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New York Impact, Ad Risks Highlighted In U.S. Sports Betting Regulatory Survey

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Contagion from New York’s high-tax model and an anticipated backlash on advertising are policy risks of chief concern for a U.S. sports betting market that is set to expand to almost every state within the next three years, according to the findings of the second annual VIXIO GamblingCompliance and SBC U.S. Sports Betting Regulatory Survey.

Just over half the 145 senior industry executives, regulatory officials and legal advisors who participated in the survey said they expect sports betting to be legal in 45 or more states by 2025, compared with 32 at the start of 2022.

But concerns related to New York’s unique regulatory model for online sports betting and its high tax rate of 51 percent were a clear theme of survey responses.

When asked in the VIXIO/SBC survey to select the policy issue most likely to impede growth of the U.S. market in future years, 21 percent of respondents picked high tax rates and license fees, ahead of the 12-14 percent who selected either the slower rollout of iGaming, the Wire Act, limited enforcement actions against offshore operators, or restrictions on permitted bet types or events.

The spread of New York’s high-tax model to other states was also selected by almost 28 percent as the most concerning from a list of hypothetical regulatory events.

The initial VIXIO/SBC survey conducted in late 2020 mainly highlighted industry concerns related to the 1961 Wire Act, an enigmatic federal law which prohibits interstate sports wagering, but these appear to have diminished since a favorable federal appellate court ruling that came on the same day as the inauguration of a Biden administration seen as less likely to clamp down on online gambling than that of former President Trump.

“The second VIXIO/SBC U.S. Sports Betting Regulatory Survey showed a noticeable and understandable shift in industry sentiment on regulatory risks in the U.S. market,” said James Kilsby, VIXIO’s chief analyst.

“Ten states passed laws on sports wagering during 2021 and they did so through a far more diverse range of regulatory models than in prior years, with New York establishing by far most expensive U.S. market to date in terms of tax rates and license fees, and another potentially lucrative market, Florida, seeking to grant exclusivity to the Seminole Tribe.”

While sports betting is expanding rapidly, online casino or iGaming is stuck in a much lower gear, limited to just six states at the start of 2022. 25 percent of survey participants said perceived risks of problem gambling were the main reason for the slower rollout of iGaming compared with sports betting, closely followed by concerns of cannibalization of land-based casino revenue. Still, 55 percent said they expected iGaming to expand to 10 or more states by 2025.

On another hot topic, survey participants were also asked about nascent concerns related to advertising, which has exploded in various states that have recently launched online sports wagering. 65 percent said they agreed some kind of policy backlash, similar to that currently sweeping across Europe, is inevitable without industry efforts to proactively limit marketing efforts.

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Thunderkick’s portfolio makes Ontario debut through SkillOnNet brands

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Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet is deepening its existing partnership with Stockholm-based game studio Thunderkick to launch the developer’s unique, engaging slot titles in Ontario.

The Canadian province is one of the most exciting regulated markets in North America, and the Ontario players will now gain access to Thunderkick’s full portfolio of highly acclaimed games via SkillOnNet-powered online casino brands such as PlayOJO, SlotsMagic, and SpinGenie.

Thunderkick is known for its independent, boundary-pushing slot games like Pink Elephants, Esqueleto Explosivo, and Beat the Beast and has established a strong reputation for creativity and originality in the iGaming space. The deal allows the studio to further expand its global footprint while giving Ontario players the chance to enjoy a fresh wave of premium content.

Ontario’s regulated online gaming market, which officially opened in 2022, has quickly become a key market for the iGaming industry, and SkillOnNet was among the first brands to secure licensing in the province. The expansion reinforces SkillOnNet’s commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment in regulated markets globally.

Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “Thunderkick has been a key partner of ours in other markets, and we’re delighted to bring their outstanding content to Ontario. This region is fast becoming a vital part of our operations, and we’re confident players here will respond just as positively to Thunderkick’s games as they have elsewhere.”

Mariam Dodosh, Account Manager at Thunderkick said: “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with SkillOnNet and enter the Ontario market together. Our games have a track record of strong performance, and we’re excited to see them go live in one of the most dynamic new regions in iGaming.”

The post Thunderkick’s portfolio makes Ontario debut through SkillOnNet brands appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Maverick Games Launches Sports Betting Operations in Ontario

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Maverick Games has launched sports betting operations in Ontario, through a partnership with Delasport.

Maverick Games will offer Ontarian players a premium sports betting experience, built on Delasport’s superior technology and known for its unique innovative features that players love including personalization, recommendations, gamification, quick bets, player engagement features, and more.

Maverick Games is the second brand to launch on Delasport’s technology in Ontario, with another full turnkey brand set to go live soon. Delasport also recently unveiled its innovative sports betting jackpot network game, SuperPot. The company will showcase this unique product at the Canadian Gaming Summit next month and begin rolling it out to Ontarian operators shortly thereafter.

“We are proud to see Maverick Games live and thriving with our one of a kind sportsbook solution at its core. They have been a fantastic partner from the start, and this launch further demonstrates how fast and efficient our technology is when paired with a clear vision and strong collaboration,” said Rosaire Galea Cavallaro, VP of Business Development at Delasport.

“Maverick Games’s sports vertical is a major step forward for us and launching it with Delasport has been the right move from day one. The platform’s performance and flexibility allow us to deliver the kind of user experience we believe Ontario players deserve. We’re excited to now bring that vision to life,” CEO Matt Rathbun said.

The post Maverick Games Launches Sports Betting Operations in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Tsleil-Waututh Nation Signs MoU to Acquire Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino

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Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire the casino business and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino (Hastings) in the City of Vancouver from Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (Great Canadian Entertainment).

“We are thrilled to take another important step towards economic self-determination for our Nation in our traditional territory, and we are eager to work with the senior management team at Great Canadian Entertainment to finalize due diligence and execute a definitive agreement, as well as working with the City of Vancouver to ensure the best long-term use of this important asset within the City. We believe that this opportunity is historic for us in many ways, and we look forward to entering the gaming industry in due course,” said Jen Thomas, Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

“We are excited about working with TWN on their potential acquisition of the casino operations and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino. Recognizing that Hastings is part of the TWN’s traditional territory, we can think of no better entity to inherit this asset, and we look forward to supporting them in the transition after the anticipated close of the sale,” Matt Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Canadian Entertainment.

The agreement is subject to further due diligence, finalization of financial terms and the execution of a definitive purchase and sale agreement. Once a definitive agreement has been executed by the parties, it is anticipated that the transaction will be subject to customary closing conditions as well as customary approvals by gaming regulatory and other authorities, including certain approvals by the City of Vancouver given its ownership of the real property. It is expected that Great Canadian Entertainment will provide transition services to TWN for a period of time following the anticipated closing.

The post Tsleil-Waututh Nation Signs MoU to Acquire Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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