Canada
Sports Betting Startup Secures $5m Series A Funding
Cipher Sports Technology Group is pleased to announce the closing of a $5m Series A funding round which will accelerate its growth into the rapidly expanding legal US sports betting market.
The company’s advanced predictive analytics technology, along with its flagship consumer brand Dimers.com and an expansive suite of B2B products, saw it nominated for the prestigious Sports Affiliate of the Year Award at SBC Summit North America, placing Cipher STG firmly on the radar of a number of investment groups and venture capital funds in recent months.
However, after a thorough due-diligence process, Cipher STG is delighted to announce that Australia-based and privately owned investment group, Cygnet Capital, will lead its $5m Series A.
Chief Executive Officer, Adam Fiske, was understandably delighted to welcome Cygnet Capital to the table, saying; “Closing our Series A, with a partner such as Cygnet Capital leading the round, is an incredible milestone for us and we’re absolutely thrilled.”
Cipher Sports Technology Group has been rapidly making inroads into the lucrative North American market since launching Dimers.com in mid-2020. Co-founded by Fiske and fellow Australians Katie Prowd, Darryl Woodford and Nick Slade, the group now has offices in both New York City and Melbourne, Australia.
“From the first conversation we had with Cygnet Capital, to where we find ourselves today, it’s been really clear that we are completely aligned when it comes to our collective view on the size of the opportunity in the US,” Fiske added.
Cygnet Capital provides a unique approach to capital outside of the traditional, and often rigid, VC structure, meaning it can invest over multiple rounds as a company either stays private or goes public.
“The team at Cipher Sports Technology Group has really impressed us the whole way through this process and we’re thrilled to be involved in such an exciting company with major international ambitions,” Cygnet Capital Co-Founder Johnathan Rosham said.
“In the current environment, industry sectors that exhibit high growth and profit margins will be at a premium. We believe that the broader wagering sectors, and specifically the US, will provide an opportunity to leverage and expose our capital to above average growth in a challenging and volatile global investment environment.”
Mr. Rosham, a prominent participant in the Australian thoroughbred horse racing industry, is a part-owner of Verry Elleegant, winner of Australia’s most famous horse race – the $8m Melbourne Cup – in 2021.
Cygnet Capital has made several other investments in the global wagering industry and is excited by the burgeoning opportunity that legal online sports betting presents in America.
“It’s quite remarkable to think that a market the size of North America has only just embraced online sports betting, something the European and Australian markets have had access to for over 20 years now,” Mr. Rosham added.
“The Cipher team has a great deal of experience and expertise that will undoubtedly set them apart as they continue to grow their business in the US.
“Cipher is now well positioned to make a significant impact in the US and we’ve no doubt their brand-and-technology-first approach will prove invaluable as they further accelerate what has already been a very impressive penetration into the North American market.
“We see a strong scenario where they grow their revenue base from several million dollars this year, to tens-of-millions of dollars in the next two to three years,” Mr Rosham said.
Through its flagship US consumer brand Dimers.com, its best-in-class proprietary technology and a unique approach to B2B services, Cipher Sports Technology Group is a company worth keeping an eye on.
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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.
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