Canada
Exclusive Q&A with Chris Nikolopoulos, Commercial Director at BETBY
Is Latin America a market that BETBY is interested in, and do you think that the bettors have different preferences to those in other regions across the globe?
Yes, Latin America is definitely a region we are paying close attention too and I believe that it will be one of the main territories for us over the next couple of years. Emerging markets are usually receptive to innovation and that’s one of the main reasons that make me think that our product is perfectly suited to Latin America. Bettors are always craving for better and more unique experiences and products and LatAm is no different. We closely monitor markets and listen to our partner’s requirements to accommodate their needs and with experience of operators within the region, we can create exciting betting opportunities.
After the explosion of sports betting in the US after the repeal of PASPA, do you expect any LatAm countries to be the next big thing?
Markets such as Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru which are already either regulated or on the cusp of being regulated look very exciting. Those countries have a combined GDP of approximately 4 trillion EUR and a huge appetite for sports betting. Whilst there are obviously a number of factors which can affect this, the appetite and market size is there, so these markets are poised to be incredible opportunities.
How have Esports and Virtual sports taken off during the recent postponement of Live Sport, and do you expect this to continue?
With such a limited amount of live sport to sate public appetite over the last couple of months, it was inevitable that interest would turn to any other sporting products available, such as virtual sports, esports and fantasy sports, among others. While these verticals do not necessarily appeal to all sports fans, obviously the industry at large saw an uptick in revenue from these verticals, despite turnover dropping as a whole for sports betting. I think that those verticals were able to convert some traditional sportsbook traffic and it is very likely they will be able to keep the trend over the coming months, with only a gradual return of sport.
Has offering more products, such as virtuals, esports, and live games, allowed Betby to reach even more players than ever before in a region that traditionally is heavily sport-focused?
Our aim was to provide the widest possible coverage of sports, including a big selection of virtual sports and an enhanced esports experience and I am proud to say that we were able to move quickly and efficiently and accomplish that. I’m sure the whole industry would agree that the last couple of months have been tough, but we came out of the period stronger. The ace in our sleeve were our in-house Betby. Games products, a combination of esports and virtual sports titles, with unique, realistic mechanics and proven, ultra-high conversion and retention rates of traditional sportsbook players. We continue to expand the product and add more and more sports and leagues, with lots in the pipeline, so stay tuned!
ComeOn Group announced a significant milestone in its sportsbook expansion journey with the addition of sportsbook to their offering in Ontario following the successful acquisition of the required permits. This addition represents a strategic advancement in the Groups sportsbook growth trajectory where they are set to double its sportsbook business in the coming years.
ComeOn Group is one of 51 active operators in Ontario. The Ontario market has experienced robust growth since its launch, reaching C$6.7 billion in revenue in 2023.* By 2029, the market is forecasted to grow by a total of 29%, with 2024 expected to close with a 20% increase.
ComeOn keeps investing in its sportsbook business acceleration that is powered by its proprietary sportsbook platform and in-house risk management and trading team. As a multi product vertical operator, ComeOn is striving to give its customer base a safe and exciting entertainment destination and this approach is now expanded to their Ontario audience.
Juergen Reutter, Chief Executive Officer at ComeOn Group, said: “We are very excited about the opportunities this new milestone opens up for us. As a casino-led operator it represents a key part of our sportsbook strategy to double our business in the coming years. Like in any of our other markets, we are striving for a differentiated sportsbook entertainment experience that is powered by our in-house technology. Our goal is to deliver top-tier entertainment to our players while fostering safe and innovative gaming experiences.”
*Source – H2GC H2 Ontario Data 25.10.2024 (excl. Lottery)
BCLC
INTRALOT Announces New Project with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation for Online Lottery Platform
INTRALOT S.A. has announced the undertaking of a new project between the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the sole lottery operator for the Government of British Columbia in Canada, and INTRALOT Inc., its US subsidiary, for the provision of an online lottery platform. The project also includes the digitalization of the existing land-based network.
The solution will be based on the Player X platform, part of the Lotos X ecosystem, and adds to the company’s overall partnership with BCLC, which has been extended until 2028.
INTRALOT is a leading player in a changing world of gaming. With significant experience in looking forward and anticipating emerging trends, the company provides future-proof solutions to regulated lottery and gaming operators around the world.
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has significantly enhanced its presence in the Ontario market through an agreement with leading Canadian operator, PointsBet.
This partnership reinforces Relax Gaming’s aim to become a standout provider across North America, having already gained early success in Ontario. Relax became one of the first suppliers to deliver content to the region’s players in March 2022, debuting with over 120 games across multiple operators.
PointsBet pride themselves as one of Canada’s leading operators offering unmatched speed, ease of use, and a comprehensive array of pre-game and in-play sports betting options. This is complemented by a top-tier online casino which will now be boosted with the integration of Relax’s portfolio of slots and live dealer options.
With its authentic Canadian approach, PointsBet prioritises technology that minimises external dependencies to maintain control over its platform and has a commitment to responsible gambling best practices, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all players.
Martin Stålros, CEO at Relax Gaming, said: “Since we launched in Ontario we have enjoyed tremendous success, with our content hitting the sweet spot for the broad range of players in the Canadian province. This partnership with PointsBet will strengthen our presence in the market as the region’s leading operator integrates our rich content portfolio which will engage its player base.”
Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer at PointsBet, added: “Relax Gaming has established a strong reputation across North America and in Ontario in particular. The impressive range of content that will be integrated into our platform will increase engagement within our online platform and we are delighted to be able to provide more immersive experiences to our audiences.”
Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 names the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.
Saroca Unveils the Transformational Leadership Program for 2025
Week 47/2024 slot games releases
EGT Digital is shortlisted in 5 categories of BEGE Awards 2024
EGT is a finalist in several categories of BEGE Awards 2024
EGT’s latest innovations to shine at the 15th edition of BEGE Expo
MGM Resorts Teams with USO and American Airlines for 14th Annual Salute to the Troops at Mandalay Bay
Evoplay enters Czech market with exclusive Fortuna collaboration
EveryMatrix launches EveryMatrix Effect campaign
Spinomenal celebrates Halloween with Book of the Cursed release
QiH Group completes C-suite hiring spree with new CFO appointment
-
gaming2 years agoODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory8 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News7 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News6 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News6 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News7 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018
