Canada
More Great Georgia Lottery Scratchers Coming to Players from Georgia-based Scientific Games

MORE GREAT GEORGIA LOTTERY SCRATCHERS COMING TO PLAYERS FROM GEORGIA-BASED SCIENTIFIC GAMES
Three-decades Long Partnership Celebrated in Georgia Lottery’s 30th Anniversary Year
Georgia-based Scientific Games will continue to bring the company’s high-performance Scratchers to Georgia Lottery players for seven more years through a recent contract extension. The announcement comes as the Georgia Lottery Corporation celebrates its 30th Anniversary, highlighted by a 30-year primary instant game partnership with Scientific Games for Scratchers that has helped the Lottery raise more than $26.1 billion in funding for the state’s HOPE Scholarship and Georgia Pre-K Program.
Headquartered in metro Atlanta since the mid-1970s, Scientific Games provides games, technologies, analytics and services to 130 lotteries in 50 countries. The company employs more than 1,100 Georgians at its headquarters, including a large manufacturing workforce.
Gretchen Corbin, Georgia Lottery Corporation President and CEO, said, “We are proud to celebrate our 30th Anniversary and a 30-year successful partnership with Scientific Games this year. Our partnership has helped responsibly grow Georgia Scratchers to one of the most successful lottery instant game portfolios in the world, and the real winners are students in Georgia.”
Designing and producing nearly all of the Georgia Lottery’s Scratcher products for three decades, Scientific Games has recently collaborated with the Lottery on a 30th Anniversary game set to launch in July. The company works with the Lottery to manage a full portfolio of Scratcher games throughout the year.
As the Georgia Lottery’s Scratchers game partner since the Lottery’s start-up in 1993, Scientific Games has played a key role in growing its Scratchers to a more than $3.9+ billion consumer product category (2022 retail sales). In the past five years (2017-2022), Georgia Scratchers retail sales have grown by more than 20%. The Georgia Lottery is perennially ranked No. 2 in the world for instant game per capita sales (La Fleur’s 2023 Almanac per capita sales).
More than 2.1 million Georgia students have attended colleges through the HOPE scholarship program; more than 1.7 million four-year-olds have attended Georgia’s Pre-K Program; and all of Georgia’s public schools have benefited from over $1.8 billion in capital outlay, and computer and technology upgrades, funded with Lottery revenue returned to the state.
The Lottery is one of more than 20 lotteries in the world that participate in the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership program, which includes world-leading instant game design and portfolio management services, as well as data-driven analytics and insights, game manufacturing, advanced logistics, marketing, sales support and licensed brand services. The partnership also includes product distribution across the Georgia Lottery’s network of more than 8,500 retailers.
John Schulz, President of Americas & Global Instant Products for Scientific Games, said, “The success of the Georgia Lottery in our home state is a shared mission. We have a 30-year, trusted relationship and mutual commitment to responsibly grow Scratchers through the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership program to entertain Georgia Lottery players and most importantly, benefit students in our state. We wish the Georgia Lottery many more decades of success.”
In addition to the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership program, the company provides the Georgia Lottery with research, digital player engagement, second-chance promotions, and licensed properties including MONOPOLY and THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
With products that generate more than 70% of global instant game retail sales, Scientific Games is the world’s largest instant games creator, producer and services provider, and the primary provider to nine of the Top 10 performing instant game lotteries in the world including the Georgia Lottery (La Fleur’s 2022 World Lottery Almanac).
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Canada
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors with a signature guitar smash, marking the arrival of Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, a bold new destination where entertainment, hospitality, and music take center stage.
The $350 million resort brings the brand’s unmistakable energy to Canada’s capital, offering locals and visitors an immersive Hard Rock experience blending iconic music history with world-class entertainment, hospitality, dining, and gaming.
In true Hard Rock fashion, the opening festivities kicked off with the Canadian Tenors’ electrifying rendition of O Canada followed by the brand’s signature Guitar Smash, a modern take on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. Executives, dignitaries, and community leaders took the stage to ceremoniously smash guitars, signaling the official opening of the state-of-the-art entertainment destination.
A special moment included the presentation of a $100,000 donation to Ottawa Food Bank, reinforcing Hard Rock’s commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.
“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand. We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place,” said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Hard Rock International.
“Our government is thrilled that Hard Rock chose Ontario for its first fully integrated hotel and casino venue in Canada. This new entertainment and hospitality destination will draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
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AGCO
MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition

PointsBet Holdings Limited announced that MIXI has received written confirmation that AGCO has no concerns with the proposed acquisition by MIXI of the shares in PointsBet Holdings Limited.
PointsBet has also received written confirmation from iGaming Ontario (iGO) in relation to MIXI’s proposed acquisition of shares in PointsBet.
Accordingly, the condition precedent to MIXI’s proposed PointsBet-Board recommended Takeover Bid relating to Ontario approvals in paragraph 4.5 of Schedule 1 of the Bid Implementation Deed dated 16 June 2025 (BID) has been satisfied.
MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid remains subject to the satisfaction of certain other limited conditions as previously announced, including a 50.1% minimum acceptance of the proposed MIXI Offer (as defined in the BID).
The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission provided its approval on 24 March 2025 for MIXI to acquire PointsBet. PointsBet confirmed that MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid is no longer subject to any gaming regulatory approvals.
The post MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
AGCO
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.
On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.
In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.
As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.
Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.
A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.
The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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