Connect with us

Canada

Playmaker Commences Trading on TSXV; Jake Cassaday announced as Chief Operating Officer to bolster growth initiatives

Published

on

 

Playmaker Capital Inc., the Toronto-based, newly-listed digital ecosystem for sports fans, is pleased to announced that trading in its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) will commence today at 9:30 a.m. under the ticker symbol “PMKR”. Playmaker is also pleased to announce the appointment of Jake Cassaday as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Cassaday was previously a Partner at Relay Ventures, a prominent North American venture capital fund and lead investor behind Playmaker.

Playmaker has a mission to aggregate an ecosystem of engaged sports fans that will be monetized with sports betting companies, blue chip advertisers, leagues and teams. Playmaker’s vision is to apply an intentional and thoughtful approach to becoming a strategic aggregator of sports fans, the true lifeblood of the sports betting industry.

As previously announced, in April 2021, Playmaker completed its first acquisition, Futbol Sites, a leading digital sports media group connecting brands and sports betting operators to millions of fans in Latin America and the U.S. Playmaker anticipates making further acquisitions focused on brands with high-quality assets and solid management teams with a demonstrable track record for sustained growth and profitability.

Playmaker is led by an experienced management team that is well positioned to achieve the goals set out for the organization. In executive officers, Jordan Gnat (Chief Executive Officer), Jake Cassaday (Chief Operating Officer), Mike Cooke (Chief Financial Officer) and Federico Grinberg (Executive Vice President), Playmaker has decades of transaction and industry experience in both the digital media and sports betting sectors. The board of directors is led by Chair Maryann Turcke, currently serving on the board of directors of the Royal Bank of Canada, and previously Chief Operating Officer of the National Football League (NFL) and President of Bell Media.

“Today marks the next step in Playmaker’s journey to become a global player in digital sports media. We will leverage our experienced management team and exceptional board of directors to bring great value to our shareholders,” commented Jordan Gnat, Chief Executive Officer of Playmaker. “These are exciting times in the early life of Playmaker. Our mission is to build an ecosystem of assets that will provide sports fans and our clients with outsized value. We are beginning from an already-profitable position, and now we welcome Jake Cassaday as Chief Operating Officer.”

“To be joining Playmaker, fresh on the heels of a go-public, and ready to scale through both organic and acquisitive growth, is hugely exciting for me,” added Jake Cassaday. “Playmaker connects my passions for sports, technology, and media, and allows me to leverage my experience to support the Playmaker growth engine and build a lasting company in the sports media arena.”

Before joining Playmaker, Mr. Cassaday enjoyed a six-year tenure at Relay Ventures where he served on the board of directors of several high-growth companies, and as an advisor to startup accelerators, including Techstars and the Future of Sport Lab. Mr. Cassaday has been heavily involved with Playmaker since its inception, helping to build out its strategy, raise capital, and carry out initial acquisitions. He holds an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a BA from McGill University.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Aaron LaBerge

PENN Entertainment Launches Stand-alone iCasino App, theScore Casino, in Ontario

Published

on

penn-entertainment-launches-stand-alone-icasino-app,-thescore-casino,-in-ontario

 

PENN Entertainment announced that it has launched theScore Casino, a new stand-alone iCasino app in Ontario. The dedicated online casino experience leverages the popular theScore brand, which has been a mainstay in the Ontario market for decades. Now available on Android, iOS, and desktop, customers can login using their existing theScore Bet credentials, allowing for a seamless experience across online gaming platforms.

theScore Casino operates on the same cutting-edge proprietary technology platform as PENN’s online Hollywood Casino, which launched as a standalone product in the US in December. The product was recently ranked by Eilers & Krejcik as the #2 overall iCasino product in the US.

theScore Casino, also available within theScore Bet app, offers a variety of online slots, table games, and live dealer content, including original titles from PENN Game Studios, the company’s in-house game development studio. theScore Casino also includes bespoke live dealer tables and exclusive games such as Blue Jays Blackjack, an original title leveraging theScore Bet’s partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We’re excited to introduce our dedicated iCasino product in Ontario under the well-known and trusted theScore brand. We’ve built a strong online gaming foothold in the Ontario market and are primed to deliver an even better casino experience with our proven stand-alone app. Our customer-friendly platform features more than 1200 games, dozens of original titles and intuitive game play that distinguishes our product and positions us for even greater success,” said Aaron LaBerge, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Interactive at PENN Entertainment.

The post PENN Entertainment Launches Stand-alone iCasino App, theScore Casino, in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Continue Reading

Canada

ELK Studios Expands Partnership with SkillOnNet to Ontario Market

Published

on

elk-studios-expands-partnership-with-skillonnet-to-ontario-market

 

PlayOJO, SlotsMagic and SpinGenie to carry ELK Studios’ games in Ontario

Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet and innovative Swedish game creator Elk Studios have cemented their longstanding partnership with the launch of ELK’s groundbreaking portfolio in the Ontario market.

ELK Studios is responsible for some of the industry’s most innovative and engaging online casino games. Now, players at SkillOnNet’s Ontario-licensed casinos, PlayOJO, SlotsMagic and SpinGenie, will be able to experience the feature-packed delights of hit titles like Nitropolis, Tinkerbot and Pirot, as well as new release Orbitfall, and the studio’s signature X-iter and CollectR mechanics.

The expansion marks a milestone for ELK Studios as it continues to grow its footprint in regulated markets worldwide. SkillOnNet recently successfully launched the studio’s portfolio in the Spanish and Mexican markets through its Spanish-language brands and expects the studio’s games to make a similarly immediate impact with Ontario players.

Ontario has become a hugely important growth market since the province launched regulated online gaming in 2022. It was worth $2.4 billion in 2024, with $63 billion in wagering, the lion’s share coming from online casinos.

Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “ELK Studios is known for its high-quality games that blend unique storytelling and humour with high levels of engagement and playability, which is why we’re delighted to introduce them to Ontario. We believe they will perform successfully, as they have in other markets around the world.”

Vaida Cirtautaite, CCO at ELK Studios said: “SkillOnNet has been an invaluable partner in our growth journey, and we are thrilled to expand our collaboration into Ontario. We’re excited to bring our innovative games to a new wave of players in this dynamic market.”

The post ELK Studios Expands Partnership with SkillOnNet to Ontario Market appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Continue Reading

AGCO

Playnetic granted Ontario supplier license

Published

on

playnetic-granted-ontario-supplier-license

 

Global B2B iGaming content provider secures first Canadian market entry following the successful submission and approval of its gaming-related supplier application

Playnetic, the in-demand global B2B iGaming content provider known for its quality games, reliable delivery and outstanding customer service, has announced the approval of its gaming-related supplier application by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

With the AGCO licensing process being recognised in the industry for its rigorous standards and thorough due diligence, the new certification confirms Playnetic was able to meet the high levels of integrity and regulatory compliance needed to legally distribute its content within the province.

As a result of the approval, Playnetic has now secured its first Canadian market entry and will be able to provide its library of innovative games to licensed operators in the Ontario region – with this starting point paving the way for further expansion into other regulated provinces in future.

Given signs of change emerging within the Canadian market and Alberta making progress toward a regulated online model – likely drawing from Ontario’s framework – this license positions Playnetic strongly to expand its footprint in the country and further solidifies the company’s ambitious growth plans.

In the meantime, Playnetic has already begun making groundwork with key operators in the Ontario region and is looking forward to going live with some exciting brands over the coming months. The company will also be attending SBC’s Canadian Gaming Summit from June 17-19, where both existing and new potential partners alike are welcome to stop by and meet the team.

Dan Phillips, Chief Executive Officer at Playnetic, said: “Acquiring AGCO approval for our gaming-related supplier application is undoubtedly a big step for Playnetic. The new license not only secures our first Canadian market entry, but also reaffirms Playnetic’s position as a trusted provider in iGaming and underlines our commitment to compliance and operational excellence.”

Julian Borg-Barthet, Chief Commercial Officer at Playnetic, said: “We’re very excited to now be in a position to offer our library of innovative gaming content in Ontario, and the groundwork to do that with some of the region’s biggest licensed operators is already underway. Over time, we’re confident this license will also help us expand further into current markets and emerging regulated provinces, such as Alberta.”

The post Playnetic granted Ontario supplier license appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Continue Reading

Trending