

Canada
Lexus returns to the Esports Awards as Steve Aoki and Xavier Woods are named as award presenters
The luxury automaker goes all-in as it returns as a sponsor for the Esports Awards for the second year in a row.
The Oscars of esports will take place on the 21st of November and play host to some of the biggest names in esports and beyond.
The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is pleased to announce luxury automaker, Lexus, is returning as a sponsor for the second year in a row marking its commitment to supporting the competitive gaming generation. This year Lexus will be the title sponsor and sponsor two awards including Esports Personality of the Year which will be presented by superstar DJ Steve Aoki, and Streamer of the Year which will be handed out by WWE legend Xavier Woods.
Lexus and Esports Awards will also work together on exclusive content pieces which will be shown during the main ceremony. This year’s Esports Awards will be a unique and immersive virtual event going beyond what has been seen in the space. The Esports Awards partnership with Lexus began back in 2019 as the brand made its first steps in the esports space with a glamorous edge. Lexus provided a selection of supercars from the likes of Black Panther and Men in Black International films as well as the GS F10th Anniversary Edition which took center stage at the main ceremony at Esports Stadium Arlington.
“As competitive gaming continues to grow in popularity, Lexus is proud to return to the Esports Awards and go all-in as title sponsor,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing. “This year’s virtual Esports Awards will be an extraordinary opportunity to come together and create memorable moments while celebrating the industry’s best.”
“2020 has been a challenging year for a number of businesses and events in particular. While we would have loved to produce a physical event to showcase the industry’s talent and celebrate a milestone year, we now have the opportunity to create something completely unique in the digital space in which we thrive. Our team has embraced the unique challenge and working with Live CGI, created a truly ground breaking show in the Unreal Engine. It’s great to have Lexus supporting the space and recognising the potential and significance of a digital event that can reach millions globally. It also speaks volumes to double down on esports after a successful 2019 activation at the Esports Awards 2019, at the Esports Stadium, in Arlington, Texas. The awards celebrate excellence and to us, Lexus represents excellence in luxury cars making them the perfect fit as a title sponsor,” said Michael Ashford, Managing Director, Esports Awards.
2020 marks a landmark year for the Esports Awards as it celebrates its fifth year of recognising and celebrating esports excellence. Regarded as the Oscars of esports, the ceremony plays hosts to some of the biggest and most coveted brands, teams, organizations, and personalities that the industry has to offer. This year’s event will be a truly unique virtual showcase that will incorporate all the usual prestige while providing an evening of unforgettable memories. With a total of 37 awards available across both the Esports Awards Prelude and Main Event, viewers will have access to more content than ever before. A recording-breaking 5.1 million votes were counted for this year’s event.
This year the Esports Awards has joined forces with Esports Insider to create the Esports Assemble, four days of best in class B2B content which will provide unparalleled insights from the biggest brands and industry thought-leaders. Esports Assemble will take place from the 18th-21st November and play host to ESI Digital Winter, Esports Awards Expo before concluding with the Esports Awards ceremony. Tickets for Esports Assemble are available now at Esports Awards and Esports Insider and start at £75.
The 2020 Esports Awards officially kicks off on live on Twitch on Friday 20th November with the Esports Awards Prelude at 9:00pm GMT / 10:00pm CET / 13:00pm PT and will culminate with the glamorous main event on Saturday 21st November at 9:00pm GMT / 10:00pm CET / 13:00pm PT.
Canada
Thunderkick’s portfolio makes Ontario debut through SkillOnNet brands

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet is deepening its existing partnership with Stockholm-based game studio Thunderkick to launch the developer’s unique, engaging slot titles in Ontario.
The Canadian province is one of the most exciting regulated markets in North America, and the Ontario players will now gain access to Thunderkick’s full portfolio of highly acclaimed games via SkillOnNet-powered online casino brands such as PlayOJO, SlotsMagic, and SpinGenie.
Thunderkick is known for its independent, boundary-pushing slot games like Pink Elephants, Esqueleto Explosivo, and Beat the Beast and has established a strong reputation for creativity and originality in the iGaming space. The deal allows the studio to further expand its global footprint while giving Ontario players the chance to enjoy a fresh wave of premium content.
Ontario’s regulated online gaming market, which officially opened in 2022, has quickly become a key market for the iGaming industry, and SkillOnNet was among the first brands to secure licensing in the province. The expansion reinforces SkillOnNet’s commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment in regulated markets globally.
Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “Thunderkick has been a key partner of ours in other markets, and we’re delighted to bring their outstanding content to Ontario. This region is fast becoming a vital part of our operations, and we’re confident players here will respond just as positively to Thunderkick’s games as they have elsewhere.”
Mariam Dodosh, Account Manager at Thunderkick said: “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with SkillOnNet and enter the Ontario market together. Our games have a track record of strong performance, and we’re excited to see them go live in one of the most dynamic new regions in iGaming.”
The post Thunderkick’s portfolio makes Ontario debut through SkillOnNet brands appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
Maverick Games Launches Sports Betting Operations in Ontario

Maverick Games has launched sports betting operations in Ontario, through a partnership with Delasport.
Maverick Games will offer Ontarian players a premium sports betting experience, built on Delasport’s superior technology and known for its unique innovative features that players love including personalization, recommendations, gamification, quick bets, player engagement features, and more.
Maverick Games is the second brand to launch on Delasport’s technology in Ontario, with another full turnkey brand set to go live soon. Delasport also recently unveiled its innovative sports betting jackpot network game, SuperPot. The company will showcase this unique product at the Canadian Gaming Summit next month and begin rolling it out to Ontarian operators shortly thereafter.
“We are proud to see Maverick Games live and thriving with our one of a kind sportsbook solution at its core. They have been a fantastic partner from the start, and this launch further demonstrates how fast and efficient our technology is when paired with a clear vision and strong collaboration,” said Rosaire Galea Cavallaro, VP of Business Development at Delasport.
“Maverick Games’s sports vertical is a major step forward for us and launching it with Delasport has been the right move from day one. The platform’s performance and flexibility allow us to deliver the kind of user experience we believe Ontario players deserve. We’re excited to now bring that vision to life,” CEO Matt Rathbun said.
The post Maverick Games Launches Sports Betting Operations in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
Tsleil-Waututh Nation Signs MoU to Acquire Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino

Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire the casino business and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino (Hastings) in the City of Vancouver from Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (Great Canadian Entertainment).
“We are thrilled to take another important step towards economic self-determination for our Nation in our traditional territory, and we are eager to work with the senior management team at Great Canadian Entertainment to finalize due diligence and execute a definitive agreement, as well as working with the City of Vancouver to ensure the best long-term use of this important asset within the City. We believe that this opportunity is historic for us in many ways, and we look forward to entering the gaming industry in due course,” said Jen Thomas, Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
“We are excited about working with TWN on their potential acquisition of the casino operations and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino. Recognizing that Hastings is part of the TWN’s traditional territory, we can think of no better entity to inherit this asset, and we look forward to supporting them in the transition after the anticipated close of the sale,” Matt Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Canadian Entertainment.
The agreement is subject to further due diligence, finalization of financial terms and the execution of a definitive purchase and sale agreement. Once a definitive agreement has been executed by the parties, it is anticipated that the transaction will be subject to customary closing conditions as well as customary approvals by gaming regulatory and other authorities, including certain approvals by the City of Vancouver given its ownership of the real property. It is expected that Great Canadian Entertainment will provide transition services to TWN for a period of time following the anticipated closing.
The post Tsleil-Waututh Nation Signs MoU to Acquire Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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