep up with the changing times,” said Patrick Boudreau, head of identity management and fraud solutions at TransUnion Canada.
“Businesses that aren’t already doing so should ensure that they are taking advantage of fraud prevention technologies such as identity verification, IP intelligence, device reputation and synthetic identity detection as critical components of their fraud prevention programs,” he added.
-
Australia6 days ago
Australia’s BetStop Receives International Regulatory Award
-
Brazilian Ministry of Finance6 days ago
Brazilian Ministry of Finance and IBIA sign sports betting integrity agreement
-
Brazil6 days ago
Delasport Ready for Brazil Expansion
-
Brazil6 days ago
ProntoPaga Transforms its Operating Model in Brazil to Ensure Risk-Free Transactions
-
Canada6 days ago
IAGR announces Toronto as host city for 2025 conference
-
Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation6 days ago
Seminole Tribe of Florida and West Flagler Parties Announce End of Legal Challenges and Beginning of Partnership to Offer and Promote Jai Alai on the Hard Rock Bet App
-
Brazilian Ministry of Finance5 days ago
Brazilian Ministry of Finance and Sportradar Join Forces to Strengthen Integrity of Sports
-
Aristocrat6 days ago
Aristocrat Awarded First Gaming-Related Vendor License from GCGRA