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Canada still lags in online gambling front
With US Supreme Court’s recent order paving the way for legalising sports betting in the country, many observers are curiously watching Canada’s gambling scene. But the indications from the country suggest that it may be going in the opposite direction. Canada’s gambling industry has created an income of $17.3 billion CAD last year. It is expected to be higher this year.
The legislation is such that it is legal to bet online, provided the online casino or poker site does not have a physical facility in Canada. Obviously, the provincial casinos, like PlayNow.com, Espacejeux, and PlayOLG, have been finding this hard to accept.
The lawmakers are also concerned with this as online gambling results in revenue loss for the state. In 2016, the Quebec legislature passed Bill 74 which, among other things, included a provision to force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block international online casino operators.
Loto-Quebec, the provincial gambling body in Quebec, operates EspaceJeux.com, an online casino that requires all players to be residents of Quebec. More importantly, EspaceJeux’s profits are passed on to the provincial government just the same as lotteries and land-based casino profits, which are also regulated. As Simon Stern from toponlinecasinos.ca explains, up until 2016, Loto-Quebec has stated on the record that they were taking too much of a cut, meaning their Return to Player (RTP) was much lower than competing internationally based casinos. They were unable to grow rapidly enough to be sustainable due to players having easy options to play online where they had a better chance of winning. Since then, Espace Jeux has increased their RTP but are subsequently not meeting their profit goals as the margins tighten. Competition is fierce internationally and the largest online casinos have huge revenues to offer huge welcome bonuses and excellent RTPs. The answer for Quebec was to simply introduce legislation to eliminate the competition by forcing ISPs to block these websites. Bill 74 was passed with exactly that provision in 2016.
How is Quebec Bill 74 supposed to work? Loto-Quebec is to give a list of over 2000 gambling websites that ISPs in the province should block. They are also supposed to offer a tender to international online casinos to become partners with EspaceJeux where they will redirect registered players to these casinos through EspaceJeux but Loto-Quebec will maintain the customer information and take a cut of revenues. Some of the most visited sites from Quebec include PokerStars, Casino.com and LeoVegas and these parties may be candidates for approval. The law was given many months to set up the appropriate framework to accomplish this goal. All other online casinos will be blocked in the province and the responsibility to block them will be with the ISPs. The ISPs, which include some of the largest corporations in Canada, do not want to take on this burden and civil rights activists are concerned that this action leads the country down a slippery slope of allowing the government to restrict free speech and an open internet.
The consortium of ISPs, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), formally filed complaint to the national body governing telecommunications, the CRTC, who is formally the only organisation who legally have jurisdiction in this case. The CRTC came back with a recommendation that the law was unconstitutional and that they alone, along with the Government of Canada, have jurisdiction but they will await the court’s decision. Thus, the law introduced by the provincial Government of Quebec should not be implemented. The CWTA immediately filed suit in Quebec Superior Court to block the law from being implemented, where it stands today. The court case was delayed until March 2018 where a ruling still awaits. The general consensus among legal scholars is that the law will be rejected on constitutional grounds but will likely head all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
What if the law is able to stand? A ruling in favour of Bill 74 would be the first such case that would allow provincial governments to restrict what their residents can view on the internet. The immediate result would be that Quebec residents would be unable to play at international online casinos and poker sites that are not licenced through EspaceJeux and Loto-Quebec. The implications are far-reaching in that it opens the door for similar laws to restrict other facets of a free internet and for other provinces to do the same. Canada will go from one of the most popular markets for online gambling to one of the most restrictive. More importantly, Canada could go from one of the most open societies in the world to one that restricts free speech and freedom of internet.
Source: cardplayer.com
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BETFRED LAUNCH NEW STUDIO AND LIVE PRESENTERS FOR EXCLUSIVE NUMBERS GAME
Bookmaker Betfred have launched a brand-new studio and live presenters for their exclusive numbers game ‘Nifty 50.’
The ‘Nifty 50’ is a fixed odds numbers game featuring five live draws a day with a jackpot of 5 million pounds for every draw.
The exclusive product now has a new hi-tech purpose-built studio at their head office in Birchwood, Warrington. The new studio is part of a major refurbishment project at Betfred’s headquarters.
Plus, for the relaunch Betfred have employed two new presenters Joshua Littlehales and Grace Constantinou.
Joshua Littlehales who has worked for Tameside Radio and LADbible said, “The new studio looks amazing, and I feel impressed each time I step inside. I feel excited to call it my professional home.”
Grace Constantinou who is a Media and Performance graduate from Salford University added, “I saw the studio when it was dust and walls and now to see it completed its very impressive.”
Betfred boss Fred Done said, “The whole idea behind Nifty 50 is for customers to win big for small stakes, and to now promote it with a purpose-built studio and live presenters I am delighted.”
Betfred commissioned Paul Sudlow to be the production designer, he came in with a wealth of experience having recently worked on ITV’s Euro 2024 studio in Berlin and the Rugby Union World Cup in 2023.
The screens and lights were provided by Whitelight based in Wimbledon while Monkey Scene provided the set construction.
The exclusive Nifty Fifty draw can be viewed five times a day in Betfred’s shops, online and at youtube with BetfredLotto.
The post BETFRED LAUNCH NEW STUDIO AND LIVE PRESENTERS FOR EXCLUSIVE NUMBERS GAME appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Play’n GO announces New Jersey partnership with leading operator Hard Rock Digital
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced a new operator partnership with renowned gaming brand Hard Rock Digital for their top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform in New Jersey. The Hard Rock brand is synonymous with entertainment worldwide, and this partnership will see Hard Rock Bet players in New Jersey gain access to hit Play’n GO titles such as Piggy Blitz, Book of Dead and Rise of Olympus 100.
Play’n GO is now live with four operators across four states in the United States, with further growth expected in the coming months.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented: “We’re excited to expand our US portfolio with a new operator partnership, and teaming up with a renowned brand like Hard Rock Digital is a significant achievement for us.
“New Jersey is a key state for our US operations, and we’re delighted to offer Hard Rock Bet’s players access to our top-tier casino gaming content. We believe this partnership will be highly beneficial for both Hard Rock Digital and Play’n GO, and we anticipate many shared successes in the coming months and years.
“Play’n GO remains committed to being active in every regulated market globally and to ongoing growth in the US. Partnerships like this one with Hard Rock Digital are crucial to our long-term success in the region.”
Grant Williams, SVP – Casino, Hard Rock Digital added: “We’re excited to roll with Play’n Go and add its entertaining titles to the over 2,000 games on our top-rated platform in New Jersey. We’re committed to making Hard Rock Bet the best place to play, and are proud of our recent online casino enhancements, including a more personalized experience, integrated rewards, and one of the largest selections of games in the market.”
Hard Rock Bet recently launched its ‘Roll With Us’ fall campaign, welcoming players of all types to play on its easy-to-use app. With 4.9 stars in the App Store and 4.8 stars in the Google Play Store, Hard Rock Bet is among the highest rated real money gaming apps in the market. Hard Rock Bet offers an integrated New Jersey online casino-sportsbook platform and also operates a sports-only experience in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. Hard Rock Bet is available for download via iOS and Android, and can also be played on desktop via HardRock.bet.
The post Play’n GO announces New Jersey partnership with leading operator Hard Rock Digital appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Atlaslive Partners with Oddin.gg to Elevate Esports Betting in LATAM, Offering 24/7 Betting Markets and Cutting-Edge Odds Feed
Atlaslive, a leading provider of innovative iGaming software solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Oddin.gg, the premier B2B provider for esports betting. This collaboration will enable Atlaslive to expand its comprehensive Sportsbook offerings, providing LATAM operators with cutting-edge esports betting services that feature real-time odds, live streams, and a wealth of fast-paced betting markets.
“As a company committed to providing scalable, reliable, and flexible iGaming solutions, our partnership with Oddin.gg is the perfect complement to Atlaslive’s mission of delivering excellence to our partners,” said Lidiia Vakulenko, COO of Atlaslive. “This collaboration enables us to bring the full potential of esports betting to the LATAM market, offering our partners advanced tools for managing odds and creating a more engaging experience for esports fans.”
By integrating Oddin.gg’s award-winning esports betting ecosystem, Atlaslive enhances its dynamic iGaming Platform with an unrivaled esports betting experience. This includes an esports-centric odds feed and 24/7 content, ensuring that operators can consistently offer a dynamic range of markets to eager bettors. Oddin.gg’s seamless iFrame solution also simplifies the front-end integration for Atlaslive’s partners, allowing for efficient access to a wide array of esports events and betting options with minimal operational overhead.
Oddin.gg is renowned for its end-to-end esports betting ecosystem, which includes a multi-award-winning odds feed, risk management services, live esports data, and a variety of other solutions tailored to the needs of esports operators. This partnership is poised to accelerate the growth of esports betting in Latin America, a region experiencing a surge in interest for competitive gaming.
“Partnering with Atlaslive is a natural step in expanding our presence in Latin America, which we consider our second home,” said Marek Suchar, Managing Director at Oddin.gg. “As a platform deeply rooted in the region’s B2B landscape, Atlaslive brings a focus on delivering a trustworthy, flexible, and scalable solution. Together, we’re eager to push the boundaries of esports betting in this high-potential market. Through our collaboration, we aim to offer an unparalleled esports betting experience, catering to the rapidly evolving needs of LATAM operators and bettors.”
With esports growing in popularity across Latin America, this partnership solidifies Atlaslive’s role as a key player in the region’s iGaming sector. The addition of Oddin.gg’s advanced esports offerings allows Atlaslive to better serve operators looking to tap into this rapidly evolving market.
The post Atlaslive Partners with Oddin.gg to Elevate Esports Betting in LATAM, Offering 24/7 Betting Markets and Cutting-Edge Odds Feed appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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