Canada
Reflecting on Evoplay’s LatAm success: Exclusive interview with Vladimir Malakchi, CCO
Award-winning heavyweight studio Evoplay has made a serious impact in LatAm in 2022 – with its smash-hit Penalty-Shootout quickly becoming one the continent’s fastest-growing games by popularity and engagement.
Our team at Gaming America took the chance to sit down with Evoplay’s legendary CCO, Vladimir Malakchi to talk through the studio’s 2022 success, new releases and plans for the LatAm region in the year ahead. Read on to find out more!
First off, congratulations to Evoplay on a fantastic 2022! For our readers, can you tell us a bit about your success over the last year and what that means for LatAm?
2022 became another outstanding and rewarding year for Evoplay, with so many goals achieved and milestones reached, thanks to our business strategy. We grabbed seven prestigious industry awards, again proving that we are moving towards being one of the most innovative studios in the industry.
Looking at our work – the task of creating top-tier iGaming content and delivering it worldwide was performed at the highest level. We released forty-six new titles, the biggest hit being a World Cup-inspired football package that helped Evoplay’s stats skyrocket. One of our games, Penalty Shoot-out, gained significant popularity in the LatAm market, which comes as no surprise, as we developed it with football fans in mind!
Looking back, I can’t but mention that 2022 is also marked by a line of fruitful partnerships with top-notch iGaming providers. We established deals with companies operating in the Italian, Irish, Romanian, Croatian, and, of course, LatAm markets, as well as obtained the opportunity to work with the markets under the MGA jurisdiction.
Given that football is so popular in South America, how much are you looking to develop your games with a sporting slant?
We have done thorough research and analysis to study the LatAm iGaming audience and its preferences and cater to its exact needs. It’s no secret that sports are prevalent among LatAm residents, with football being their greatest passion. The region’s betting GGR is over $1.3 billion, which is forecasted for continuous growth. Sports betting constitutes 75% of sportsbooks’ GGR, which reflects strong demand for such content.
Our football package, consisting of 3 titles, Penalty Shoot-out, Football Bet, and Penalty Series, is a product to cover a broad audience of LatAm players, from sports bettors and football fans, to iGamers seeking fresh, sports-based games. This collection is a perfect mix of casino and betting entertainment, and we definitely have more football-themed products on our roadmap.
With Argentina proving to be the World Cup champions, how much increased traffic did you see over the World Cup, and were you impressed with the numbers?
We were impressed with the figures before, during and after the World Cup. You could say that it became a true goalscorer in our business metrics! During the World Cup, for the football package, we saw impressive growth in our key metrics. In particular, Penalty Shoot-out and Penalty Series showed a considerable spike in Bet Sum, GGR, User and Round Count – up to 600%! These results demonstrated the special atmosphere of football celebration a sporting tournament creates, and iGaming providers should be on the ball with their products and their marketing.
Looking to player preferences – what’s your take on what LatAm players are looking for right now, and how is Evoplay looking to cater to this demand?
LatAm is a very diversified region, however, an active interest in football is a common feature for its audience. Evoplay is ready to supply it with the gaming experience they search for. We studied the nature of sports betting, segregated its key elements and implemented them in our titles, giving players the same excitement, but with a casino twist. As a result, they are not bound to football fixtures and can enjoy the same pastime within reach of their smartphones.
Aside from that, we have an assortment of other titles in our gaming portfolio that will perfectly match LatAm players’ interests. Evoplay produces many games with a LatAm flair, such as the Mexico-inspired Rueda De Chile or Hot Rio Nights with its Brazilian carnival theme. Our research proves that the LatAm audience prefers dynamic and action-packed games, which aligns with our product vision. There is more in the pipeline, as we have some interesting titles in the making!
Looking ahead to 2023, we bet you’ve got plenty of exciting things in store to wow players! Can you give us a hint as to your plans?
Evoplay will continue rocking the iGaming industry with innovative games and solutions. Rest assured, we have much in our product pipeline and business strategy to make 2023 a year to remember. Our mission is to revolutionise traditional iGaming and bring a fresh perspective to its products, offering more gamification and fun. On top of that, we see our global reach considerably growing this year, including enhancing our presence in the LatAm market with even more new partnerships established.
Last but not least, what’s your take on the development of mobile on the continent, and how much are we seeing enhancements in data capacity and smartphone playability?
Without a doubt, the level of mobile penetration in LatAm is growing, which holds a lot of potential for developers and providers, with 75% of subscribers using a smartphone to engage with a product. I am more than confident this trend will continue and build momentum for smartphone playability.
We have always been focused on mobile iGaming, with our in-house game engine, Spinential, being an excellent solution, accelerating loading speed by up to 10x and saving digital storage space. It makes our games accessible to players on a wide range of devices, regardless of their technical specifications and the quality of their internet connection.
AGCO
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.
On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.
In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.
As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.
Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.
A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.
The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement

International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions ULC (hereinafter “IGT”), signed an eight-year agreement with Atlantic Lottery to supply its IntelligenEVO video lottery central system technology across Atlantic Canada. The agreement includes the option for multiple extensions and positions the Atlantic Lottery to become the first World Lottery Association (WLA)-affiliated lottery operator to deploy IGT’s next-generation central management system in a game-to-system (G2S) distributed market.
“By leveraging IGT’s IntelligenEVO technology, Atlantic Lottery will power its video lottery network with the industry’s best-in-class central system and position itself to maximize future contributions to good causes. As an organization that prioritizes system security and exceptional player experiences, Atlantic Lottery believes that IGT’s IntelliegnEVO solution will help generate high player satisfaction and optimal network performance,” said Michael MacKinnon, Atlantic Lottery VP, Product.
“As a long-time supplier to Atlantic Lottery, IGT looks forward to helping the Lottery achieve its growth and player engagement goals with our leading-edge IntelligenEVO video lottery central system. IGT’s IntelligenEVO is a scalable technology for the WLA market that is backed by decades of experience and operator feedback, and maximizes the benefits of real-time data, cloud-based technologies and in-depth analytics,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, EMEA and LATAM, Gaming Sales.
With peak system security, network availability and responsible gaming functionalities, IntelligenEVO is a reliable, scalable solution that can meet the needs of today and in the future. The solution will accelerate time-to-market and enables the Atlantic Lottery to benefit from the system’s suite of player-focused functionality. The technology’s G2S and open API design optimizes data collection and delivery and will enable Atlantic Lottery to customize their program for evolving player needs.
The post IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BetRivers
NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform

NetGaming, a fast-growing online casino content supplier, is proud to announce its launch in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive, Inc., a leading online casino and sports betting company in the United States, Canada and Latin America. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for NetGaming as it continues to expand its footprint across regulated North American markets.
As part of the launch, Ontario players on BetRivers can now enjoy a diverse portfolio of NetGaming titles, known for their high-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and unique themes. Standout games such as Zeus’s Thunderbolt, Bison Gold, and Fireball Inferno are among the first to go live, with additional titles set to follow soon.
This partnership is just the beginning. NetGaming plans to extend its collaboration with Rush Street Interactive into Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mexico over the coming months.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, commented: “We are thrilled to go live with Rush Street Interactive, a powerhouse operator with a strong presence and loyal player base. This launch marks a significant milestone in our
North American expansion strategy and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences tailored to local player preferences across the region.”
Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, commented: “We are pleased to partner with NetGaming to bring innovative, premium games to our players in Ontario. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to offer world-class
entertainment through engaging, action-packed online casino games. We look forward to expanding this partnership into additional regulated markets in the months ahead.”
This strategic partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to providing high- quality, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players in regulated markets.
The post NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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