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Q&A with Matthew Kelemen, Business Development Director for North America at Pariplay

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As North America continues to embrace iGaming and more markets become regulated, there is clear appetite for content among leading operators.

While land-based games remain key, innovative, mobile-first content has emerged as a popular alternative, especially with high degrees of mobile penetration. How important a role do aggregators play as the US States open up and operators look to hit the ground running?

In short, aggregators play a massive role! We believe that everyone wins with great service and innovative content when it comes from the minds of thousands of talented members of the iGaming community, rather than just dozens.

This plethora of choice and creativity is exactly what Pariplay brings to the US and Canadian marketplace for both operators and players. It is no secret that the US in particular is an incredibly active market.

When everyone is on a speeding train of growth, operators unquestionably desire to streamline their time-to-market in an organized manner with trusted professional suppliers that really know how to deliver and support iGaming content.

Recent months have seen Pariplay enter Ontario, New Jersey, West Virginia and Michigan. Is the wealth of content that can be brought to market swiftly by aggregators a key selling point for operator partners?

It is a key selling point, but not just the only one. Beyond swift market entry, Pariplay is making substantial investments on behalf of partner studios. Our investments in terms of legal, talent, technical infrastructure and marketing is being done not only for our benefit, but for the that of the entire network that believe in us to grow their companies.

Additionally, making these investments displays an unfettered commitment to our operators that Pariplay will invest into each state/province that they do. This gives our operator partners the ability to forecast their content roadmap months to years in advance before they enter a new jurisdiction.

 

You are the new Business Development Director for North America. Does this regionalization highlight the importance of the continent for your global business plans?

Many view the US and Canada in comparable terms to the California gold rush of 1849, and we do as well. Hiring an experienced iGaming executive based in North America is our first step of many. Beyond growing our North American team and operational development, we strive to deliver games that fit local desires to our operators and players.

Whilst a ‘buffalo’ themed game appeals to players just about anywhere, players in New Jersey may not favor a UK-style pub fruit machine. Players in West Virginia might have little emotional connection for a branded game based on a soccer star. One of our biggest missions in North America is simple – Go Local and Know Their Customers.

Providing an entertainment experience that tells a story is one of Pariplay’s content values. Players love to be immersed into other worlds, lands and stories. We strongly believe working with data as well as partners to design and deliver games that fit regionally will be a key differentiator.

This is something that has been a major selling point for us in the Americas. As operators know, we have direct access to thousands of talented game makers within our portfolio of studios to deliver locally.

 

In markets throughout Europe, we’ve seen an increased focus on gamification tools. Is this something that is expected to be popular in North America, and do aggregators have an advantage in this with the ability to offer tools across thousands of games?

Pariplay’s aggregation platform offers a set of gamifications tools that can be implemented across thousands of games from multiple suppliers. These tools are essential to help our partners acquire and retain players, with products such as tournaments, free spins, bonuses, and raffles all requiring no extra integration work.

In addition, all third-party jackpots and in-game marketing tools are fully supported by our back office, ensuring operators can get maximum accessibility from all products in their portfolio.

 

For smaller studios, is partnering with an aggregator the only way to securely enter the regulated markets throughout the states?

It’s not the only way for smaller studios, but it is decidedly the most efficient and cost-effective road to market for all studios. As an example, it has taken Pariplay almost twelve months to complete our vendor licensing in Michigan. That’s a lot of time and labor hours and costs just to be approved. Then comes the technical set up, game certifications and integrations with our customers. It’s a tremendous undertaking for any company large or small.

For smaller studios, this arduous process could mean a lack of focus on producing content, or signing commercial deals, while we can offer a secure route to market.

In this way, we provide the dreamers of gaming innovation with a realistic way to achieve their visions at a mere fraction of what it takes to get in front of US gaming regulators and the likes of Rush Street Interactive, BetMGM, and Golden Nugget – just to name a few of our first customers.

 

What can we expect from Pariplay in the US and Canada for the rest of 2022?

There is a lot for us to do in North America for the rest of the year. As well as bringing out new products, we will continue to focus on gaining licenses in key targeted territories including Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Following that, we hope we will be announcing plenty of commercial deals in those states and provinces. It will be an exciting year to say the least!

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Aaron LaBerge

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

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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.

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ELK Studios Expands Partnership with SkillOnNet to Ontario Market

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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.

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Playnetic granted Ontario supplier license

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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.

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