Canada

Gateway Becomes the Official Casino Partner of NFL in Canada

Published

11 months ago

August 14, 2019

Niji Narayan

Photo source: theontarioherald.com

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited (Gateway) has signed an agreement to become the Official National Land-Based Casino Partner of the NFL in Canada. Gateway’s signature MATCH Eatery and Public House will be the exclusive presenting sponsor of the NFL Fantasy App.

As per the deal, Gateway can use NFL trademarks in Canada to promote their properties and activate around key NFL events including the NFL Draft, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl.

“We are thrilled to partner with the NFL in Canada as their first Canadian Land-Based Casino Partner. We know there are millions of football fans across Canada and to be able to offer exclusive, unique experiences to them at our properties is very exciting. This comes at such an exciting time as the NFL is celebrating 100 years of football this season and we look forward to celebrating with them as a new partner in Canada,” Carrie Kormos, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Gateway Casinos said.

“NFL Canada is truly proud to be working with Gateway to collaborate and help accelerate its business in Canada. Like the NFL and our players, Gateway sets itself apart in the market through unparalleled teamwork and commitment to excellence, which makes our new partnership so powerful in Canada,” David Thomson, the managing director of NFL Canada said.

Canada

BCLC Contracts with iTel to Support Lottery Network Services

Published

3 days ago

July 7, 2020

George Miller

BCLC Contracts with iTel to Support Lottery Network Services

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Kamloops’ technology future looks even brighter with a new agreement between two of the city’s largest technology companies: BCLC and iTel Networks (iTel).

Under a three-year contract with BCLC, iTel will provide the fast and secure Internet connection needed to support BCLC’s retail partners located in remote and rural areas of the province to sell lottery products.

“Given the breadth of our network, iTel checked off all the boxes we had on our list,” said Pat Davis, Vice President of Business Technology and Chief Information Officer. “Its unique ability to support our remote network requirements provided an efficient solution to meet our business needs. We’re pleased to work with an organization that shares our support for expanding the local tech business.”

BCLC awarded the contract to iTel for Province Wide Internet Services following a public procurement process that included an August 2019 Request for Proposal.

“Having lived in Kamloops for most of my life, I am deeply invested in this community both personally and professionally,” added Danny Rink, CEO, iTel Network. “I am excited that we have built iTel over the last 12 years to be an organization that can support the vast and robust network needs of an enterprise organization like BCLC, and by doing so, iTel can continue to invest in the community and help further grow the Kamloops tech sector.”

In addition to both being deeply rooted in the Kamloops technology sector, both BCLC and iTel support the Kamloops Innovation Centre (KIC), a non-profit technology start-up accelerator. Rink helped found KIC in 2012 and BCLC has since created an on-site Innovation Lab in partnership with KIC, with the goal of fueling growth of local tech talent.

“Diversification into technology for B.C.’s regional economies requires the active participation of its large technology employers. iTel Networks and BCLC have proven themselves to be those catalysts in our community,” said Dr. Lincoln Smith, executive director, KIC. “Both of these corporate leaders are directly and indirectly helping to create the ecosystem in Kamloops where new technology-enabled businesses can start up and thrive.”

Thanks to lottery players and retailers across B.C., the lottery business helped BCLC generate $1.4 billion for the Province of B.C. last year to support health care, education and community programs across B.C.

Canada

Loto-Québec announces the dates and conditions for the reopening of its gaming establishments, as well as the cost-saving measures affecting its operations and personnel

Published

1 week ago

July 2, 2020

George Miller

Loto-Québec announces the dates and conditions for the reopening of its gaming establishments, as well as the cost-saving measures affecting its operations and personnel

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Loto-Québec will gradually reopen its establishments according to the following schedule, with operations adjusted to comply with physical distancing and hygiene standards:

Hilton Lac-Leamy: July 13
Casino de Charlevoix, Casino de Mont-Tremblant, Québec and Trois-Rivières gaming halls: July 16
Casino du Lac Leamy: July 23
Casino de Montréal: August 3
VLT and Kinzo network: July 7
Network bingo: July 3

As establishments reopen, the Corporation’s top priority will be to ensure that operations resume in such a way as to allow employees and customers to stay safe while enjoying a fun environment.

Rigorous safety measures, modified opening hours and an online reservation system

When Loto-Québec’s establishments reopen, customers will notice the following important changes to operations and on gaming floors, including:

New online reservation system for customers
Casino sectors will be limited to a maximum of 250 customers at a time
- Québec City gaming hall(250 customers)
- Trois-Rivières gaming hall(250 customers)
- Casino de Charlevoix(250 customers)
- Casino de Mont-Tremblant(250 customers)
- Casino du Lac-Leamy(4 sectors with 250 customers = 1,000)
- Casino de Montréal(6 sectors with 250 customers = 1,500)
Complete disinfection of each establishment every day and cleaning of gaming machines between customers
All employees on gaming floors required to wear procedural mask and, when required under CNESST standards, eye protection
Customers required to wear a mask or face covering
Directional signage people must follow to get from one location to another and two-metre physical distancing signage
Reconfiguration of gaming floors:
- Slot machine activation that ensures physical distancing
- Reduced number of players at gaming tables and installation of protective panels between the dealer and players
Availability of rubber-tipped stylets to avoid touching slot machines
No handling of cards or chips by the customer
Bars and show halls to remain closed for the time being
Snack food service only
New opening hours:

Casino de Mont-Tremblant and Casino de Charlevoix

Casino du Lac-Leamy and Casino de Montréal

Québec City and
Trois-Rivières gaming halls

Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight

Friday: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to midnight

Every day: 9 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Monday to Wednesday:

10 a.m. to midnight

Thursday to Sunday:

9 a.m. to 3 a.m.

All information on the reopening and applicable measures is available at https://casinos.lotoquebec.com/en/portal/establishments.

Savings measures affecting operations and personnel

Since the COVID-19 crisis has been affecting Loto-Québec’s commercial operations for over three months already and despite the announcement of the upcoming gradual reopening, the Corporation is forced to apply savings measures to its operations and all personnel. The decision was made in order to align staffing needs with the level of activities.

Indeed, casinos, gaming halls, video lottery terminals (VLTs) and Kinzo halls have been closed since March, and in-store lottery sales were suspended for six weeks, all of which resulted in a significant reduction in the Corporation’s activities and revenues. Loto-Québec must therefore revise operations to meet the pace at which commercial activities resume.

In an effort to maintain employment and expertise, the Corporation will implement measures that affect management personnel and employees as well as operating and capital budgets in corporate and business sectors. The measures to be implemented are as follows:

Significant reduction in operating and capital budgets in all corporate and business sectors for 2020-2021
Temporary layoffs in various sectors (particularly 2,250 operations employees in casinos and gaming halls)
Cancellation of supernumerary employee contracts
Salary freeze and cancellation of all bonuses for management personnel for 2020-2021
Hiring freeze
Temporary reduction of the work week

Meetings with management personnel, union representatives and employees from all sectors were held yesterday and today to inform them of the decisions, explain the situation and address concerns.

Canada

Ilkim Hincer (Hard Rock International) to join speaker lineup at the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America 2020

Published

4 weeks ago

June 12, 2020

Zoltan Tundik

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The top industry companies have all confirmed their interest to join the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference), which will open its virtual doors between 23-24 June

The virtual seats are limited, so hurry and register now to secure your seat(s)! REGISTER HERE

We are taking the time to introduce you to the experts that will be joining the panel discussions and today, we are introducing you to Ilkim Hincer (Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer at Hard Rock International).

Ilkim Hincer joined Hard Rock International as Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer in February 2020. Ilkim hails from Toronto, Canada and brings over 20 years of experience in gaming, entertainment and related corporate commercial and technology law.

In addition to leading the gaming practice groups at preeminent law firms, Ilkim has served as the President & CEO of the gaming advisory and services firm, MT>Play, VP & General Counsel at Trilliant Canada Gaming, VP, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer for the Canadian subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, and General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

Ilkim is also a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).

Do not miss this unique opportunity to attend a virtual conference that gathers all North American gaming industry experts for 2 days of discussions and networking. Register your seat now!