Canada
Bragg Gaming Group Provides Update on Strong Q2 2021 Performance, and Operational and Strategic Development Progress
Bragg Gaming Group, a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, today provided an update on several aspects of its business including preliminary revenue estimates for the three month period ended June 30, 2021.
“Our financial growth as well as the operational and strategic development momentum we demonstrated in 2020, and in the first quarter of this year, continued in the second quarter,” said Richard Carter, CEO of Bragg. “We are making consistent progress with our growth initiatives including the introduction of new proprietary online games with better economics while expanding our footprint into new iGaming markets. The integration and performance of Wild Streak Gaming and the anticipated closing of the Spin Games acquisition later this year will position Bragg to leverage our existing technology platform, which includes in-demand player engagement tools, with new proprietary content and customer relationships positioning Bragg to address the large U.S. iGaming market opportunity. Our ongoing progress and success across the business has further established Bragg’s foundation to achieve long-term growth.”
Preliminary Q2 2021 Revenue
Bragg expects to report 2021 Q2 total revenues of approximately EUR €15.0 million (USD $17.7[1] million) pre-acquisition, representing a year-over-year increase of 23.5% compared to the 2020 second quarter period, and a 5.7% quarterly sequential increase. Reflecting this expectation, total revenues for the first half of 2021 are expected to be approximately EUR €29.2 million (USD $34.5 million). The Company’s revenue guidance for 2021 remains unchanged at EUR €47 million (USD $55.5 million) with adjusted EBITDA of EUR €4 million (USD $4.7 million) pre-acquisition.
This updated financial outlook is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this release and is subject to the completion of quarterly closing procedures.
The Company is pleased with its overall operational progress and performance, and in particular, the performance of two new proprietary games that were launched in Q2 on its Oryx Gaming (“Oryx“) network from its in-house Oryx studio. In addition, the Company successfully launched a series of exclusive licenced casino games from third-party studios supported by the Oryx player engagement and data analytics tools.
The Company anticipates releasing its 2021 second quarter results on August 11, 2021, and will provide a more detailed update on the second quarter’s performance during its Q2 earnings call.
Updates on Wild Steak Games Acquisition and Closing of Spin Gaming Acquisition
Following the Company’s acquisition of Wild Streak in early June, Wild Streak has continued the revenue growth it demonstrated in FY 2020 and in Q1 2021 across both land-based and online casinos, with online revenue growth outpacing the growth in land-based revenue.
In Q2 2021, Wild Streak launched two online casino games: Amazing Money Machine and Lucky Lightning. These games, together with Congo Cash and Temujin Treasures (launched in Q1 2021), have demonstrated solid performance (e.g., wagering, gross gaming revenue and unique players).
As of June 30, 2021, Wild Streak had seven online casino games live in key iGaming markets including in New Jersey, the UK and other regulated jurisdictions in Europe.
The Company continues to make progress with the U.S. and Canadian licencing process in connection with its previously announced acquisition of Spin Games LLC (“Spin“), and continues to expect to complete this acquisition in Q4 2021 pending approval from state gaming commissions. The Company has already been granted licensing approval from GPEB, the British Columbia regulator, subject to the closing of the Spin transaction. Further, the Company has submitted its licensing application to the New Jersey Gaming Commission and expects to submit its remaining two U.S. licensing applications, in Pennsylvania and Michigan, in Q3 2021.
The technical integration between Spin and the Company’s Oryx Hub distribution platform has been completed. The combined offering will deliver the benefits of Oryx’s advanced player engagement, data tools and platform technology alongside Spin’s U.S. market content and operator relationships and is expected to provide a differentiated and widely distributed iGaming product offering.
German Facing Market Regulatory Regime Update
The anticipated new iGaming regulatory regime in Germany, the country where the Company derived the largest portion of its revenue in 2020, became effective on July 1, 2021. All operators in Germany are now required to comply with the new regulations.
The Company will continue to monitor how the German facing market adjusts to the new regulatory framework and is closely working with its German customers to help navigate the changing regulatory landscape.
NASDAQ Listing
The Company has filed an application for the direct listing of its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. The Company remains committed to this goal and expects to complete the direct listing of its shares on the NASDAQ exchange in Q3 2021.
Canada
IAGR announces Toronto as host city for 2025 conference
Hot on the heels of its most attended conference in history, the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) is excited to announce that its 2025 conference will take place in Toronto, Canada, from October 20 to 23, 2025.
The event will be held in partnership with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) at the Westin Harbour Castle, offering stunning waterfront views and a premier, downtown Toronto location.
‘Fresh off the success of our Rome conference, we’re thrilled to continue the momentum with next year’s event in Toronto,’ said Ben Haden, IAGR President.
‘The IAGR 2025 conference promises to be another unparalleled opportunity for our global community to come together, collaborate and shape the future of gaming regulation. We’re looking forward to working with AGCO to bring it all together.’
AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr, added, ‘We’re excited to welcome IAGR and its members to Toronto. This partnership provides a great opportunity to share Ontario’s innovative regulatory practices and foster meaningful discussions that drive positive change in the industry.’
Stay tuned for registration details early next year.
Canada
ESE Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Gaming Production Company, Bombee Americas
ESE Entertainment Inc., a gaming company that provides a range of services to leading video game developers and publishers, has announced that it has acquired Bombee Global Entertainment Ltd. (Bombee Americas), the North American arm of Bombee Event Production AB, (Bombee), a global production company specialized in live production, special effects, broadcast, and event management for the gaming sector.
Bombee has successfully collaborated with ESE to bring its premier event production services and world class customer service to North America and beyond. The North American arm of Bombee, Bombee Americas, will continue to grow and scale in this new organizational structure under ESE, while maintaining its entire team and global support.
Konrad Wasiela, CEO of ESE, said: “Today marks the next stage of ESE—a 2.0 version of our company. With the acquisition of Bombee Americas, we are not only solidifying our presence in North America but also paving the way for growth and innovation in the gaming industry. This is a major step, positioning us to deliver even greater value to our partners and elevate the gaming experience for our clients globally. We’re thrilled about the opportunities ahead and the exceptional talent joining our team.”
Transaction Terms
The Acquisition was completed by way of a share purchase agreement (the SPA) among the Company, Bombee Americas, and the shareholders of Bombee Americas (the Vendors). Pursuant to the SPA, ESE acquired all of the outstanding shares of Bombee Americas in exchange for: (i) $750,000 in cash paid on closing, (ii) $375,000 in cash to be paid six (6) months following closing, subject to customary adjustments based on the working capital of Bombee Americas on closing, (iii) $375,000 in cash to be paid twelve (12) months following closing, and (iv) 30,000,000 common shares of ESE (the Consideration Shares), issued at a deemed issue price of $0.10 per share.
In connection with the Acquisition, the founders of Bombee Americas have signed three-year service agreements and will continue to run the business following the closing, along with the rest of the personnel of Bombee Americas who will remain in place, ensuring a smooth transition of operations. As part of the Acquisition, the Company has acquired the liabilities of Bombee Americas, mainly consisting of customary current obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business for Bombee Americas, which are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s operations or financial position.
No finder’s fees were paid or payable in conjunction with the Acquisition.
The Acquisition was an arm’s length transaction within the meaning of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) and constituted an “Expedited Acquisition” in accordance with Exchange Policy 5.3 – Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets. The Acquisition remains subject to the final approval of the Exchange.
Canada
Suspected Digital Fraud Coming from Canada Up Nearly 11% Since H1 2023, Reveals New TransUnion Analysis
In the first half (H1) of 2024, Canada saw a significant increase in suspected Digital Fraud attempts, with nearly 5.74% of all attempted digital transactions where the consumer was located in Canada involving suspected Digital Fraud, revealed a new TransUnion® (NYSE: TRU) analysis. This is nearly an 11% year-over-year (YoY) rate increase from H1 2023, and TransUnion also documented an 11% increase in the volume of suspected Digital Fraud from Canada during this period, despite a less than a one percent (0.7%) YoY increase in the volume of transactions.
According to a recent TransUnion survey,1 more than half (54%) of Canadians said they were recently targeted by email, phone call or text message fraud attempts. Phishing was the most common scheme type (45%), followed by smishing (42%) and vishing (39%).
The increasing use of digital transactions, combined with rising suspected Digital Fraud attempts are also impacting businesses as they potentially face revenue losses and increased operational costs due to fraud. According to a TransUnion business survey for the H2 2024 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud report, 200 Canadian business leaders said their companies lost approximately 6% of equivalent revenue – representing $78 billion – over the past year due to fraud. The most prominent causes of fraud loss cited by them were:
- Scam/Authorized fraud (31%): Dishonest scheme intended to trick a person into giving up something of value (e.g., account access, money, information)
- Account takeover (19%): Unauthorized individuals taking over someone’s online account (e.g., bank, social media, email) without their permission
- Synthetic identity fraud (18%): Use of a combination of personal information to fabricate a person or entity to commit a dishonest act for financial or personal gain
TransUnion also found that suspected Digital Fraud attempts – where the consumer was transacting in Canada and targeted businesses globally – increased on average by 10.5% YoY in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023 and impacted all industries.
Top Three Industries Globally with Highest Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada in H1 2024
- Gambling (online sports betting, poker, etc.) – 9.6%
- Retail – 9.2%
- Government – 7.7%
Top Three Industries Globally with Highest YoY Increase (H1 2024 vs H1 2023) in the Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada
- Logistics – 172.9%
- Gambling – 79.3%
- Video gaming – 67.8%
“Protecting customers and their businesses from fraud is essential to enabling safe and tailored consumer experiences. These findings reveal that despite the good-faith efforts that are being undertaken by companies to identify and prevent fraud to date, fraudsters continue to evolve and it’s vital that fraud prevention methods keep up with the changing times,” said Patrick Boudreau, head of identity management and fraud solutions at TransUnion Canada.
“Businesses that aren’t already doing so should ensure that they are taking advantage of fraud prevention technologies such as identity verification, IP intelligence, device reputation and synthetic identity detection as critical components of their fraud prevention programs,” he added.
-
Latest News7 days ago
BetRivers Introduces PropPacks, an Innovative Feature for the NBA Season
-
Latest News6 days ago
ProntoPaga Transforms its Operating Model in Brazil to Ensure Risk-Free Transactions
-
Latest News5 days ago
Carnival Corporation & PLC Fleet Go “All-In” With Galaxy Gaming’s Galaxy Table Games Progressives
-
Gambling in the USA4 days ago
Phoenix Link by Aristocrat Gaming Now Lighting Up Casino Floors
-
Latest News5 days ago
Brazilian Ministry of Finance and Sportradar Join Forces to Strengthen Integrity of Sports
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Brazilian Ministry of Finance and IBIA sign sports betting integrity agreement
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Seminole Tribe of Florida and West Flagler Parties Announce End of Legal Challenges and Beginning of Partnership to Offer and Promote Jai Alai on the Hard Rock Bet App
-
Latest News4 days ago
Panel on the benefits of regulation in the Mexican iGaming market