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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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Team Vitality accelerates global growth with acquisition of Bigetron Esports
The acquisition will see Team Vitality continue to forge its path to becoming one of the only truly international esports organisations, by entering the mobile gaming market in new regions and markets
Leading esports club, Team Vitality, is proud to announce the acquisition of Indonesian esports organisation, Bigetron Esports, following a deal with one of the most powerful mobile gaming esports brands globally. The move will strengthen Team Vitality’s presence in the mobile gaming market as well as extend the brand’s reach further into the Southeast Asian region, continuing to forge its path to become a truly global, multifaceted presence across all elements of esports.
Bigetron by Vitality: A strategic move into Southeast Asia and mobile gaming
The acquisition places Team Vitality in a strategically important gaming market – Southeast Asia. With a population of over 270 million, and more than 30% of whom are under 30, Indonesia represents a vibrant and highly engaged audience for esports. The country is home to over 100 million gamers, making it the fourth-largest gaming market in the world. Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, is also one of the fastest-growing regions for mobile gaming, with a remarkable 20% year-over-year revenue growth.
As part of the move, Bigetron Esports’ brand identity will change to ‘Bigetron by Vitality’, to show respect to the club’s local legacy while allowing Team Vitality to integrate the brand authentically and exclusively into all future mobile gaming activities. Bigetron Esports CEO, Edwin Chia, alongside Team Vitality’s Co-Founder CEO, Nicolas Maurer and Corporate Director of Global Operations, Danny Engels, will work together as the respective leads for Vitality’s mobile gaming entity.
This acquisition marks a significant step in Team Vitality’s expansion into mobile gaming, following the 2024 acquisition of Bigetron’s Women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster. Prompting a deeper exploration of the mobile esports space, Bigetron represents a fantastic addition to help introduce and grow the Vitality brand within this fast-growing and dynamic segment of the industry.
Bigetron Esports has built a formidable reputation in the mobile gaming world, with an impressive social media presence across multiple platforms, totaling over 6.8 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp. As part of this acquisition, all Bigetron social media channels will be rebranded to align with Team Vitality as ‘ Bigetron by Vitality’, integrating seamlessly into the broader Team Vitality network.
Bigetron is one of the few Southeast Asian organisations with an established footprint in four key mobile gaming titles, a strong competitive track record, and existing partnerships with gaming industry leaders Moonton and Tencent. Following the deal, Team Vitality will be represented by the organisation’s existing key rosters and talent including:
- Men’s Mobile Legends Bang Bang Team: Competing in the Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League Indonesia (MPL ID), the organization recently secured 3rd place in the highly competitive league operated by game publisher Moonton, with a notable peak viewership of an astonishing 4 million.
- PUBG Mobile Team: With total prize winnings exceeding $1.2 million, Bigetron has made multiple World Championship appearances, including the 2024 World Championship, and holds World Championship titles from 2019 and 2020.
- Free Fire Team: Champions of the Free Fire World Series (FFWS) Indonesian Fall 2024. The team also earned a spot in the Free Fire World Series Grand Finals 2024.
- Honor of Kings Team: The Honor of Kings team recently triumphed in the Indonesian Qualifier for the HoK Invitational Season 3 and became a partner team in the newly established Professional Honor of Kings League in Indonesia.
- Women’s Mobile Legends Bang Bang team: Following acquiring the team in 2024, Bigetron will offer additional support, resources and infrastructure to further support the roster ahead of the Esports World Cup in 2025.
- Additionally, Bigetron has assembled a lineup of Southeast Asian brand ambassadors with a combined social media following of over 27 million, all of whom will further amplify the clubs partnership with Team Vitality throughout the region
All of the above teams that qualify for the Esports World Cup will represent Team Vitality and compete under the Team Vitality banner and team name. Following this, teams competing in Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Free Fire tournaments will do so as Bigetron by Vitality, marking the full integration of Bigetron into the Team Vitality network.
TEAM VITALITY IN FIGURES
After Bigetron Esports acquisition
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Ambitious international plans for 2025
With ambitious plans for international expansion, Team Vitality is setting its sights on reaching new heights in esports throughout 2025. This year, the organisation is focused on securing victories, strengthening its legacy, and pioneering the esports industry into the new generation. This commitment not only supports Team Vitality as one of the world’s leading esports powerhouses but also contributes towards the broader success of the organisation on a global scale.
“We are thrilled to announce our acquisition of Bigetron Esports.” said Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality “As the popularity of mobile gaming continues to soar, particularly with younger generations growing up on mobile games, Team Vitality is proud to support shaping the long-term future of mobile gaming esports together with the Bigetron leadership team. This acquisition marks an important step in our internationalisation as well as becoming the best gaming organization in the world.”
“The merger was driven by our shared vision with Team Vitality to inspire and empower gamers to achieve greatness through innovation, collaboration, and relentless dedication to excellence. We believe alongside Team Vitality, we can continue achieving greatness and showcasing the stellar Indonesian esports talent on an expansive international stage.” commented the CEO of Bigetron Esports, Edwin Chia.
The post Team Vitality accelerates global growth with acquisition of Bigetron Esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Kaizen Gaming named Latin America’s Casino and Sportsbook Operator of the Year at the SBC Awards Americas 2025
Dual wins as ‘Casino Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ and ‘Sportsbook Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ affirm Kaizen Gaming’s leadership and product excellence across Latin America
Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s biggest GameTech companies and owner of the Betano online sports betting and gaming brand, has been crowned ‘Casino Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ and ‘Sportsbook Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ at the highly celebrated SBC Awards Americas 2025 held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Wednesday 14th May.
The two wins recognise Kaizen Gaming’s strong focus and commitment to delivering an exceptionally high-quality product offering with customer experience and satisfaction at its core. They also signify the company’s sustained growth and accelerating momentum as a leading operator across the region and beyond.
Christos Tzalavras, Chief Product Officer, Kaizen Gaming, said: “We’re proud to be recognised for having the best sportsbook and casino products in Latin America, which is undeniably one of the most dynamic and exciting gaming markets in the world today. These awards reflect our team’s passion, the strength of our strategy, and our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality, and responsible gaming experiences. Our main secret is prioritising the customer experience in everything we do. This is a milestone moment for our brand, but the ‘Kaizen way’ is one of continuous improvement, so we’ll keep raising the bar. Thank you to the whole team for your hard work and dedication in making this achievement possible.”
Kaizen Gaming was the first operator to be officially licensed in Brazil this January. Key highlights in 2025 to-date include the renewal of Betano’s partnership with F1 legend Felipe Massa, its continuing support for Supercopa Betano Rei 2025 and the Supercopa Feminina Betano 2025, and notably the recent start of its landmark long-term principal and front-of shirt sponsorship with Club Atlético River Plate. These milestones follow its rapid expansion into three new LatAm markets last year, its partnership with CONMEBOL Copa America 2024, and title sponsorship agreements with the Brasileirão Betano in Brazil and Torneo Betano in Argentina.
The inaugural SBC Awards Americas honour outstanding companies representing the gaming and betting industry across the region. With a hand-picked judging panel, the accolades recognise the achievements and accomplishments of operators, affiliates and suppliers from all the major disciplines including payments, marketing, platform providers and data.
The SBC Awards Americas took place at Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale on the second day of SBC Summit Americas. The show brings together 10,000 industry professionals and over 400 exhibitors for networking, knowledge exchange, and growth opportunities across the casino and sports betting sectors in North, South, and Central America.
The post Kaizen Gaming named Latin America’s Casino and Sportsbook Operator of the Year at the SBC Awards Americas 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Red Rake Gaming expands its presence in New Jersey with Hard Rock Bet
Red Rake Gaming, a leading provider of online casino content, has announced the launch of its games on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet platform via Aristocrat Interactive.
With this launch, Red Rake Gaming continues to consolidate its growth in the United States after obtaining regulatory approval in New Jersey and other strategic markets. The availability of its most innovative and high-performing games on Hard Rock Bet reinforces the company’s presence in the region and reaffirms its commitment to providing high-quality content to top-tier operators.
Grant Williams, SVP Casino at Hard Rock Bet, commented: “We’re thrilled to Roll with Red Rake Gaming via Aristocrat Interactive and provide our players with an exciting new array of innovative gaming options. Their engaging portfolio will nicely complement the over 2,700 games available on Hard Rock Bet as we continue to elevate the online gaming experience for our players.”
Nick Barr, Managing Director of Red Rake Gaming Malta, added: “We are very excited about the addition of our games on Hard Rock Bet and the opportunity to further expand our presence in the U.S. market. Hard Rock is a globally recognized brand, and we are confident that our games will resonate with Hard Rock Bet’s players, offering a unique and immersive experience.”
The post Red Rake Gaming expands its presence in New Jersey with Hard Rock Bet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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