Canada
Conference agenda set to shine light on Lotteries and Regulatory bodies at upcoming Canadian Gaming Summit
British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Ontario Lottery & Gaming (OLG) and The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), are amongst the many leading Canadian lotteries and regulators that are set to take the stage at this year’s Canadian Gaming Summit, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (June 14th – 15th).
With the Canadian Government establishing the provincial Crown Corporations, many companies such as BCLC and OLG, find themselves in the unique position of being a lottery as well as their own provincial regulators.
Across the conference agenda, representatives from crown corporations will be exploring the omnichannel experiences between lotteries and regulators and how this long standing relationship has positioned lotteries as a staple of Canadian gaming. Additionally, there will be a variety of wider panel discussions on topics such as First Nations business models, Canadian Law and the role innovative technology and improved regulations have in protecting players.
Kicking off the first day is an opening remarks segment by President & CEO of Ontario Lottery & Gaming, Duncan Hannay. Since launching Ontario’s first lottery in 1975, OLG has become an industry juggernaut in the Ontario market, responsible for the province’s lotteries, casinos and slot machines. As a member of the crown corporation and overseeing their in-house regulators AGCO, Hannay is the ideal speaker to present attendees with a comprehensive introduction to both lotteries and regulators.
Representatives from Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan and BCLC will explore compliance models and regulations as they continue to differentiate between provinces, in the opening keynote panel, “Collaborating for the Canadian gamer: comparing provincial models on compliance, RG, licensing and more”.
Both Marie-Noelle Savoie (Chief Compliance Officer, BCLC) and Steve Tunison (Vice President of Gaming, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan), will also discuss the intricacies of being both a lottery and a regulator and explore the avenues in which the industry can utilize innovative technology and compliance regulations to further protect and benefit Canadian players. Regulatory expert Earle G Hall (Chairman, International Gaming Standards Association) will moderate the keynote panel.
Leading authority Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), have made waves within the Canadian industry as they perfected the Gaming Framework Agreement propelling themselves into the digital gaming space whilst also incorporating an innovative business model that continuously gives back to local communities.
Opening the second core day of the event with an exclusive keynote fireside chat “First Nations partnerships: the SIGA model in action”, SIGA representatives Patricia Cook (Vice President of Corporate Affairs) and Desiree Gervais (Vice President of Human Resources), will discuss the path which led to SIGA positioning themselves as a dominant force within the Canadian landscape and how to utilize regulatory frameworks to spur company growth, innovation and player satisfaction.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said: “Despite the Canadian gaming landscape evolving so dramatically over the years, Crown Corporations have remained a staple of the industry. With many provinces taking different approaches to regulation, the Canadian landscape offers a unique perspective that many attendees can learn from as more provincial markets emerge.”
Additional lottery and regulatory experts will feature across the event on panels such as “Ontario – One Year Later”, which will feature contributions from Doug Downey (Attorney General of Ontario), Martha Otton (Executive Director, iGaming Ontario) and Dave Forestell (Board Chair, iGaming Ontario) and the panel “Bringing emerging technology and innovation to land-based gaming” in which Thy Prak (AVP Gaming Operations, SIGA) and Larry Flynn (Former SVP Gaming, OLG) will feature.
Furthermore, attendees will be able to hear from a variety AGCO representatives such as Christopher Hovius (Senior Counsel), Derek Ramm (Director Anti-Money Laundering) and Brent McCurdy (Deputy COO) and OLG representatives David Fraser (Senior Dir cGaming), Aaron GlynWilliams (Director, Social Responsibility), Catherine Meade (VP Community, Sustainability & Social Responsibility) and Sunil Chand (VP Cyber & Information Security).
Canada
SCCG Management Signs Contract with British Columbia Lottery Corporation
SCCG Management has signed a contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the B.C. Crown corporation which conducts and manages commercial gambling in the province, including lotteries, casinos, and online gaming. This partnership aims to undertake a comprehensive assessment and strategic enhancement of BCLC’s diverse operations.
The work between SCCG and BCLC will involve a thorough review of technological infrastructures, strategic market positioning, and the integration of various gaming modalities. SCCG’s extensive expertise will be pivotal in harmonizing BCLC’s online and physical gaming experiences.
Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, said: “Our collaboration with BCLC represents a remarkable opportunity to push the boundaries of innovation within the gaming industry. We are committed to deploying our resources and expertise to enhance BCLC’s operational efficiencies and customer engagement strategies. It’s an honor to partner with an organization that has a robust impact on the community through its support of public initiatives.”
Canada
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.
Canada
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.”
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