

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.
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.
Canada
IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement

International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions ULC (hereinafter “IGT”), signed an eight-year agreement with Atlantic Lottery to supply its IntelligenEVO video lottery central system technology across Atlantic Canada. The agreement includes the option for multiple extensions and positions the Atlantic Lottery to become the first World Lottery Association (WLA)-affiliated lottery operator to deploy IGT’s next-generation central management system in a game-to-system (G2S) distributed market.
“By leveraging IGT’s IntelligenEVO technology, Atlantic Lottery will power its video lottery network with the industry’s best-in-class central system and position itself to maximize future contributions to good causes. As an organization that prioritizes system security and exceptional player experiences, Atlantic Lottery believes that IGT’s IntelliegnEVO solution will help generate high player satisfaction and optimal network performance,” said Michael MacKinnon, Atlantic Lottery VP, Product.
“As a long-time supplier to Atlantic Lottery, IGT looks forward to helping the Lottery achieve its growth and player engagement goals with our leading-edge IntelligenEVO video lottery central system. IGT’s IntelligenEVO is a scalable technology for the WLA market that is backed by decades of experience and operator feedback, and maximizes the benefits of real-time data, cloud-based technologies and in-depth analytics,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, EMEA and LATAM, Gaming Sales.
With peak system security, network availability and responsible gaming functionalities, IntelligenEVO is a reliable, scalable solution that can meet the needs of today and in the future. The solution will accelerate time-to-market and enables the Atlantic Lottery to benefit from the system’s suite of player-focused functionality. The technology’s G2S and open API design optimizes data collection and delivery and will enable Atlantic Lottery to customize their program for evolving player needs.
The post IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BetRivers
NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform

NetGaming, a fast-growing online casino content supplier, is proud to announce its launch in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive, Inc., a leading online casino and sports betting company in the United States, Canada and Latin America. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for NetGaming as it continues to expand its footprint across regulated North American markets.
As part of the launch, Ontario players on BetRivers can now enjoy a diverse portfolio of NetGaming titles, known for their high-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and unique themes. Standout games such as Zeus’s Thunderbolt, Bison Gold, and Fireball Inferno are among the first to go live, with additional titles set to follow soon.
This partnership is just the beginning. NetGaming plans to extend its collaboration with Rush Street Interactive into Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mexico over the coming months.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, commented: “We are thrilled to go live with Rush Street Interactive, a powerhouse operator with a strong presence and loyal player base. This launch marks a significant milestone in our
North American expansion strategy and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences tailored to local player preferences across the region.”
Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, commented: “We are pleased to partner with NetGaming to bring innovative, premium games to our players in Ontario. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to offer world-class
entertainment through engaging, action-packed online casino games. We look forward to expanding this partnership into additional regulated markets in the months ahead.”
This strategic partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to providing high- quality, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players in regulated markets.
The post NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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