Canada
RAPTORS UPRISING CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF THE TIPOFF TOURNAMENT POWERED BY AT&T
“Kenny Got Work” named Most Valuable Player of NBA 2K League’s first in-season tournament
Raptors Uprising GC, NBA 2K League affiliate of the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors, defeated Kings Guard Gaming in a 2-0 series (76-57 and 79-49) to win the NBA 2K League’s THE TIPOFF Tournament powered by AT&T. Kenneth “Kenny Got Work” Hailey, the franchise’s first-ever draft pick, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, tallying 364 points, 102 assists and 46 successful three-pointers made in 11 games through the tournament. Kenny averaged 28.0 points and 9.5 assists per game in THE TIPOFF Finals 2-0 series against Kings Guard Gaming, NBA 2K League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings.
Undefeated in regular season action, Raptors Uprising entered the first in-season tournament placed in Group 6 alongside Blazer5 Gaming (affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers), Lakers Gaming (affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers) and Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai, one of the league’s two expansion teams for the 2020 season. On Wednesday, Raptors Uprising emerged top of the group after beating Blazer5 Gaming and Lakers Gaming twice each, with a combined +127-point differential after four games.
On Thursday, Raptors Uprising swept Bucks Gaming 2-0 in a quarterfinal series (84-64 and 90-65), led by standout performances from veterans “Kenny Got Work” (59 points and 19 assists), Jerry “Sick One” Knapp (30 points, 28 rebounds and 12 assists) and Eric “Timelycook” Donald (35 points and 10 assists). Raptors Uprising then defeated Gen. G Tigers of Shanghai 2-1 in a semifinal series (70-66, 67-70 and 72-65) on Friday, with efforts from “Kenny Got Work” (90 points, 24 assists and 11 steals) and “Sick One” (32 points, 43 rebounds and 16 assists) leading the team to its first Finals appearance in franchise history.
In light of the global pandemic, THE TIPOFF powered by AT&T took place remotely with all 23 participating teams playing from their respective local markets. All five RUGC players that featured in THE TIPOFF competed from the team’s residence and state-of-the-art training facility known as the Bell Fibe House, located in Toronto. Upon winning 10 of the team’s 11 games in THE TIPOFF, Raptors Uprising take home $70,000 USD in prize money, with losing finalist Kings Guard Gaming receiving $50,000 USD while Gen.G Tigers and Jazz Gaming each receive $20,000 USD after finishing third and fourth in the tournament. Raptors Uprising will also receive THE TIPOFF championship plaque, one of three plaques awarded to the three in-season tournament champions that altogether form THE BANNER CHAIN powered by AT&T.
With the conclusion of THE TIPOFF, the NBA 2K League’s regular season will resume on Tuesday, June 23. League teams will continue participating in regular season gameplay remotely for at least the next four weeks through Week 11 (July 14-17). Games will continue to be broadcasted live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels starting 7 p.m. ET every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with four distinct matchups each night.
THE TURN, the league’s second in-season tournament, will take place during the week of July 20 with THE TICKET, the final tournament of the season, taking place during the week of August 10. The NBA 2K League Playoffs will run between August 19 and 22 before the NBA 2K League Finals on August 29.
Currently atop the NBA 2K League standings, Raptors Uprising GC (9-0) return to regular season action against Magic Gaming, NBA 2K League affiliate of the Orlando Magic, on Tuesday, June 23. Fresh from winning THE TIPOFF powered by AT&T, Raptors Uprising GC will play a total of seven more matches that will count towards its regular season record. Every remote matchup will continue to be played in a best-of-three format with one series victory representing one win in the standings. Raptors Uprising GC will have a bye during the week of July 7.
RAPTORS UPRISING GC 2020 SCHEDULE
Game | Week | Day | Date | Home | Away | Time (E.T.) | Location |
10 | 8 | Tuesday | June 23 | Raptors Uprising GC | Magic Gaming | 9:00 p.m. | Remote |
11 | 9 | Monday | June 29 | Heat Check Gaming | Raptors Uprising GC | 9:00 p.m. | Remote |
12 | 9 | Thursday | July 2 | Raptors Uprising GC | Gen. G Tigers | 9:00 p.m. | Remote |
10 | Tues. – Fri. | July 7 – 10 | BYE WEEK | ||||
13 | 11 | Thursday | July 16 | Raptors Uprising GC | Pacers Gaming | 7:00 p.m. | Remote |
12 | Thurs. – Sat. | July 23 – 25 | THE TURN TOURNAMENT | TBD | |||
14 | 13 | Wednesday | July 29 | Kings Guard Gaming | Raptors Uprising GC | 9:00 p.m. | TBD |
15 | 13 | Thursday | July 30 | Lakers Gaming | Raptors Uprising GC | 7:00 p.m. | TBD |
16 | 14 | Friday | August 7 | Raptors Uprising GC | Cavs Legion GC | 9:00 p.m. | TBD |
For more information on the NBA 2K League, visit NBA2KLeague.com.
AGCO
AGCO Requires Ontario Gaming Operators to Stop Offering WBA Bets Due to Integrity Concerns
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has mandated all Ontario-registered sportsbook operators to halt offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events immediately. This measure is being taken to protect the Ontario betting public following concerns that WBA-sanctioned boxing matches are not adequately being safeguarded against match-fixing and insider betting.
Since December 2023, the AGCO has been conducting a comprehensive review of suspicious wagering activity on a WBA-sanctioned title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro that was held in Orlando, Florida. Suspicious betting patterns on the bout lasting over 5.5 rounds were reported to the AGCO by two registered independent integrity monitors and detected in Ontario by a registered igaming operator. Media reports also alleged that Tellez’s Manager placed $110,000 on the match lasting longer than 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The bout ended with Tellez knocking out Navarro in the 10th round.
Following an intensive review that included outreach to the WBA, Ontario-registered gaming operators, independent integrity monitors, and regulators in other jurisdictions, the AGCO has concluded that bets related to WBA events do not currently meet the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
The AGCO requires all Ontario-registered gaming operators to ensure the sport betting products they offer are on events that are effectively supervised by a sport governing body. At a minimum, the sport governing body must have and enforce codes of conduct that prohibit betting by insiders.
Registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate to the AGCO that the WBA prohibits betting from insiders, which could include an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, medical professionals, or others with access to non-public information. Further, registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate that the WBA took any action to investigate or enforce the allegations of potential match-fixing and insider wagering.
The AGCO has indicated to registered operators that in order for WBA betting products to be reinstated in Ontario, operators must demonstrate that the WBA effectively supervises its events, thus bringing them into compliance with the Registrar’s Standards. In December 2022, the AGCO required gaming operators to stop offering bets on UFC events for similar issues related to insider betting safeguards. Within a month, UFC amended its policies and implemented new protocols that allowed the AGCO to reinstate betting on UFC events in the province.
“Ontarians who wish to bet on sporting events need to be confident that those events are fairly run, and that clear integrity safeguards are in place and enforced by an effective sport governing body. Knowing the popularity of boxing in Ontario, we look forward to reinstating betting on WBA events once appropriate safeguards against possible match-fixing and insider betting have been confirmed,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of AGCO, said.
Andrew Cochrane Chief Business Officer of GiG
GiG increases Ontario market presence, powering the launch of Casino Time
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG), has announced the launch of Casino Time, powered by its award winning iGaming platform and pioneering real-time rules engine LogicX, with revolutionary sportsbook, SportX soon to follow, to further extend its footprint in the regulated Canadian province of Ontario.
The launch of Casino Time carries extra significance, marking only the second time that on-demand, regulated online Bingo has been made available in Ontario. The new Bingo product vertical, launched alongside a strong Casino offering, will be boosted by GiG’s new sportsbook, SportX, as part of a planned release later this year.
GiG has focused its solutions on driving exponential growth in revenue for operators with its highly scalable iGaming platform, offering localised third party content and leading suppliers for the Ontarian market. GiGs peerless gamification layer creates an optimised and immersive casino experience tailored to regional preferences, swelling client retention and player engagement.
Canadian owned and operated, Casino Time is a joint venture amongst leading retail operators in Ontario’s Charitable Gaming sector, delivering Bingo, Slots and Live Dealer Casino Games. Promising a personalised service and community experience, Casino Time is continuing its long-standing partnership with local charities, introducing its joint fundraising model into the iGaming space for the first time.
Now coming towards the end of its second year of licensed operations, Ontario has emerged as one of the largest iGaming markets in North America, second only to New Jersey according to data supplied by Vixio. The first and as yet only Canadian province to launch a regulated market, Ontario boasts more than 1.6 million active player accounts spread over 40 plus operators, generating €1.3 billion in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in its first year of trading, with this data supplied by iGaming Ontario.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Business Officer of GiG, said: “GiG continues to set the pace with a strong cadence of brand launches in 2024, and I’m pleased that when operators are seeking platform solutions in regulated markets, GiG is leading the pack. Our partnership with Casino Time, will help deliver something new and exciting to the Ontarian market, and further helps to demonstrate the flexibility of our solutions, adapting to match the regional aspirations of our partners to deliver growth.”
D’Arcy Stuart, CEO of Casino Time, said: “We are thrilled to partner with GiG as the core technology provider of our iGaming platform. Their powerful suite of player engagement tools, as well as diverse content and regulatory integrations, underpin our ability to serve and delight our player community. Our hybrid online and offline customer network, as well as unique bingo offerings, will drive exciting opportunities as the platform and the marketplace continues to grow.”
Bragg Gaming Group
Bragg Gaming Announces Resignation of Chief Financial Officer
Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ronen Kannor, has notified Bragg’s board of directors (Board) that he will resign from his position to pursue other career opportunities, effective June 3, 2024. The Company confirms that the search for a replacement CFO has commenced.
Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, commented: “We thank Ronen for his dedication and commitment to Bragg over the past four years and for his unwavering service as a pivotal member of the leadership team.
“During his tenure as CFO, the Company has undergone huge positive transformation including being uplisted to the Toronto Stock Exchange, dual listed on the NASDAQ and successfully completing two acquisitions, all while reporting consecutive years of revenue, gross profit and adjusted EBITDA growth. We wish Ronen all the very best in his future endeavors.”
Ronen Kannor commented: “It has been an honor to be part of the Bragg team which has successfully navigated many challenges and continued to deliver consistent growth over the past four years. I thank the Board for their support throughout my time with Bragg, and I am now fully focused on ensuring a smooth handover to my successor.
“Special thanks goes to my finance team, who work tirelessly to deliver the positive change and financial growth that the Company continues to achieve. I wish them and all of my colleagues continued success with Bragg now and in the future.”
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