Canada
HISTORIC DIVISIONAL WEEKEND ON TAP FOR NFL PLAYOFFS Opening odds for NFL’s Divisional Weekend show one the closest combined point spreads in the history of the playoffs, according to TheLines
Four NFL Playoff games this weekend feature four of the closest matchups in NFL history, according to analysts TheLines, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.
This year’s Divisional Weekend shows a combined opening point spread of just 14 points in the four games, according to a consensus of that nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, and PointsBet. Historical data shows that the lowest combined points for the four-game Divisional Weekend came in 1971 when the four games featured combined odds of 13.5 points.
To put the number in perspective, the average combined point spread for the Divisional Weekend for the past 15 years is 27 points, and the lowest combined point spread in that 15-year span was 21 points last season. The opening odds for this weekend show a sharp contrast coming off the Wild Card Weekend in which five of the six favorites won outright with four of them winning in double-digit blowouts.
The Cincinnati Bengals will play at the Tennessee Titans on Saturday to open the action and the Titans opened as a consensus 3.5-point favorite. The Bengals’ win over the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend marked the first playoff victory in 31 years for the franchise.
The Saturday evening matchup features the Green Bay Packers playing host to the San Francisco 49ers, who were the only underdog to cover and win outright in the Wild Card Weekend. The Packers, who own home-field advantage on the NFC side of the playoffs, had a bye last weekend. And several of their stars — including MVP frontrunner Aaron Rodgers — saw limited action in Week 18, so Green Bay should be well rested.
Sunday opens with the Los Angeles Rams traveling to face the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams are coming off blowout victories last weekend and oddsmakers have installed the Bucs as 2.5-point favorites to open the week.
The final game of the weekend is perhaps the most anticipated matchup as the Buffalo Bills travel to play the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Chiefs sitting as a 2.5-point favorite. The game features the highest over/under total of the weekend at 55 points.
“All four of these games have the potential to be classic NFL Playoff games and we expect to see bettors pay significant attention to this weekend,” said Brett Collson
lead analyst for TheLines.com. “The home team is the favorite in all four games, but the relatively narrow lines show just how tight these matchups could be.”
The current odds for each playoff team to win Super Bowl LVI as of Tuesday, Jan. 18 (with preseason odds):
- Green Bay Packers +375 (+1400)
- Kansas City Chiefs +400 (+500)
- Buffalo Bills +500 (+1150)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +550 (+650)
- Los Angeles Rams +750 (+1500)
- Tennessee Titans +750 (+3000)
- San Francisco 49ers +1000 (+1400)
- Cincinnati Bengals +1200 (+15000)
The consensus point spreads for the Divisional Weekend, as of Tuesday, Jan. 18:
- Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans (-3.5); over/under 47
- San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (-5.5); over/under 47.5
- Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5); over/under 48.5
- Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5); over/under 55
To access updated NFL playoff lines and Super Bowl odds, and for more analysis, visit TheLines.com/odds/nfl-playoffs.
Canada
ComeOn Group adds sportsbook to its offering in Ontario
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.
Canada
Relax Gaming joins forces with PointsBet to strengthen footprint in Ontario
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.
-
gaming2 years ago
ODIN 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