Canada
Bounty Sports partners with ITP to tackle fan engagement in North America
Bounty Sports, the trailblazing North American provider of paid fantasy pick’em, has entered into a strategic content partnership with Inside The Pocket (ITP) the leading free-to-play (F2P, P2P and DFS) aggregation platform, to broaden its distributional scope across Canada and the U.S.
Bounty Sports is currently available in 23 U.S states, as well as the whole of Canada, affording ITP clients the opportunity to position peer-to-peer paid skills-based DFS alongside F2P and P2P verticals to optimize customer acquisition and consumer insights. ITP’s single-integration approach for one or multiple products introduces, in complementary fashion, customer engagement and retention across various products as sports betting regulation continues to roll out across the North American landscape.
The deal sees Bounty Sports deliver its comprehensive fantasy product portfolio to a new network of operators, affiliates, and media partners via the ITP platform, an industry-first aggregation model for the gaming industry. This ground-breaking marketplace now allows a host of innovative suppliers one simple route to market which, in turn, offers ITP clients a wealth of value-creation opportunities across a spectrum of content from a single, seamless integration.
Across the North American market, DFS companies invariably enjoy engaged audiences in many U.S. states or Canadian provinces before they open up to sports betting. This creative collaboration now allows ITP clients the chance to see F2P working in tandem with skill-based gaming and peer-to-peer DFS in an innovative, and socially responsible way.
ITP clients can target specific recreational player-groups and fulfil specific acquisition and retention goals. This partnership very much presents a way of entertaining and educating players without the need to push them towards more questionable introductory offers which have already proven themselves unsustainable for a mutually beneficial and socially-responsible ecosystem.
Over the past 12 months, Bounty has committed significant investment to expanding its peer-to-peer platform as a fan-engagement tool, which hosts contests where fans can compete against each other in daily tournaments with the goal of selecting winning teams. Users earn points for correct selections, where the top-ranked individuals win cash prizes. Its user-friendly platform engages everyday fans who have grown weary of the time-consuming demands of traditional DFS, not to mention the constant threat of being picked off by sharps. Instead, Bounty Sports offers a fun and engaging digital community for its users to interact with other sports fans, without significant cost and time commitments.
Through a single integration, single contract, and single source, ITP opens a full F2P / DFS / skill-games marketplace via the most modular and democratised strategic platform around, assembling the best minds and models for a new era in sports fan engagement, localized to specific markets. ITP’s proven international scope and flair for localization promises to drive diversified fan engagement around targeted free-to-play games. Thanks to its open-aggregation approach, ITP already offers the broadest and best-curated mix of games and formats, with one platform integration acting as a gateway to virtually unlimited content.
Jess Hodgson, CEO at Bounty Sports, said: “Despite some notable successes and consistent growth, this rapidly-changing sector always asks you to evaluate your next best steps. Which is why this third-party collaboration with an aggregator as unique as ITP made such strategic sense for Bounty Sports. Their technical know-how sets them apart in the overlapping F2P / DFS domains of game development, player management and multi-level data.
“Our longstanding contention at Bounty Sports is that traditional fantasy sports models are geared towards the sharps who dedicate significant resources to creating algorithms which can unravel the complexity of DFS scoring systems and last-minute team-roster changes across the leagues. In response, Bounty has created an entirely new ecosystem in which fans can participate in fantasy sports alongside other more recreational users, without being picked off by cutting-edge algos. We’re combining the power of traditional pick’em style pools with the social element of fantasy and F2P.
“In order to excite and attract the largest number of fans participation in North American sports, we need the flexibility to embrace however and whenever they are ready to get involved. Amid the ongoing rollout of regulation and sportsbooks across Canada and the U.S., DFS and the evolving shape of F2P will remain a critical piece of the fan-engagement jigsaw for sports, with the agility to support, educate and engage the casual sports fans. ITP understands this challenge and, together, we are dedicated to raising the roof for the North American sports fan.
“Sportsbooks and media companies across the still-nascent North American market can now enhance their portfolio in league with Bounty Sports and ITP, with this sports betting content aggregation platform affording easy access to the best products on the market, featuring F2P, peer-to-peer DFS and other agile content solutions. So, we look forward to growing our client-base and seeing how our localized games perform in diverse territories as regulation continues to coalesce state-by-state and province-by-province.”
Hussain Naqi, Founder and CEO of Inside The Pocket, said: “We’re thrilled to announce Bounty Sports as our latest high-profile signing. We already know that Canadian compliance around advertising and inducements is strong and stringent. While in North America as a whole, fixed-odds-format games require sports betting licences. Thanks to this exciting collaboration with Bounty, ITP’s deep well of games, data and associated tools can now work in fixed-odds formats but also as peer-to-peer, DFS-style-licence games. Accordingly, we can provide media companies or affiliates with a constant pipeline of games with excellent repeat-play metrics, toggling between free-to-play and pay-to-play if so desired. Equally, we can offer sportsbooks something that is delineated from DFS/existing versions of DFS to help them separate their products from the competition.
“We’re supremely well-positioned to leverage this opportunity because we can diversify content, leverage consumer data and segment it for our clients as the North American market’s shifting sands crystallize. Our complementary partners at Harte Hanks and Xpoint are also affording ITP unique consumer insights and precise regulatory-location control that will allow us to hyper-segment audience communication in good time for the upcoming NFL season the World Cup 2022 football, always tent-pole events for operator performance and correlated marketing targets.
“As the number-one F2P aggregation platform, we offer a unique way for our clients and prospects to acquire and retain repeat-customers at a low cost, but also to stay fully compliant in non-regulated states or provinces. ITP’s all-consuming range of content and data tools helps to drive engagement for sportsbook and DFS audiences, by virtue of a series of game formats that have player-education and augmented activity at their core. Increasingly, however, we are adding a range of new products and game types to our ever-expanding repertoire – from pay-to-play products to pools-based fantasy games. This deal with Bounty is the latest in a long line of compelling propositions.”
Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has forged a major global content deal with Light & Wonder to significantly enhance the reach of its extensive games portfolio.
This landmark agreement will enable Light & Wonder’s expansive operator network across the UK, Canada, and Latin America to gain access to Playson’s engaging offering.
UK-based operator Dazzletag Entertainment Ltd was the first to go live with the studio’s creative releases last month, with SUPERCHARGED CLOVERS: HOLD AND WIN and 3 POTS RICHES: HOLD AND WIN launched across its online casino brands.
Light & Wonder’s content marketplace is utilised by some of the biggest operator brands from across the globe, providing them with access to more than 3500 games from a host of third-party studios to allow them to build personalised, mobile-ready player experiences and stay ahead of regulatory changes.
The partnership signifies the strength of Playson’s reputation as a respected and highly sought-after provider to operators globally, as the rising demand for its games looks set to take the studio to new heights for 2025.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “Our deal with Light & Wonder is a major milestone in our strategic roadmap, as we embark on the next chapter of our global growth. This agreement expands our reach and allows us to deliver our appealing titles to new operators and players.
“The launch of our titles across Dazzletag’s two brands is a great start, and we are confident this relationship will further elevate our presence in the ever-evolving online casino space.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partnerships at Light & Wonder, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a highly respected digital entertainment provider and deliver their portfolio to our network. This strengthens our commitment to offering operators the best game releases available.
“We look forward to other successful launches in 2025, as we continue to support our operators with diverse content.”
Canada
Bragg Gaming Announces Preliminary Unaudited Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 Strategic Initiatives and Guidance
Bragg Gaming Group announced its preliminary unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2024 based on information currently available to management and certain strategic initiatives and issued financial guidance for 2025, highlighting anticipated double-digit growth in Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA driven by a strategic focus on proprietary and exclusive content.
Anticipated Full Year 2024 Results Highlights
The Company expects the financial results for full year 2024 to include the following highlights: Revenue not less than EUR 102 million, an increase of 9% from EUR 93.5 million for 2023, Adjusted EBITDA of not less than EUR 15.4 million, an increase of 1% from EUR 15.2 million for 2023.
Anticipated Financial Highlights for 2025
Revenue Guidance: Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025, is expected to reach between EUR 117.5 million and EUR 123.0 million, representing double digit growth compared to the Company’s anticipated 2024 revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA Guidance: Adjusted EBITDA is forecasted to range between EUR 19.0 million and EUR 21.5 million, supported by a shift toward higher-margin product offerings.
Strategic Business Drivers
The Company is expecting to realize its anticipated 2025 results in part, as a result of certain strategic initiatives, including:
• Shift in Revenue Concentration: The percentage of revenue from the Company’s proprietary and exclusive content business is expected to increase providing a more margin-accretive mix and improving profitability with reduced reliance on third party content revenue by year end.
• Growth in Key Markets: Content-focused products, including proprietary, exclusive and aggregated content are projected to drive significant revenue growth in North America and Brazil, which are expected to contribute up to 10% and 15% of revenue, respectively by year-end.
• Brazil’s Growth Potential: The Company believes that its proprietary and exclusive content and aggregation businesses are strategically positioned to capture a significant share of Brazil’s $1.5 billion iGaming market, projected to more than double to over $3.3 billion by 2029, according to H2 Gambling Capital.
• US Market Penetration: The Company believes that it is strategically positioned for significant growth in the US market by leveraging its proprietary and exclusive content portfolio. Through integration with top-tier operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Rush Street, Caesars and BetMGM, and licenses in all key iGaming states, the Company’s content is accessible to over 90% of the US iGaming market, valued at over $9.5 billion, according to H2 Gambling Capital. Under the leadership of Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer, and Garrick Morris, SVP (Commercial, US & Canada), veterans of the iGaming industry with multi-decade successful market penetration experience under their belt, the Company has strong leadership to garner enhanced market share. It is expected that proprietary and exclusive content growth in the US will be further driven by the recently announced technology and content partnership with Caesars Entertainment Inc. This partnership, which leverages the Company’s cutting-edge technology and innovative development strengthens the Company’s profile in a competitive and dynamic market.
• Stronger Penetration in Major European Markets: Bragg aims to expand content distribution in key Western European markets, including Italy, UK, Spain, and Sweden, by leveraging existing integrations with top operators and implementing targeted sales strategies.
• Expand Exclusive Partnerships: The Company plans to increase its roster of partner studios to enhance the release cadence of titles in North America. Additionally, Bragg aims to grow exclusive content distribution in Central European markets, including the Czech Republic and Germany, through strategic partnerships with studios such as Gamomat and King Show Games.
• Stability in PAM Business: The Company’s PAM business is expected to remain flat year-over-year, an overall positive, despite the anticipated contraction of the Netherlands market in 2025 due to regulatory changes made in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• Enhanced Technology Profile: The Company continues to innovate with technologies such as FUZE, which provides bonuses, free rounds, tournaments, jackpots, recommendation engine and other engagement and promotional tools seamlessly across all iGaming, Sportbetting and iLottery products, requiring no additional integration. These advanced features enhance player experience and contribute to the growth of the Company’s product portfolio revenue.
• Data and AI Enhancements: By leveraging extensive gaming data, the Company generates actionable insights and employs AI-driven optimizations to elevate player experiences and enhance operator profitability, thereby accelerating profitable growth in proprietary and exclusive content verticals. Opportunities to leverage AI to reduce costs and enhance product margins are also being actively explored.
• Pipeline Opportunities: A robust pipeline of opportunities is under development, which, if realized, could further enhance 2025 performance but are not yet reflected in the current guidance.
• Stock Appreciation Rights Plan: Bragg has also introduced a new Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR) plan for its executive management team, further aligning management interests with those of shareholders. The SAR plan has been implemented under the Company’s Amended and Restated Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and pays out only if the Company’s share price increases over a three-year period, with a full payout contingent on achieving a four-fold increase from a base price of $5 CAD. This structure ensures that executive compensation is firmly tied to delivering significant shareholder value. Additionally, the plan includes accelerated vesting provisions in the event of a change of control, preserving alignment with shareholder interests in all value-creation scenarios. SAR award payouts may be settled through the payment of cash, the issuance of shares, or through a combination of both, subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board and availability of shares under the Company’s equity incentive plan at the time.
“I am pleased with where we believe 2024 results will land and very excited about the strong growth trajectory outlined in our 2025 guidance. Our strategic investments in proprietary and exclusive content as well as various Data, Player journey and AI enhanced engagement features, are expected to drive our growth in 2025. By focusing on margin-accretive products, we are well-positioned to boost both revenue and profitability while pursuing opportunities in key markets such as Brazil and the United States. Our PAM product remains a top-tier performer, and while our 2025 growth will largely come from the content side of the business, we have exciting prospects to expand our PAM offering. Additionally, I’m particularly proud of the strong executive team that we have assembled at Bragg this past year. The recently announced Caesars deal highlights their impressive capabilities,” said Matevž Mazij, CEO of Bragg.
NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. announced that the company has, subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) in respect of a senior secured first lien term loan facility providing for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $43.4 million CAD (being the approximate equivalent of $30,000,000 USD) (the “Credit Facility”) to be made available by Beach Point Capital Management LP (“Beach Point”). Playtech plc (“Playtech”) and certain Playtech subsidiaries have agreed to provide credit support for certain obligations under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility represents a significant milestone for NorthStar, strengthening its balance sheet and enabling the Company to continue to accelerate its growth initiatives.
“This is a pivotal moment for NorthStar, marking the largest financing in our history. This Credit Facility strengthens our balance sheet and directly supports our ability to scale operations and drive the business towards profitability with a single-minded focus. We are grateful to Beach Point Capital Management for their trust in our strategy and vision. We are also thankful for Playtech’s steadfast partnership which was instrumental in securing this funding, reinforcing their value both strategically and as a technology provider,” said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar.
“Beach Point has deep experience investing across the gaming sector and is excited to partner with NorthStar to support their strategic initiatives. The online gaming sector has been growing rapidly, and this investment reflects our confidence in the Company’s leadership, market potential, and ability to deliver long-term sustainable growth. Likewise, we value the partnership with Playtech, who are contributing their leading technology, global reach, and strategic vision towards NorthStar’s continued success,” said Gabriel Fineberg, Managing Director at Beach Point.
The purpose of the Credit Facility is to support NorthStar’s continued growth by significantly strengthening the Company’s balance sheet. The Company will use the proceeds of loans made pursuant to the Credit Facility: (i) to repay the aggregate $9.5 million CAD principal amount (plus accrued interest) loaned to the Company by Playtech pursuant to unsecured, interest-bearing promissory notes dated April 25, 2024, September 13, 2024 and December 16, 2024; (ii) to fund an interest reserve account in respect of the Credit Facility in an amount equal to $7,000,000 CAD; (iii) for working capital and general corporate purposes; and (iv) to pay transaction costs in connection with the Credit Facility.
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