Canada
SeventySix Capital Raises Second Sports Focused Venture Capital Fund
Investors include pro team owners, athletes, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The sports industry leading venture capital company, SeventySix Capital, announced the initial closing of its second fund to invest in passionate entrepreneurs who are launching game-changing sports betting, esports and sports tech companies.
SeventySix Capital, led by Wayne Kimmel, Jon Powell and Chad Stender, has reshaped the sports venture capital industry. To date in 2021, SeventySix Capital has sold three portfolio companies: VSiN, the sports betting media network led by Brian Musburger, Bill Adee and Brent Musburger (sold to DraftKings – Nasdaq: DKNG), Vigtory, a next generation sportsbook led by Sam Rattner and Scott Butera (sold to FuboTV – NYSE: FUBO), and Team Whistle, a sports and entertainment media company led by John West and Michael Cohen (sold to ELEVEN SPORTS).
“This next fund is an important milestone as we continue building SeventySix Capital as the go-to investment company in the sports industry,” said Wayne Kimmel, SeventySix Capital Managing Partner. “We have proven that we have access to the deals and entrepreneurs seeking to transform the sports world and that we are able to help them build their businesses with our capital investment as well as our sports relationships, knowledge and expertise.”
SeventySix Capital added two additional professional sports team owners as investors and strategic partners in the new fund: Robert Nutting, Owner and Chairman of the board of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball and AMBSE Ventures, a subsidiary of AMB Sports + Entertainment, a portfolio company of Arthur M. Blank, Owner and Chairman of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer. d
SeventySix Capital expanded its roster of athlete investors with the additions of Emmanuel Sanders, Super Bowl Champion and 2X Pro Bowl NFL Wide Receiver of the Buffalo Bills, Alejandro Bedoya, Captain of the Philadelphia Union, former U.S. National team player and SeventySix Capital Athlete Venture Group Co-Chair, and James Develin, 3X Super Bowl Champion and former Pro Bowl Running Back for the New England Patriots. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame Running Back and SeventySix Capital Athlete Venture Group Chair and DeMarco Murray, former NFL All-Pro Running Back and Coach at the University of Oklahoma are return investors along with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority and multiple family offices.
“I’m excited to officially join the already dynamic team at SeventySix Capital that I have gotten to know well over the last several years through my marketing agent, Dave Maryles (Partner at Rubicon Talent),” said Emmanuel Sanders. “Given my personal passion for esports, it’s great working with Nerd Street, their esports portfolio company. We share similar values and interests in entrepreneurship, the sports business, and overall the drive to work hard to achieve lofty goals.”
SeventySix Capital’s current portfolio companies are leaders in their respective industries: C360, Diamond Kinetics, Fortē, Maestro, Nerd Street, Play by Play, ShotTracker, Swish Analytics, and U.S. Integrity.
This new fund will invest in startup companies that are disrupting and innovating the sports industry through the use of analytics, data and technology. SeventySix Capital aims to capitalize on the growing legal sports betting industry in the United States. The American Gaming Association (AGA) confirmed that U.S. commercial gaming revenue for the first seven months of 2021 nearly matched the entirety of 2020 and is 17.4 percent ahead of the same period in 2019, with 26 states (and Washington D.C.) having launched regulated sports betting. DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) believes the US online sports betting market could eventually be worth $22 billion, assuming 100 percent legalization. The fund will also make investments in companies seeking to transform the fast-growing esports and Gaming industry. Gaming analytics and market research firm Newzoo stated that close to one-third of the global population games and the U.S. Video Game industry in 2020 was larger than Music and Movies combined, according to The NPD Group.
SeventySix Capital Venture Partner and Advisory members include Tim Cabral, former CFO of the $46+ billion market cap company, Veeva Systems, Dan Mason, former CEO of CBS Radio and a National Radio Hall of Fame member, and Michael Schreiber, CEO of Playfly Sports, Co-Founder of SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory and a former executive at NBCUniversal, Comcast and Altice USA.
Steven M. Cohen from Morgan Lewis acted as SeventySix Capital’s fund formation legal counsel and Adam Berger from Duane Morris is the fund’s gaming counsel.
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Wazdan, the top developer focused on gaming, has initiated its collaboration with Green Brick Labs (GBL) following the launch of several of its titles with Maverick Games, the well-known operator based in Ontario.
The agreement entails an initial selection of Wazdan’s best-performing titles being launched with Maverick Games through an integration from GBL’s seamless aggregation platform, featuring Mighty Fish
: Blue Marlin, 36 Coins, Mighty Wild: Panther Grand Diamond Edition, and Mighty Wild: Gorilla.
After Wazdan’s recently disclosed alliance with GBL, the quickly developing North American platform provider, the partnership has now made significant progress by launching with Maverick Games, featuring its extensive slot collection and sportsbook services.
Wazdan’s captivating games and interaction-enhancing features, such as Cash to Infinity, Sticky to Infinity, and the Hold the Jackpot bonus game, are poised to enhance Maverick Games’ collection as it aims for greater growth across North America.
Wazdan’s newest collaboration highlights the studio’s goal to further establish itself in regulated iGaming markets globally, offering players cutting-edge slot experiences.
Magdalena Wojdyla, Head of Account Management at Wazdan, said: “Going live with Maverick Games through our partnership with GBL marks an exciting moment for Wazdan in Ontario.
“Our innovative titles and engagement-boosting features are designed to deliver memorable experiences for players, and we are confident this collaboration will help Maverick Games strengthen its position in one of North America’s most dynamic markets.”
James Gummerson, UX/UI and Product Manager at Green Brick Labs, said: “We are thrilled to launch our collaboration with Wazdan.
“Our mission is to connect operators with world-class content quickly and seamlessly, and this launch demonstrates how our technology helps accelerate growth for both suppliers and operators in North American markets.”
The post Wazdan taps Green Brick Labs partnership via Maverick Games to strengthen Ontario market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Wazdan, the leading-gain focused developer, has launched its partnership with Green Brick Labs (GBL) after taking a series of its titles live with Maverick Games, the established Ontario-based operator.
The deal will see an initial pool of Wazdan’s top-performing releases launch with Maverick Games via an integration from GBL’s seamless aggregation platform, including Mighty Fish
: Blue Marlin, 36 Coins, Mighty Wild: Panther Grand Diamond Edition and Mighty Wild: Gorilla.
Following Wazdan’s recently announced partnership with GBL, the rapidly emerging North American platform provider, the collaboration has now taken its first major steps after going live with Maverick Games with its comprehensive slot portfolio and sportsbook offering.
Wazdan’s immersive titles and engagement-boosting mechanics, featuring the likes of Cash to Infinity, Sticky to Infinity and the Hold the Jackpot bonus game, are set to further elevate Maverick Games’ portfolio as it seeks increased expansion throughout North America.
Wazdan’s latest partnership underlines the studio’s ambitions of continuing to gain ground in regulated iGaming territories worldwide, providing players with state-of-the-art slot experiences.
Magdalena Wojdyla, Head of Account Management at Wazdan, said: “Going live with Maverick Games through our partnership with GBL marks an exciting moment for Wazdan in Ontario.
“Our innovative titles and engagement-boosting features are designed to deliver memorable experiences for players, and we are confident this collaboration will help Maverick Games strengthen its position in one of North America’s most dynamic markets.”
James Gummerson, UX/UI and Product Manager at Green Brick Labs, said: “We are thrilled to launch our collaboration with Wazdan.
“Our mission is to connect operators with world-class content quickly and seamlessly, and this launch demonstrates how our technology helps accelerate growth for both suppliers and operators in North American markets.”
The post Wazdan launches Green Brick Labs partnership via Maverick Games to expand Ontario reach appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Caesars Entertainment Windsor Limited
OLG and Caesars Sign Long-term Operating Agreement for Windsor Casino
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and Caesars Entertainment Windsor Limited (Caesars) announced that they have entered into a Casino Operating and Services Agreement (COSA) for the Windsor casino.
Under the new, close to 20-year agreement, Caesars continues day-to-day operations of the Windsor casino, ensuring its exciting brand of gaming entertainment remains part of the Windsor skyline.
“This is a great day for OLG, our partners at Caesars and the City of Windsor. The agreement we’ve signed will see our partnership with Caesars continue for many years to come. It’s a partnership that has benefitted the community and local economy in countless ways and we’re thrilled to continue our contribution together,” said OLG’s President and CEO, Duncan Hannay.
The Windsor casino is the final gaming site in Ontario to transition to OLG’s Land-based Gaming modernization model.
In May 2025, Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and OLG announced that Caesars had been selected as the operator through a competitive procurement process, with the expected transition to the new agreement with Caesars in early 2026.
“We are proud to continue bringing the iconic Caesars brand to life here in Windsor. For more than three decades, this Resort has been a cornerstone of the region’s tourism economy, and for the past 18 years it has proudly carried the Caesars name. We look forward to building on that legacy by delivering the world‑class hospitality, entertainment, and service our guests expect from Caesars,” said Anthony Carano, President and Chief Operating Officer of Caesars Entertainment.
Under the new agreement, OLG will continue to make Municipality Contribution Agreement (MCA) payments to the City of Windsor. Since 1994, OLG has provided more than $138 million in MCA payments to the city as a gaming host community. Additionally, Caesars must maintain current casino employment levels for a period of no less than 18 months. Unionized employees will be governed by the terms of their collective agreement.
Through its Land-based Gaming modernization, OLG has been transferring day-to-day operations of casinos to private sector service providers who are investing in Ontario communities. To date, OLG’s land-based gaming service providers have invested more than $2.9 billion in communities across the province, which both encourages local economic growth and helps OLG increase its contribution to the Province of Ontario.
OLG promotes safer gambling and empowers players to make informed decisions at every step of their play. PlaySmart provides tools and information that help players stay in control and enjoy games on their terms.
The post OLG and Caesars Sign Long-term Operating Agreement for Windsor Casino appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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