Connect with us
European Gaming Congress 2024

Canada

Genius Sports Appoints Former NFL Network and ESPN CEO as President, North America

Published

on

 

Genius Sports Limited, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, announced that Steve Bornstein will join the company in a newly created executive role of President, North America. Mr. Bornstein will lead the Company’s U.S. and Canadian activities, building on the existing team’s capabilities and relationships. He will assume the position with immediate effect.

Mr. Bornstein has held a range of prominent positions across the sports, media and advisory sectors. In particular, he brings extensive broadcast experience to Genius Sports, drawing on his over 20 years at ESPN and ABC, where in 1990 he became ESPN’s youngest president and CEO at age 38. At ESPN he oversaw the launch of ESPN2, ESPN News, ESPN Radio, ESPN Classic, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine, the ESPYs and the X-Games. He also created the network’s popular programming staples including: College GameDay, NFL PrimeTime, and Baseball Tonight.

Mr. Bornstein is also well-known for his time as President, CEO, and Founder of the NFL Network and Executive Vice President of Media where he oversaw the league’s media division and led negotiations on TV deals and sponsorships. He is a former Chairman of Activision Blizzard’s eSports division where he created professional leagues, and new ways to deliver best-in-class fan experiences across games, platforms, and geographies. He continues to act as a senior adviser to The Raine Group, a merchant bank advising and investing in technology, media and telecom.

As the head of the North American operations, Mr. Bornstein will optimize Genius Sports’ regional business infrastructure to position the Company for accelerated growth in existing and new areas, including streaming. This will include the sourcing and unlocking of value with new and existing sports partners, including the NFL, NCAA, NASCAR, NBA, and MLB. Additionally, Mr. Bornstein will work closely with the executive team to identify innovative and revenue accretive acquisition targets. He will also support the integration of recently acquired businesses, including Second Spectrum, which is the official data tracking and analytics provider of the EPL, NBA, and MLS.

Advertisement
Stake.com

“Steve is an accomplished, forward-thinking executive who brings more than 30 years of sports media experience,” said CEO Mark Locke. “As we continue to execute on our growth strategy North America, we look forward to benefitting from a visionary like Steve who played a major role in shaping the growth and success of iconic brands like ESPN and the NFL. As a leader, he exemplifies the values set out at Genius and will help us progress our culture of collaboration and innovation.”

“I am excited to join Genius Sports at this time in the company’s growth,” said Mr. Bornstein. “And I’m delighted to partner with Mark and his outstanding team as Genius demonstrates and deepens its commitment to drive real value for its partners in the U.S. and Canada. I can’t wait to get started.”

Earlier in his career, Steve also served as Corporate Vice President of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (1993), President of ABC Sports (1996), Chairman & CEO of ESPN (1998), and President of ABC, Inc. (1999), where he was responsible for all media assets at ABC/Disney.

Mr. Bornstein holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin. An active philanthropist, he is the founder & Chairman of The V Foundation which has raised more than $335 million for cancer research in the name of late college basketball coach and ESPN analyst Jim Valvano. A lifelong believer in sports as a force for good, he has served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.

Advertisement
Stake.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

AGCO

Edict Egaming Secures Approval for Ontario Licence

Published

on

edict-egaming-secures-approval-for-ontario-licence

 

Edict egaming has received approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to provide its games for the online casino market in the Canadian province. This applies to both the German edict egaming GmbH and Edict Malta Limited. From now on, the Merkur Group subsidiary will be able to offer its popular Merkur slots in one of the largest North American markets.

“We are delighted to have received AGCO approval for our Merkur games in Ontario. This is definitely a big step for edict and we are very excited to showcase ourselves to new audiences on the global stage in this dynamic market,” Dominic-Daniel Liénard, CEO of edict egaming GmbH, said.

The AGCO is working with the Government of Ontario and iGaming Ontario (iGO) to establish a new online gaming market that helps protect consumers gambling through private gaming companies. This license certifies that edict operates within the framework of strict laws and meets the requirements for responsible gaming.

Continue Reading

Canada

CasinoCanada and WinSpirit enter lifelong partnership

Published

on

casinocanada-and-winspirit-enter-lifelong-partnership

CasinoCanada, the number one gambling guide for players in Canada, has put pen to paper on a major partnership with WinSpirit, one of the most popular crypto casinos in the country, in a significant boost to both parties.

The lifetime partnership will see WinSpirit gain premium positioning on high-traffic pages throughout the English site of CasinoCanada, which has been providing information and guides to Canadian players for more than 20 years.

The CasinoCanada team will also carry out a comprehensive review of WinSpirit so that its readers can get the full lowdown on what the casino has to offer.

CasinoCanada is famous for its casino ranking system, with each site given a total score out of ten. This is calculated based on how the casino scores across key areas including registration process, usability, promotions, VIP experience, slots, game types, payments, mobile and customer support.

Each casino is played by a real person and CasinoCanada is always honest about the experience the casino offers to players. This is why it’s good that WinSpirit offers one of the best overall online casino experiences in Canada.

Advertisement
Stake.com

Players can enjoy a hugely generous welcome bonus as well as a great selection of slots and games such as Dice, Crash, Limbo, Wheel of Fortune and many more.

Aleksandra Drigo, Sales Director at CasinoCanada, said: “WinSpirit has taken the market by storm and is one of the most played online casino brands in Canada, so we are thrilled to have signed this lifetime partnership and to bring it to our players for the first time.

“Our team has already put the casino through its paces, and it’s scored incredibly highly so we look forward to seeing our players sign up and enjoy what it has to offer.

“It’s partnerships such as this that strengthen our position as the leading online casino guide for players in Canada. Players trust our information and reviews and know that the casinos we list on our site are among the best.”

Pavel Miroshnichenko, Head of Affiliates at WinSpirit, added: “We are delighted to have signed such a significant partnership with CasinoCanada, one of the leading online casino guides in the country.

Advertisement
Stake.com

“We go to great lengths to deliver a top player experience, from the welcome bonus we offer to the games we stock and the payment methods available in our lobby, and it’s great to see CasinoCanada recognise this by giving us such a high score.”

Continue Reading

Canada

mkodo Joins the Canadian Gaming Association in its Commitment to Supporting the Regulated Canadian Gaming Market

Published

on

mkodo-joins-the-canadian-gaming-association-in-its-commitment-to-supporting-the-regulated-canadian-gaming-market

 

mkodo, the leading provider of mobile apps, websites, front-end UX and geolocation technology to the Canadian lotteries, including OLG, BCLC, WCLC, ALC and AGLC for over 13 years, is proud to announce its recent membership to the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA). This strategic partnership demonstrates mkodo’s commitment to supporting and enhancing the digital experience within Canada’s dynamic regulated iGaming sector.

As a member of the CGA, mkodo will collaborate with other industry leaders to drive innovation, advocate for responsible gaming practices, and contribute to the overall growth and sustainability of lottery, betting and gaming, both land-based and online, across the Canadian provinces.

Joining the CGA highlights mkodo’s dedication to delivering high-quality, secure, and user-friendly products and services that meet the changing needs of iGaming operators and their players, including their geolocation compliance service, GeoLocs, that is used by lottery operators across Canada, including OLG and WCLC, along with iGaming operators and platforms in Ontario including White Hat Gaming,, Casino Time and Betty.

Stuart Godfree, Managing Director of mkodo, said of the new partnership: “We are thrilled to join the Canadian Gaming Association, an organisation that plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the regulated gaming industry in Canada. This membership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide exceptional user experiences in iGaming and Lottery and reinforces our commitment to supporting responsible gaming initiatives within Canada. We look forward to collaborating with CGA members to drive forward the industry’s standards and innovation.”

Advertisement
Stake.com

Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, welcomed mkodo to the association, saying: “We are delighted to have mkodo join our membership. Their expertise as the leading mobile apps and geolocation supplier to Crown Corporations Lotteries will be a valuable addition to our community.”

Continue Reading

Trending