Marty Deacon reintroduces bill to restrict gambling advertising
The Senator is undeterred, despite her previous attempt failing when Prime Minister Trudeau prorogued Parliament.
The resignation of a Prime Minister, the proroguing of Parliament, a snap election and even a trade war with the United States isn’t going to stop Senator Marty Deacon in her quest to rein in gambling advertising in Canada.
Geoff Zochodne, Senior News Analyst for Covers, reported Tuesday that the Ontario Senator has reintroduced her bill calling for national guidelines for advertising sports betting.
The new Bill S-211 was introduced on May 28.
A similar bill, S-269, was passed in the Senate in November and sent off to Parliament for its approval. Then, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned and prorogued Parliament, killing the bill.
The new bill is called "An Act respecting a national framework on sports betting advertising."
Zochodne wrote, “As its name suggests, the legislation would force the federal government to craft national guidelines for the marketing of online sportsbooks to Canadians. And, among other things, that guidance could propose ways of ‘limiting the number, scope or location’ of those ads.”
S-211, would require the Minister of Canadian Heritage (that would be Steven Guilbeault in the brand spanking new Mark Carney cabinet) to establish a national framework for sports betting advertising.
“The framework would have to point out ways to regulate those ads, ‘with a view to restricting the use of such advertising, limiting the number, scope or location — or a combination of these — of the advertisements or to limiting or banning the participation of celebrities and athletes in the promotion of sports betting.’”
There’s no reason to believe the Senate won’t pass the bill again, but the tough part is whether Parliament will follow suit. Currently, the ruling Liberals have much bigger fish to fry and, as a minority government, would still need help from another party to pass such legislation. Since the country is faced with an economic crisis, it’s not likely to pass anytime soon. But you never know.
Stay tuned.
Could Mixi’s enhanced bid nix Hard Rock’s entry into Ontario?
About a month ago, we wrote that Hard Rock could enter Ontario’s online gambling space via a deal with Betr that was bidding to acquire PointsBet.
Betr is in a bidding war with Japan’s Mixi to acquire the Australian gambling company that operates PointsBet Canada in Ontario. The thought was that if Betr acquired PointsBet it likely would keep the Australian part of the company and sell off PB Canada. In that case, one of the suitors for the Ontario operation was, allegedly, Hard Rock.
Now comes word that Mixi, has upped its bid to $402 million to acquire PointsBet.
The belief is that if Mixi is the winning bidder, it will keep PointsBet Canada. That would close one door into Ontario for Hard Rock. It’s always free to just apply for a licence and join some 50 other operators duking it out, donnybrook-style, in Ontario. We’ve heard from several conversations in recent weeks that the crowded market here isn’t scaring away operators from being late to the party.
Stay tuned on that one, too.
Registration is now open for the June 17-19 Canadian Gaming Summit at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in the city below Beeton. Register here using the code PARLEHPARTNERVIP and get 50% off your full-event pass.
Jonah Sigel on the latest GNC Show
Jonah Sigel joined host Steve McAllister on the latest Gaming News Canada Show for a chat about another Toronto Maple Leafs playoff exit and the fallout at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Sigel is the man behind the @yyzsportsmedia account on X, the YYZ Sports Media website and the Bleave In The Pressrow Podcast
Listen to the show here via your favourite podcasting app or watch it here:
High Roller aiming for second-half 2025 launch in Ontario
High Roller, an online casino operator based in Las Vegas which bills itself as “an elegant brand,” is predicting it will launch in Ontario in the second half of 2025.
High Roller, which has applied for a license, says it has over 5,000 casino games from more than 90 operators. CEO Ben Clemes, in a company LinkedIn post last week said: "Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. We're excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers."
People on the Move
Congratulations/Felicitations to Martha Billes, Ted Nolan, Erik Guay, Kevin Martin, Christine Sinclair, Michelle Stilwell and Darren Zack: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s incoming induction Class of 2025.
Teresa Caeiro departs bet365 and her International Development Manager job to become the new Chief Operations Officer for Playtech Brazil.
Andrea Stodart, formerly of Conagra Brands and most recently the Vice President of Marketing for District Venture Capital is the new Vice President of Marketing at Betty.
Xavier Raffin, the former devops and architecture director for GeoComply, is named Chief Technology Officer for Vancouver-based HotTakes.
Long-time media sales/marketing executive Alan Dark will leave his post as Chief Revenue Officer of Rogers Sports & Media at the end of the month.
Friend of Gaming News Canada Eric Herd is named Global Head of Sports for Yieldmo.
Jimmy Baratta joins the legaling team at Segev LLP as an attorney in the firm’s business law, video gaming, blockchain, crypto & fintech, and sports law practice arms.
Andrea Wolleter is the new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, at Enjoy S.A.
Former LiveScore Media Managing Director James McCarthy is appointed Chief Marketing Officer for QiH Group.
Lusine Khudaverdyan is named Head of the Casino Business for GR8 Tech.
Dan Whitlam’s tenure as Director of Compliance for the UK Gambling Commission comes to an end.
Joe McMahon will step down at the end of the month as Associate Director, Gaming & Esports, Wavemaker Sports, Live & Gaming at Wavemaker.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission brings Friend of GNC Dustin Gouker on board as a Consultant.
Dawson Swain, formerly of Bell Media, is named Head of Insights at thinktv Canada.
BetComply appoints Kaine Brimble as Senior Product Compliance Analyst.
Veteran hockey communications executive Nate Ewell announces he’s leaving the Las Vegas Golden Knights and his role as Vice President, Business Communications & Broadcasting and will enter the free-agent market.
Eli Horowitz departs the Los Angeles Sparks to join the Toronto Tempo as the WNBA expansion franchise’s Assistant General Manager, Senior Vice President of Basketball Strategy.
John McCauley, formerly of MLSE, OneUp, and most recently, the Canadian Hockey League, has opened the doors to JM Sports Media.
Jeff Webb takes his leave as Vice President, GroupM Sport + Entertainment.
Matthew Carter is the new Chief Executive Officer of BC Rugby.
Classified (Jobs) Information
There’s a Vice President of Partnerships opportunity at OpTic Gaming.
Wanted by Sportradar: a Senior Sales Executive, Virtuals & Casino to be based in Singapore.
Hard Rock International is hiring a Manager, Player Development for its business dealings in the nation’s capital.
While we await news from iGaming Ontario on who’ll succeed Martha Otton in the grand poobah’s chair, the conduct-and-manage entity is looking to hire a Senior Financial Analyst. And there’s an opening for a Lead, Enterprise Data & Business Intelligence.
BetMGM currently has a plethora of postings for work duties, including a VP, Media & Growth Marketing, and a Senior Director, CRM Operations & Player Communication.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation has an opportunity for a Manager, Information Security.
Hard Rock Digital is in the market for a Gaming Compliance Analyst to work out of its location in Jersey.
FanDuel Sports Network is on a search-and-employ mission for an Advertising Sales & Sponsorship Leader.
A Senior Legal Counsel is wanted at Relax Gaming.
Wanted at Churchill Downs: a Senior Director of International Sales.
Our friends at BC Ventures are seeking a Social Media Moderator.
The American Gaming Association is hiring a Manager, Communications.
And the U.S.-based Responsible Online Gaming Association is searching for a Director of Marketing and Communications.
DraftKings is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to join its team in Boston.
Paysafe has an opening in Jacksonville for a Product Commercialization Manager.
BV Group is searching for an Acquisition Manager (talkSPORTBET & Betano).
Playtech is in the market for a Data Analyst PAM+.
A quartet of gigs are up for grabs at Strive Gaming.
ALT Sports Data wants to onboard a Technical API and Integrations Manager.
For its Culver City, CA, offices, Apple is hiring a Worldwide Buzz Marketing Manager – Sports and Entertainment, Corporate Communication (whew!).
Kambi has a hybrid opportunity in London for a Compliance Manager.
Optimove has an opening in London for a Solutions Engineer.
Wanted by Betting Hero: an Account Manager.
NeoPollard Interactive is in search mode for a Marketing Automation Speciaiist.
Electronic Arts has an opening for a Manager, Esports Product Strategy.
Minute Media is in the market for a Global Brand Partnerships Director.
First Sport Media is looking for a Junior/Middle Publisher Acquisition Manager.
Bethesda Game Studio is expanding its Analytics team.
Sports tech startup Ochy has a trio of openings including a Head of Business Development.
MLSE is seeking an Account Executive, Sales – BMO Field Events and a Manager, Lifecycle & Performance.
The NHL has a GTA-based opening for an Account Executive, Partnership Marketing.
SportsYard TV is looking for a Head of Content & Socials.
The Coca-Cola Company is hiring a Director, Influencer & Entertainment.
MLS club D.C. United is looking for a Director, Corporate Communications.
The league office at MLS is seeking a Senior Director, Brand Campaigns & Earned Media.
There is a quartet of employment opportunities with the St. Louis Blues.
The Ontario Hockey League is on the lookout for a Manager, Social Media & Digital Content.
Essencemediacom is seeking a Media Planner.
OneTeam is seeking a Senior Manager/Director of Games Partnerships for its Los Angeles HQ.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is looking for an Administrative Assistant, Government Relations.
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