Waiting game continues in Ontario, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotians continue to wait for legal sports betting and a report commissioned by a casino operator has folks wondering about another delay in Ontario.
In this issue
Casinos operator raises red flag
Nova Scotia a no (legal) bet zone
A Bubbles bath for PointsBet
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Ontario casinos operator raises red flag
In one corner, a call for action from sportsbook operators to Ontario’s elected officials to provide a date for opening the doors to regulated sports betting in the province. And in another corner. . . .
In case you’re still trying to figure out another postseason failure by the Dallas Cowboys and missed it, some media types got their hands late last week on a (no longer) confidential report prepared for Great Canadian Gaming by a gambling industry consulting company. Great Canadian Gaming, the province’s largest casino operator which was purchased by an affiliate of U.S.-based Apollo Global Management last fall, warns that the introduction of online gaming into Ontario could cost the province $500 million in revenue in each of the next five years.
In the report, Great Canadian has a laundry list of what it’s seeking, including:
Two years of exclusivity over online betting and gaming for land-based operators
Comparable tax rates for iGaming and retail operators (land-based revenues are taxed at 55 per cent)
Online casino licences for land-based operators only
A limited number of online betting licenses, potentially with tethering requirements
"The report includes critical learnings from other jurisdictions that introduced iGaming and cannibalized land-based operators in the process," Great Canadian Gaming CEO Tony Rodio said in a statement to the CBC’s Mike Crawley. "While we support iGaming in principle, the Ontario government needs to take the time to get this right."
Not surprisingly, there was prompt backlash to the report’s suggestion that land-based casinos will lose customers - and money - to online gambling sites. As Jeffrey Haas, senior vice-president of DraftKings, told Crawley:
"When the regulated market opens in Ontario, nothing is going to change in respect to players' entertainment habits. People who are playing in online casinos and online sportsbooks and online poker rooms will continue to do so, except they're going to go from playing offshore to onshore," he said in an interview. "And anybody who continues to walk into real casinos in order to play games there will continue to do so.”
From Christine Dobby of The Toronto Star this morning:
But other Canadian players in the igaming space say Great Canadian’s report comes too late in the process and is founded on a false argument, as the market is already overrun by foreign-owned grey market gaming companies.
“We don’t see any compelling reason for there to be another day of delay,” said Benjie Levy, president and chief operating officer of theScore, which is now owned by Penn National, and plans to launch its sports betting app in the new market. “There should not be another Super Bowl or March Madness where we are dealing with the grey market.”
Paul Burns, the president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, concurred with Haas on the “omnichannel experience” and also pointed to the growing concern around a launch date in the province.
“No one benefits in Ontario until the market opens,” Burns said. “Casino operators, iGaming operators. The government doesn’t benefit.”
There’s also the matter of an existing grey market of iGaming sites that was operating - and bringing no revenues to the province - before COVID-19 shut down casinos across the country. It’s also expected the licensing of sportsbook operators could lead to partnerships with bricks and mortar casinos, paving the way for customers to place a bet and then head for the slot machines and card tables.
The release of the report coincides with a call from Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, “that online gaming operators be held to the same standard, and make the same financial contributions to government, as the job-creating brick and mortar casinos in Ontario”. It’s worth noting that Unifor leader Jerry Dias and Doug Ford called a ceasefire last month in their longstanding feud when Ford named Dias the chair of the new Premier’s Council on U.S. Trade and Industry Competitiveness.
Also noteworthy is the silence from other casino operators in the province about the report (spokesperson Rob Mitchell from Gateway Casinos and Entertainment - which own a dozen casinos in Ontario - had “no comment” in an email to The Parleh).
We’ll continue to follow this story. In the meantime. . . .
Nova Scotia stays silent on sports betting
There’s more than lots to love about Nova Scotia: lobster, scallops from Digby, the Cabot Trail, Cabot Links, Ashley MacIsaac, Joel Plaskett and Saturday nights on Argyle Street in Halifax.
Legally betting on sports. . . not so much.
As Geoff Zochodne wrote on Covers.com at the beginning of this week, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation has yet to offer single-event betting via ProLine+ in Nova Scotia despite doing so in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. And it appears that won’t be changing in the near future.
“Single-event sports betting is currently being discussed and assessed with the new government in Nova Scotia,” Atlantic Lottery spokesperson Greg Weston told Zochodne last month.
The province elected a new Conservative government last summer before the federal government amended the Criminal Code to give provinces the opportunity to allow single-event wagering. A government spokesperson told Zochodne that discussions are still taking place to figure out what approach is taken for sports betting and online gaming in the Maritime province. For now, Nova Scotia stands alone in not offering legal sports wagering (although you can bet a lobster dinner there’s plenty of action being taken through the grey market).
So, to quote Plaskett, it’s wait, wait, wait.
Are you Skrilling it yet?
Skrill is the iGaming digital wallet that is sweeping the regulated states of the US. It’s a wallet that is dedicated to managing your bankroll: for players who want instant funding and payouts, VIP level limits, underpinned with bulletproof security.
Skrill has been available to players worldwide for 20 years, which means we know more than anyone about online gamers and how they move and make money.
Whilst Skrill is built for everyone from high rollers to Sunday casuals, the more you use Skrill, the better it gets: loyalty bonuses, lower fees, higher limits, 24/7 support and access to events throughout the year.
More than that, Skrill is building a community of players, so you can send money to your buddies or access your bankroll wherever and whenever you want. With integrated sports content and acceptance at your favourite operators, you’ll never feel limited with what you can do with your bankroll.
For more information visit: skrill.com
PointsBet Canada takes a Bubbles bath
At a time when throwing bricks appears to be much easier than underhanding bouquets, we’re tossing our freshest flowers (OK, they’re dried, but it’s January in Canada) at PointsBet Canada for wasting no time to exploit the partnerships they announced last week with the NHL Alumni Association and the three wise guys of Sunnyvale Trailer Park - Julian, Ricky and Bubbles.
We’re not ready to give PointsBet’s first piece of creative with its new partners top billing over Bubbles’ appearance with Ed Robertson and Rush. But, it’s sure as H-E double hockey sticks the clubhouse leader in 2022 as the best commercial we’ve seen in the betting space.
If you haven’t seen it, grab a rum and coke, and enjoy.
On the Home Front
FansUnite Entertainment is already touting a padding of the digital wallet from its acquisition of American Affiliate. And, the Vancouver company has a date for the VamosGG Cup esports tournament.
Dan O’Toole has a new home and a new show (name rhymes with Zoombies) via BetRivers.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis has made some tweaks to its self-exclusion program to make it more accessible.
Nicely done by Katarina Vojvodic at PlayCanada.com checking in with the provinces to see which of them will offer betting around next month’s Beijing Winter Games.
What do you say, U.S. or European odds when sportsbooks open their digital doors in Ontario?
While we expect betting on junior hockey games to be taboo when it comes to the eventual regulated market in Ontario, we also know there is action on Canadian Hockey League games in other parts of the wagering world. So, the Canadian Hockey League is getting some support from Sportradar on the integrity front.
Tiidal Gaming CEO (and former theScore guy) Tom Hearne had a gab with Jody Vance about the esports industry and where it’s headed.
Seems the U.GG desktop created by Enthusiast Gaming is pretty popular with the esports crowd.
ICYMI, fuboTV grabbed the Canadian rights to the Premier League last week.
If you’re looking to other places for learning about the business of betting and gaming, Brock University is hosting a sport gambling webinar on February 9.
Matters of M&A
A massive announcement Tuesday morning that Microsoft is buying Activision-Blizzard for some $69 million (U.S.) although there’s at least one suggestion that the elected officials in D.C. will be taking a gander at this deal.
Everi is acquiring a chunk of assets from Atlas Gaming.
DraftKings and Amazon were indeed among the suitors for The Athletic.
Aspire is saying ‘we accept’ to the almost $700 million offer from NeoGames.
Let’s Get Together
The relationship between Genius Sports and Bet365 is being taken to another level.
There’s a digital component to the latest partnership between the Canadian Olympic Committee and General Mills. And don’t worry, you won’t mind microchips in that bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. . . .
The Arizona Coyotes are a beneficiary of a partnership between Meruelo Gaming and International Game Technology.
Coolbet Canada has extended its ties to the Toronto Arrows rugby club for the 2022 Major League Rugby season.
Betby has a deal with Esports Entertainment Group to power a couple of betting brands.
A marriage between the Spartans and Caesar’s makes an awful lot of sense in Shakespearean terms, n’est-ce pas?
The partnership between BetMGM and Cheddar News caught the eye of Pressboard and its list of the Top 100 Branded Content Partnerships in 2021.
Gambling.com Group has landed a content contract with one of the biggest publishers in the U.S.
State Side Stories
Some results of interest from a YouGov poll into advertising and consumer awareness around sports betting.
Missouri’s professional sports teams and casinos have a deal for legal sports betting in the Show Me state.
DraftKings announced this morning a responsible gambling initiative.
According to GeoComply, more than one million accounts have been created in less than two weeks with the five sportsbooks up and running in New York. The state, meanwhile, is expecting to rake in $250 million from online sports betting this year.
If you’re one of those account holders and don’t really know a parlay from a prop bet, some words of wisdom here.
And, sports betting advertising in the Empire State has been embraced with the same enthusiasm Bill Belichick shows with reporters.
Also, good stuff from Matt Rybaltowski at SportsHandle.com about the cost of acquiring customers in NY.
There’s a New York senator who’s unlikely to sign up for a Caesars account anytime soon.
And finally, more on the spending spree by sportsbooks taking up residence south of Ontario from JohnWallStreet.
Dave Portnoy showed up last week on behalf of advocates for legal sports wagering in the Sunshine State.
Another month, another record handle taken in by sportsbooks in Michigan.
Let the political wrangling towards legal online gaming in Indiana begin.
Maverick Gaming has (finally) started legal proceedings against the state of Washington.
Speaking of Washington, DraftKings is setting up shop there with the Tulalip Tribes.
And speaking of legal proceedings, Chris Moneymaker has a bone to pick with PayPal.
A lovely tribute to the life and times of Brian Blessing.
Eldrick Woods has plans to enter the sports technology business with a little help from his friends.
A sneak peek of the soon-to-come BetMGM Sportsbook at the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
Survey says. . . . 3-5 states will legalize sports betting in 2022.
Pretty staggering that almost $11 billion was spent in New Jersey on legal sports betting last year. The state was also $2.1 billion to the good in GGR.
Across the Pond
Entain and BetMGM, which opened its mobile sportsbook in New York on Monday, have a rosy outlook for the next two years with Canada having a place in that picture.
Over the past 10 years, more than 30,000 Danish citizens have registered for self-exclusion, a good story for responsible gambling advocates.
Quarter(s) pole
Insight from Wagers.com Earnings + More this morning on Entain’s Q4 results.
Coming to your screen in the very near future, the latest financial results for BetMGM and Penn National.
Revenue for the fourth quarter dropped for 888, which has a partnership with Sports Illustrated for 2022.
Quick Hits
File this under “tres, tres cool”, ESPN’s first all-female NHL broadcast.
Like Kayla Grey, we also wonder why The Shift isn’t on television. Also, felicitations to Kayla on being honoured by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
And like Sarah Fuller, we await sportsbooks becoming more engaged with women’s sports.
A tragic tale told by the wife of a man whose problem gambling led to him committing suicide. Anne Ashton is calling for a ban on bonus offerings by sportsbooks in the UK.
Here’s the story of a $1 million week for an Illinois man.
A thoughtful offering from the keyboard of Richard Schuetz on sports betting and advertising.
We enjoyed this conversation between Alpha Sharp Advisors chief Lloyd Danzig and Jesse Learmonth on The Betting Startups podcast.
Tom Brady’s NFT platform just raised a few more dollars.
While we maintain that the path to a successful professional women’s hockey league goes through Gary Bettman’s office, we’re extremely pleased for Premier Hockey Federation players who will be receiving a raise.
Huge congratulations to Willie O’Ree for finally having his jersey retired by the Boston Bruins.
And, oh baby, we offer big Parleh props to this guy.
People on the Move
NorthStar Gaming has added to its executive roster Maureen Rydzik as Vice-President of Information Technology & Vendor Management; Dante Anderson as Vice-President, Marketing; Quyen Nguyen as Head of Player Acquisition & Affiliate Marketing; and Dean MacNeil as Vice-President, Product & Managed Services.
Michael Friisdahl is walking away from MLSE as its President and CEO to join Signature Aviation, a British aviation services company. Cynthia Devine, the company’s CFO, will replace Friisdahl on an interim basis.
Jordan Banks has left Rogers Sports & Media as President, and is being replaced by Colette Watson.
Matt McGlynn is the new Vice-President of Marketing and Brand at Overactive Media.
Former Bloomberg executive Andrew Bimson is heading to Sportradar as its North American Chief Operating Officer.
Classified (Job) Information
Canucks Sports & Entertainment is hiring a Vice-President, Esports.
The Responsible Gambling Council has an opening for a Check Program Analyst in Toronto.
PointsBet Canada is in the market for a Director, Growth Marketing.
TheScore is looking for a Team Lead, Sportsbook Operations Analyst.
FansUnite Entertainment is looking for a Financial Reporting Manager.
We do our best to lend a hand to very good people doing great deeds. With that in mind, the hall of fame humans behind Hockey Helps the Homeless are seeking a Manager, Hockey Operations and a Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Triathlon Canada is the latest national sports organization on the lookout for a Chief Executive Officer.
Tennis Canada, meanwhile, is seeking a new Chief Financial Officer. The NSO is also hiring its inaugural Director, Women’s and Girls Advancement.
Hockey Alberta is hiring its first-ever Mentor, Female Hockey.
The Toronto Raptors’ crack communications department has an opening for a Manager, Media Relations.
Wanted by EA Sports: An Athlete Marketing Director.
The Canadian Premier League is looking for a Marketing Director.
Golf Ontario is hiring a Senior Director, Marketing.
About the Numbers
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