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PLAYMAKER ACQUIRES GAMING PRODUCT TWO-UP

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PLAYMAKER SELECTS GENIUS SPORTS TO SUPERCHARGE YARDBARKER’S RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEADING SPORTSBOOKS

 

Playmaker Capital Inc., the digital sports media company that lives at the intersection of sports, betting, media and technology, has broadened its range of core competencies with the acquisition of leading digital product agency Two-Up Agency Ltd. (“Two-Up”). Two-Up provides technical solutions to the online gaming industry’s biggest brands, bringing best-in-class technology tools and in-depth knowledge and expertise of the market to clients including News International, BetGenius, William Hill, AtTheRaces, SkyBet, and Sporting Solutions.

Two-Up was founded in 2016 by gaming technology expert Robbie Morris who now joins the Playmaker leadership team. Playmaker’s acquisition of Two-Up will add a team of 24 experienced sales and technology experts spread across two primary offices in London, UK and Krakow, Poland. This team includes 15 engineers with deep experience in the development of regulated betting products, monetization tools, free-to-play games, and APIs into major real money gaming operators.

Two-Up owns an unrivalled collective expertise of the complex market within which the business operates. Among the specialist skills Two-Up provides its clients are contextual ad widgets, including integrated betslips with conversion and tracking management; the creation, production and integration of scoreboard and data visualizations; product development, including native content, through sports, casino, bingo and esports; and free-to-play application builder services, all supported through a series of back-end engines and content management systems.

Within the Playmaker ecosystem, Two-Up’s core technology products will be integrated into Playmaker’s newly announced proprietary technology stack, Playmaker Bench. Playmaker Bench features a collection of best-in-class technology tools, integrated into a proprietary software platform that is designed to enhance user engagement and supercharge monetization. Two-Up’s myriad of products and areas of technical expertise will offer immediate value add to Playmaker Bench.

“Playmaker is a natural fit for Two-Up. We complement the existing strengths within Playmaker well, and, as part of the Playmaker Bench technology suite, we will enhance Playmaker’s monetization efforts across owned and operated properties,” commented Robbie Morris, Founder and CEO of Two-Up. “We’re excited and delighted to become a part of the Playmaker family. This opportunity will allow us to strengthen our core competencies, meaning existing and future clients will continue to benefit from what we set out to deliver in 2016, which is a first-class service.”

“I am pleased to welcome Two-Up into the Playmaker family, and am excited about how Robbie and his team will help bolster Playmaker’s technology offering,” added Jordan Gnat, Playmaker Founder and CEO. “Two-Up has deep relevance, credibility and unrivalled connections within the online gaming world globally. With this acquisition, we have added yet more value to our shareholders, and taken another step towards achieving our mission of building an ecosystem of assets that will provide sports fans and our clients with outsized value.”

TRANSACTION DETAILS
Pursuant to the terms of a purchase agreement dated August 31, 2021, Playmaker acquired 100% of Two-Up for aggregate consideration of up to US$5.75 million. The purchase price consideration consisted of a payment of US$750,000 in cash, the issuance of US$2.5 million of Playmaker common shares (the “Playmaker Shares”) at the Canadian dollar equivalent of CAD$0.60 per Playmaker Share and up to a maximum of US$2.5 million in the form of an earn-out, payable to the sellers upon Two-Up achieving certain EBITDA and revenue targets over the three-year period following closing. In addition, the sellers are eligible to receive a bonus earn-out in the event the EBITDA and revenue targets are exceeded.

Canada

Soft2Bet granted Ontario Certification of Registration and readies for imminent launch

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Ontario Certificate is hugely promising as Soft2Bet continues its regulatory expansion

Soft2Bet, a leading provider of online betting and gaming solutions to regulated operators worldwide, is delighted to announce that it has been granted a Certificate of Registration in Ontario, Canada’s largest province, moving it one step closer to being able to launch its Tooniebet.com iGaming brand.

Obtaining its Certificate of Registration (Nbr: OPIG1280338) from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will enable Soft2Bet to continue its expansion into the world’s largest regulated jurisdictions.

Ontario has been a major success story for regulated online sports betting and casino in North America in the past two years. The province launched its regulations in April 2022 and latest figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 showed that operators recorded a 21% rise in wagers to CA$17.2bn and a 22% increase in gross gaming revenues to CA$658m, the highest ever revenue total in Ontario’s wagering history. Online casino was the main driver of this growth and generated CA$13.7bn of the total stakes and CA$471m in GGR.

Elisabeth Isaksson, Head of Regulatory Compliance at Soft2Bet, commented: “Being registered with the AGCO in Ontario is testament to the work our compliance and regulatory teams are doing daily to enable our continued expansion in the world’s largest regulated markets. We’re immensely excited about taking our first steps in North America and look forward to licensing and launching in more jurisdictions in the region.”

Chief Business Development Officer Martin Collins added: “This Ontario certification is another significant and important step in our corporate expansion plans. It fits perfectly with our stated aim of growing our regulatory footprint and we very much look forward to continuing forward on this path.”

Soft2Bet is also actively working to obtain a licence in New Jersey and continue its expansion in the Americas. This activity comes after the group obtained B2C licences in Italy, Greece and Romania in 2023.

 

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Hacksaw Gaming and DraftKings Score Again in Ontario

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2023 saw Hacksaw Gaming go live in West Virginia and New Jersey and now we have made our long-awaited entry in Ontario, Canada. Securing this trio has hit new heights and hopes for further successes throughout the rest of this year.

DraftKings Casino entered the iGaming market in Ontario in May of 2022 and partnered with Hacksaw Gaming in the back end of the same year. As Ontario’s regulated iGaming market only went live in April of 2022, the pair have given an outstanding performance with effective launch strategies and expansive footing in North America.

Apart from gaining an unprecedented reach across regulated markets, the mobile-friendly format of Hacksaw Gaming games can be visited on phone or tablet via the DraftKings Casino app. Boasting an impressive online casino’s selection of over 300 games, DraftKings now welcomes Hacksaw Gaming favourites such as Chaos Crew, Mines, Omnom and Boxes.

“The benchmarks we have set as a partnership are remarkable and we are ready to take on more challenges continuing into 2024,” the Chief Executive Officer for Hacksaw Gaming, Marcus Cordes, said.

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Exploring Canada’s video Game Market: Survey Insights

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Technology has become a great source of entertainment to many. Video games particularly have garnered interest from all demographics. In Canada, the gaming industry has experienced significant growth, fuelled by increased accessibility to gaming platforms and the growth of online gaming communities.

Statistics indicate that a large percentage of Canadians are engaged in gaming activities, whether it be playing console or PC games, mobile games, or online multiplayer games. The popularity of video games extends beyond leisure pastimes, with many Canadians participating in gaming competitions, attending gaming conventions, and consuming gaming-related content on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

The number of video game users in Canada reflects how broad the sector is, from mobile games to digital video games, download games and live streaming. In 2024, the gaming sector will see millions of users in each of these categories. Statista projects 13.38 million users for digital video games and 7.35 million users for online games respectively. It estimates that revenue in the Canadian video game market is expected to reach US$3,925.00m in 2024, so it is no surprise to observe the increasing popularity of the sector.

Well-known online casino provider BetVictor has compiled some key points from major surveys detailing the video game market to give further insight into its makeup and potential. The gaming culture in Canada is growing, which means the type of games and genres will grow along with the sector. Statista recently conducted a survey of 1 576 respondents aged 18 – 64 who are avid video game players, with telling results. ​​In December 2023, a survey about preferred video game genres in Canada revealed the top four genres as being Action, Action – adventure, Adventure and casual games accounting for 31% of respondents’ preferences.

David Winter, Marketing Manager at BetVictor notes that “We’ve seen a steady increase in the popularity of action-themed and adventure-themed slots and many providers are exploring how to expand further into this market.”

The popularity of Action games such as platform and fighting games can be attributed to various factors, such as: social interaction, accessibility and inclusivity, social appeal, and cultural influence. With such a diverse audience, all these factors are crucial to understand the appeal of Action games.

In the digital age, gaming has transcended mere entertainment to become a cornerstone of culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in Canada. From coast to coast, a diverse community of gamers is thriving, reflecting the country’s inclusive spirit and passion for technology. Whether it’s the casual gamer enjoying a quick session on their smartphone or the dedicated enthusiast meticulously building a custom gaming PC, Canada offers a welcome haven for all kinds of gamers.

Diving deeper into the Statista results, Strategy games accounted for 29%. This shows us that players have a strong interest in tactical and decision-making games. While role-playing (RPG) and sports games garnered 22% each, simulation and shooters trailed slightly behind at 21% and 20% respectively.

MMO (massively multiplayer online games), as well as MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) and MOBA (multi online battle arenas) came in at 13% and 8% respectively, representing a significant but niche following. With such a diverse array of preferences, the survey underscores the multifaceted nature of interests among Canadian gamers. It highlights the need for game developers to cater for a wide range of genres and gameplaying styles in the Canadian market.

From action shooter games to role-playing adventures, the industry has something for every gaming enthusiast in the Canadian market. Overall, the popularity of video games in Canada reflects a growing cultural phenomenon, where gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment and a significant aspect of modern-day leisure activities.

Statistics anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.10% for 2022-2027, resulting in a projected market volume of US$24.52bn by 2027. Canada’s online gaming market is experiencing a surge in popularity, with a surging number of Canadian players engaging in immersive virtual reality experiences.

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