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Canada still lags in online gambling front

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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

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Fast Track welcomes PolarLotto: taking online lotto in Sweden to new heights

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Malta, 28th March 2024 – PolarLotto, a leading provider of lotto betting services in Sweden, has just announced a strategic partnership with Fast Track, a leading provider of CRM solutions designed specifically for the iGaming industry. This collaboration aims to propel PolarLotto’s expansion from offline to online offerings, bringing the excitement of the world’s biggest lotteries to Swedish players in a safe and responsible manner.

PolarLotto prides itself on its commitment to transparent and ethical gaming practices, with a focus on player safety and responsible gaming. By teaming up with Fast Track, PolarLotto aims to leverage cutting-edge technology to expand its business model from traditional to online, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for its customers.

Commenting on the partnership, Benjamin Burstein, CEO of PolarLotto, expressed enthusiasm about the possibilities ahead, stating, “We are excited to embark on this journey of transforming our business with the latest technology and automation tools provided by Fast Track. As we transition to the online space, we are confident that Fast Track’s expertise in custom segmentation, real-time data capabilities, and personalised experiences will enable us to better serve our players and achieve our business objectives.”

Fast Track also expressed confidence in the partnership, highlighting the potential for exceptional results through its Singularity model, which uses AI and machine learning to deliver tailored content to players, at the right time and through the most effective channel. “We are thrilled to partner with PolarLotto and support their online expansion,” said Simon Lidzén, CEO and co-founder of Fast Track. Our tools are designed to empower lean teams to achieve remarkable results, and we look forward to helping PolarLotto maximise their online presence and engagement.”

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Red Bull Gaming premieres ‘Memories of CS:GO’ documentary highlighting the game’s early years

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As the CS2 PGL Major in Copenhagen is set to kick off, Red Bull Media House will unveil a captivating feature-length documentary, “Memories of CS:GO – The Early Years,” an ode to one of the most influential games ever made.

This film takes viewers on an immersive journey through the origins and evolution of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), featuring personal accounts and defining moments from several of the most legendary figures of the game.

The 90-minute documentary, narrated by Counter-Strike commentator Henry “HenryG” Greer, chronicles the remarkable trajectory of CS:GO, from its grassroots beginnings to becoming a global esports phenomenon.

Produced by Red Bull Media House, the film captures the essence of the game through the eyes of its most well known players, including Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson, Patrik “f0rest” Lindberg, Richard “shox” Papillon, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, and Jarosław “pashaBiceps” Jarząbkowski, among others.

The documentary’s release is timed to precede the playoff stage of the PGL Major Copenhagen, scheduled for March 26, 2024. It will premiere on Red Bull Gaming’s YouTube channel at 21:00 CEST, offering viewers worldwide an insider’s perspective on the beloved game.

Event Details:

  • What: Premiere of “Memories of CS:GO – The Early Years”
  • When: March 26th, 2024, at 21:00 CEST
  • Where to watch: Red Bull Gaming’s Youtube Channel
  • The “CS:GO Memories” documentary can be viewed shareit.redbull.com

 

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Ten Square Games ready for a new development opportunities in 2024

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2023 ESPI package

The following documents in pdf format are equivalents of the official Consolidated Financial Statement which were reported in ESPI (download in the zip file above)

2023 Consolidated Financial Statement

2023  Management Board Report on Activities

Independent Auditor’s Report on the Audit of Annual Consolidated Financial Statements

Link to the stream

Link to the chat with individual investors

Presentation

Factsheet

Financial data

Transcription of the conference and Q&A session

For complete press release visit tensquaregames.com

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