Canada

Evoplay: Getting ready for Ontario

Published

11 months ago

June 14, 2023

Evoplay has proven itself as one of LatAm and Europe’s most innovative game studios in recent years, with a host of industry awards for its ground-breaking titles, including the RPG-based ‘Dungeon: Immortal Evil’ and the space-based shoot ‘em up, ‘Star Guardians.’

As the award-winning provider gears up for its first debut in North America, we sat down with Evoplay’s Head of Sales, Ihor Zarechnyi to talk through the supplier’s exciting launch in Canada’s largest market, Ontario.

With Evoplay’s Canadian debut getting closer and closer, can you tell us about your initial plans for the market?

We’re very excited to be gearing up for our launch in Ontario. We have no doubt that Canada will be a major growth opportunity for us, with the market being one of the most favourable for iGaming businesses given its transparent and clear regulatory framework. We’ll be putting a lot of effort into our marketing efforts, including network promotions, and I’m very confident that our games will be incredibly well-received by Canadian players. I can certainly hint that we’ve got some big expectations with some of Canada’s leading operators, so you’ll have to watch this space!

I would also hope that our hard-earned reputation will precede us before our launch in the market – we’re proud to be known as a studio that creates high-quality graphics, engaging gameplay and innovative features. We’re also committed to providing a safe and secure gaming experience for all of our players, so I have no doubt that we have an excellent platform for success.

What potential do you see in the market and why have you and your commercial team earmarked the market as a key location for growth? Could it be a stepping-stone into the US?

As we’ve already touched on, we see a lot of potential here. As our first point of entry into North America as a whole. I have no doubt that Ontario will be a great platform for that expansion.

Taking our content into Canada’s largest market will no doubt enable us to promote our brand and also establish trust with players – we can’t wait to get started!

Looking at demographics, Canada is growing rapidly, and we want to tap into that. In total, the potential of online casino players is expected to reach 10 million by 2025 – which makes it a force to be reckoned with. iGaming is already a firmly entrenched form of entertainment, and we’re very excited to be filling that demand.

On top of that, the Ontario regulator has a very progressive framework for regulation, which will be conducive to the market’s continued growth.

As to future plans beyond Ontario, I can certainly hint that we’re already talking with some of the largest players in the US market, so without a doubt, some very exciting times lie ahead.

Looking at your award-winning portfolio of games, do you have any particular titles in mind for entertaining Ontario players?

We have a number of highly engaging games in our armoury that we are incredibly excited to share with Ontario players.

Our Bonus Buy games have really resonated with players in the market, which gives them that bit more control over their experience. Sold It Bonus Buy is a particularly captivating title with this option and features an exciting Free Spins round that includes Sticky Wild multipliers which players can purchase with pre-added Wild symbols. Similarly, Redrose Sanctuary Bonus Buy gives players the chance to buy the Free Spins round with different multiplier amounts.

Fishing games are also incredibly popular on the market right now. When paired with Bonus Buy, it is no wonder why The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy is another top performer for us and one we anticipate a strong reaction from in Canada.

With North America’s rich land-based casino history, a retro-themed game always goes down well. Our Hot Triple Sevens slot is a prime example of this, melding a traditional slot theme with innovative features. This is also seen in our classic instant lottery game Scratch Match consisting of simple, straightforward rules that make for a fast-paced and exciting gaming experience.

Your football-themed instant games have certainly made a splash across LatAm and Europe, does Evoplay have ice hockey-themed games in mind for Canadians?

Evoplay is always looking for new ways to entertain players, and of course we know all too well that ice hockey is Canada’s most popular sport! So, in line with that, we’ve seen our football-themed instant games perform great where football is the most popular, so we’d no doubt look to repeat that for Canada. In terms of development, it’s definitely something we’ve got in the pipeline, as I have no doubt that repeating our instant games’ success be incredibly well received! It’s still in the early stages of development, but I have no doubt that it’ll be live in the next year, and I’m sure it will prove to be a massive hit with Canadian players.

We’re seeing plenty of interest in Esports among the latest generation of players, can that cross-over into casino?

Yes, there can be plenty of cross-over. Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and it is attracting an entirely new generation of gamers. Of course, it goes without that saying that they’re tech-savvy and looking for new and exciting ways to play.

If we look at total market potential – estimates put the aggregated global player base for casino at $335 billion by 2025. So of course, within that, there’s a significant portion available. As to what they’re looking for, slots inspired by mechanics and themes one sees in video games certainly go a long way. A great example of this is our 2022 flagship slot, Star Guardians, which is heavily inspired by third-person shooters – set in space in the year 2777 in the midst of an interplanetary war.

In many ways, we’re still in the early stages of cross-over, as it’s still an emerging demographic, but I have no doubt that this is one to be watched and will likely continue to grow in the future. There’s plenty of options to consider – from Esports teams partnering with casino operators to create new branded games and promotions, over to sponsorship of teams and even Esports events held at real casinos! Of course, we follow all these trends at Evoplay and it’s certainly an audience that will be focusing hard on entertaining.

Related Topics:Evoplay Evoplay’s Head of Sales Ihor Zarechnyi Ontario

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Casino Time Elevates Social Gaming in Ontario with Launch of iGaming Website

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1 hour ago

May 7, 2024

Peter Tolan

Casino Time, a full-service online casino for Ontario residents, proudly announces the highly anticipated launch of its iGaming website, CasinoTime.ca. Affiliated with 10 Charitable Gaming entertainment venues across the province, Casino Time extends its legacy fundraising model and beloved social gaming experience to the digital realm.

At the time of launch, Casino Time features a premium selection of games in each of its core product verticals including Slots, Live Dealer Casino Games, and Bingo. Adding to its diverse portfolio, Casino Time is also set to introduce a Sportsbook in late 2024. With a robust suite of features including interactive chat, local customer service, 24/7 accessibility, loyalty rewards, and rapid payment solutions, the online platform provides a powerful casino experience that is community-oriented.

Casino Time is committed to meeting the expectations of players who value the superior gaming experience associated with its charitable gaming affiliates. The iGaming website harnesses industry-leading technology from Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) to deliver an intuitive user experience and offers progressive jackpots and full-service game offerings from Pragmatic Play, Evolution, IGT, and Blueprint Gaming, including mega hits like Lightning Roulette, Gonzo’s Quest, and Cleopatra.

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“We have been leading the revival of community gaming in Ontario for 20 years with cutting-edge gambling entertainment at the local level. Now through an exclusive partnership with iGO, we’re bringing our offerings online across Ontario, providing more access to the social gaming revolution that has won us a legion of fans,” says D’Arcy Stuart, CEO of Casino Time.

Rooted in legacy, Casino Time’s team is dedicated to delivering an unparalleled online and offline gaming experience with over 50 years of serving the gambling community in Ontario. Committed to VIP loyalty, high-touch customer care, responsible gaming practices, and safety and security, Casino Time provides community and peace of mind to its players.

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Canada

Soft2Bet strengthens integrity monitoring with IBIA membership in Ontario

Published

1 day ago

May 6, 2024

Zoltan Tundik

Soft2Bet will start IBIA membership with Ontario rollout before worldwide implementation

Soft2Bet, a leading casino and sportsbook platform provider, has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and activated its membership in Ontario, Canada, following its licensing in the Canadian province.

Soft2bet obtained its Certificate of Registration from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) at the end of March, where the company’s Ontario-focused brand Tooniebet.com will now feed into IBIA’s world-leading sports betting integrity monitoring platform before worldwide implementation in the coming months.

IBIA includes over 50 of the world’s leading sports betting and gaming companies, who operate over 125 sports betting brands. Soft2Bet’s decision to join the association further strengthens its own internal betting integrity protocols and IBIA’s position as the world’s leading sports betting integrity monitoring body.

David Yatom Hay, General Counsel at Soft2Bet, commented: “Soft2Bet is delighted to be joining the IBIA as we strengthen our own betting integrity monitoring processes and play our part in furthering the IBIA’s long-standing work on this key issue. Ontario is a world class iGaming jurisdiction; it will be the first market where we will implement our IBIA membership and we look forward to deploying the monitoring infrastructure worldwide in all the other markets in which we operate.”

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “Soft2Bet is a very welcome addition to IBIA, further strengthening our position in the Ontario market. The operator’s decision to join IBIA demonstrates its desire to utilise the best integrity protection available for its sportsbook product. The association is delighted to be able to integrate Tooniebet within our integrity monitoring system and looks forward to working closely with Soft2Bet to maintain the high integrity of its sportsbook.”

IBIA is a not-for-profit body that has no competing conflicts with the delivery of commercial services to other sectors and is run by operators and for operators to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. IBIA’s global monitoring network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets.

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IBIA recently released a report on the Availability of Sports Betting Products which highlighted Ontario as a leading regulated gambling jurisdiction, with an expected onshore channelisation for sports betting of 92% in 2024 forecast to rise to 97% in2028. IBIA currently represents over 60% of the private sports betting operators licensed in the province. All online sportsbetting operators licensed in Ontario are required to be part of a betting integrity monitoring body.

IBIA’s Q1 2024 report detailed 56 alerts during the quarter. IBIA alerts contributed to the investigations and subsequent successful sanctioning of 21 clubs, players and officials in 2023, an increase on the 15 sanctioned in 2022.

Canada

SCCG Management Signs Contract with British Columbia Lottery Corporation

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1 week ago

April 29, 2024

Niji Narayan

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.”