

Canada
PLAYMAKER HIRES HEAD OF MONETIZATION TO ENHANCE REVENUE GENERATING CAPABILITIES ACROSS ITS PORTFOLIO OF DIGITAL SPORTS MEDIA ASSETS
Playmaker Capital Inc. (TSXV: PMKR; OTCQX: PMKRF) (“Playmaker”), the digital sports media company that delivers authentic content experiences through its portfolio of sports media and technology brands, is pleased to announce that it has hired Felipe Cortelezzi as its new Head of Monetization. Mr. Cortelezzi will maximize revenue-generating capabilities across Playmaker’s portfolio of digital sports media assets, and his efforts will bring immense value to corporate advertisers and sports betting operators looking to access Playmaker’s vast ecosystem of highly engaged sports fans.
Mr. Cortelezzi brings to this role a deep understanding of multiplatform advertising sales, publisher Ad operations and performance, affiliate partnership generation, and video-based media distribution. Most recently, Mr. Cortelezzi served as Director, AVOD Monetization & Operations at ViacomCBS where he led the process for the sale and placement of a variety of advertising campaigns on ViacomCBS video-based content, including some of the most-watched video and television content throughout the Americas. Prior to his role at ViacomCBS, Mr. Cortelezzi held various leadership positions in sales and advertising throughout Argentina, South Africa, and the U.S.
In his new role as Head of Monetization at Playmaker, Mr. Cortelezzi will have direct oversight for monetization efforts across Playmaker’s portfolio of sports media brands throughout North America and Latin America. Playmaker’s brands in the aggregate generated over 210 million web sessions from 85 million unique users in December 2021, and its owned and operated social media presence is in excess of 100 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.
Playmaker’s monetization capabilities are powered by Bench, an in-house tech stack that includes best-in-class technology tools integrated into a software platform that is designed to enhance user engagement and supercharge monetization. Bench is currently operational for Playmaker brands, Futbol Sites (Latin America) and Yardbarker (U.S.) and the migration of monetization of The Nation Network (Canada) is in process. Once fully implemented, Bench, along with the expertise of Mr. Cortelezzi and Playmaker’s ad operations team, will provide industry-leading monetization capabilities for Playmaker.
“We are very happy to add Felipe to the Playmaker team. I have known Felipe for more than 15 years and I deeply believe in his professional and personal skills and everything he can contribute to Playmaker,” commented Federico Grinberg, EVP of Playmaker and CEO of Futbol Sites, a Playmaker brand. “In his role, Felipe will help to quickly unify and scale the monetization capabilities of Playmaker Bench across all of Playmaker’s assets.”
“To succeed we need to have the best team and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to add someone with Felipe’s capability and experience,” said Jordan Gnat, CEO of Playmaker. “We will continue to add the best and brightest to the Playmaker family.”
As regulated sports betting continues to become more widely adopted throughout the Americas, Playmaker will monetize its web-based and social media platforms through more affiliate revenue partnerships, for which Mr. Cortelezzi will be instrumental in executing on. Mr. Cortelezzi will report to Federico Grinberg, and he will be based in Miami, FL.
Betty
Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has agreed a deal with Ontario-based operator Betty to supply the rapidly growing online casino with a diverse collection of globally popular titles.
Betty, an official partner of sporting franchises Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, has risen to prominence since its 2022 establishment, when it was built following the consultation of 300 casino players to create the optimal iGaming environment.
Distinguishing itself from North American competitors by catering specifically to slot enthusiasts rather than sports bettors, the operator has curated a portfolio of 2,800 games, hand-picked to deliver customers maximum entertainment value.
Thunderkick’s content is the latest to be integrated into Betty’s online casino, and the agreement will see a selection of its most popular titles, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3, made available to a greater number of Ontarian players.
Thunderkick marked its debut in the Canadian province in Q2 of 2024, and has since partnered with a network of leading operators to improve its market position. The collaboration with Betty will further amplify its visibility in a key jurisdiction as the provider looks to reinforce its reputation as a global slot developer.
Svante Sahlström, CCO at Thunderkick, said: “It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible.
“Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players.”
Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty, added: “Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.
“Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience.”
The post Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BCLC
Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026

BCLC is pleased to announce the return of the New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference, taking place November 2–4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
This global event brings leading voices in research, policy and industry together to explore innovative approaches to safer gambling. Attendees can expect two days of forward-thinking dialogue, evidence-based insights and collaborative solutions to help shape the future of player health.
Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available
New to the 2026 conference, BCLC is excited to offer sponsorship opportunities to organizations that share BCLC’s passion for safer gambling. Benefits of sponsoring New Horizons 2026 include industry visibility, leadership recognition and meaningful engagement with a global audience. To learn more about sponsorship, please e-mail [email protected].
Registration and program details will be released later this fall.
The post Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
gaming3 years ago
ODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory9 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News8 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News7 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 Industry8 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News7 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry8 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