Canada
Canadian Gaming Industry Delivers Real Benefits to All Regions of the Country
Industry tops $17.1 billion in revenue, directly supports over 182,000 jobs
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) released its National Economic Benefits of the Canadian Gaming Industry, which examines the size, growth of the and impact of the Canadian gaming industry as it welcomes gaming industry professionals from across Canada and around the world who are gathered at the Edmonton Convention Centre for the 23rd Annual Canadian Gaming Summit.
In 2017, the industry produced $17.1 billion in gaming win, which includes $1.0 billion in non-gaming revenue (food and beverage, entertainment, accommodations, retail) and demonstrates that gaming in Canada is a strong pillar of the broader hospitality industry and a significant generator of jobs and income for communities. Gaming in Canada directly supports approximately 182,500 jobs with an average salary of almost $65,000, which translates into $11.9 billion in labour income. Additionally, the industry purchases over $14.6 billion in goods and services annually, generating $18.9-billion of value-added GDP to the Canadian economy.
Gaming also sizably exceeds other segments of the entertainment industry in terms of the direct impact on the economy. Over the same period, gaming revenues exceeded those of social establishments, spectator sports, performing arts, movie theatres, and magazine and book sales combined.
“Gaming in Canada continues to grow and is an important employer and provider of meaningful returns to the Canadian economy balanced with socially responsible measures,” said Paul Burns, President and CEO, Canadian Gaming Association. “The size and scope of the industry have created a positive economic environment, where many of the goods and services needed to sustain operations are now produced and/or offered in Canada, and a number of Canadian companies are exporting gaming-related products and services internationally.”
Real Benefits in Local Communities
Canada’s gaming industry is a significant contributor to communities across Canada – it is increasingly technology-based and internationally-focused and represents a full spectrum from uniform manufacturers to global providers of printing solutions and game technology. Present in almost every region of the county, gaming remains a vital contributor to local communities as well as proud corporate neighbours who invest in their locations.
The following companies illustrate the diversity of Canada’s gaming industry as well as the large and small communities where they operate.
Nanoptix Inc., in Dieppe, New Brunswick, is a global provider of printing solutions and technologies for the gaming, lottery, kiosk, POS and amusement markets. Unisync™ Corp., in Mississauga, Ontario, is a leading customer-focused provider of corporate apparel. Pollard Banknote, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a trusted and reliable full-service instant ticket printing and related services partner and serves over 50 clients worldwide. Jackpot Digital, in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a leading electronic table games manufacturer and mobile gaming provider for the cruise ship industry and regulated casino industry.
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, in Burnaby, British Columbia, is one of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada, with 27 gaming properties in three provinces and more than 8,000 employees. Gateway always strives to be a good corporate neighbour, working closely with community leaders to ensure it takes an active role in supporting economic development but also supporting important community and charitable initiatives through Gateway Gives, its corporate giving and community engagement program.
“Last year, we contributed over $1,000,000 to more than 1,500 community and charitable organizations across Canada,” said Tony Santo, CEO, Gateway Casinos. “We strongly believe in offering not just our resources, but also our time, our know-how and our properties in supporting local efforts in the communities where we operate. We support and encourage all of our employees to be actively involved in projects, causes and initiatives that aim to build stronger, healthier and more vibrant communities.”
An Evolving Industry
As the companies listed above demonstrate, Canada’s gaming enterprises, technologies, products and expertise are in constant demand. The expansion and evolution of our industry has been driven by several key factors: technological innovations, shifts in public perception, consumer preferences for new products, and the innovation occurring in a globalized, competitive market. This has also translated into interest from international companies wanting to make a home in Canada.
“Gaming in Canada has been a success from an economic development, revenue, and employment perspective,” added Burns. “Governments have profited from new tax revenues, local economies have profited from new companies, jobs have been created, and significant capital investment and economic activity have materialized.”
The CGA has created a series of infographics, including provincial snapshots, that are available for download along with the full study and a summary, on canadiangaming.ca.
About the Canadian Gaming Association:
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) is a national trade association that works to advance the evolution of Canada’sgaming industry. The association’s mandate is to promote the economic value of gaming in Canada; use research, innovation, and best practices to help the industry advance; and create productive dialogue among stakeholders.
The CGA is co-owner of both the Canadian Gaming Summit, Canada’s premier annual conference and exhibition for gaming professionals, as well as Canadian Gaming Business magazine. Visit www.canadiangaming.ca to learn more about the CGA and gaming in Canada
Source: Canadian Gaming Association
Canada
Glitnor Group expands IBIA’s betting integrity presence in Ontario
Glitnor Group, operating under the LCKY Group in Ontario, has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). Glitnor Group’s luckycasino.ca brand sportsbook will feed into IBIA’s world leading betting integrity monitoring platform. The operator joins over 50 companies and 125 leading sports betting brands in IBIA and further cements the association’s position as the leading sports betting integrity monitoring body in Ontario and globally.
David Schwieler LCKY Group CEO, said: “At Glitnor Group, we’re dead serious about keeping our betting games fair and square. That’s why teaming up with IBIA is a big deal for us. We know how crucial it is to protect the spirit of sports, and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and work closely with the IBIA to make sure sports betting stays exciting, speedy, and above all, fair.”
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “I am delighted to welcome Glitnor Group as IBIA’s latest member in Ontario. Glitnor and IBIA share a common goal to maintain the integrity of the sports betting marketplace and to protecting consumers and sports from match-fixing. Ensuring product integrity is paramount to our approach and we look forward to integrating Glitnor within our leading global sports betting integrity monitoring system.”
IBIA is a not-for-profit body that has no competing conflicts with the delivery of commercial services to other sectors and is run by operators for operators to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. IBIA’s global monitoring network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets.
Through the IBIA global monitoring network it is possible to track transactional activities linked to individual customer accounts. IBIA members have over $300bn per annum in betting turnover (handle), accounting for approximately 50% of the global commercial regulated land-based and online sports betting sector, and in excess of 50% for online alone.
IBIA recently released a report on the Availability of Sports Betting Products which highlighted Ontario as a leading regulated gambling jurisdiction, with an expected onshore channelisation for sports betting of 92% in 2024 forecast to rise to 97% in 2028. IBIA currently represents over 60% of the private sports betting operators licensed in the province. All online sports betting operators licensed in Ontario are required to be part of a betting integrity monitoring body.
IBIA’s 2023 annual integrity report detailed 184 alerts reported in the year, which represents a decrease of 101 (or 35%) on the revised 2022 figure of 285 alerts. IBIA alerts contributed to the investigations and subsequent successful sanctioning of 21 clubs, players and officials in 2023, an increase on the 15 sanctioned in 2022.
Canada
SOFTSWISS Obtains Firstly Issued B2B Tobique Gaming Licence
SOFTSWISS, an iGaming software provider celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2024, has obtained the B2B Tobique Gaming Licence, the first ever issued in the jurisdiction. The Tobique Gaming Commission (TGC) and Differentia Licensing Advisory Group Limited (DLAG), a provider and facilitator to gaming companies for international gaming licences, authorised SOFTSWISS to engage in business activities for one year.
Located in western New Brunswick, Canada, the Tobique First Nation is a sovereign indigenous community issuing online gambling licences through the TGC under the Tobique Gaming Act of 2023. The licence, recognised as the B2B Tobique Gaming Licence, offers businesses the prospect of international operations, facilitating the establishment of a global footprint. The licence covers various categories of real money betting, including sports, casino games and lottery. Its significant advantages include the streamlined application process, reasonable price and quick acquisition.
Yuri Sharapa, Head of Country Projects at SOFTSWISS, comments: “Acquiring a new licence is a remarkable achievement for us, signifying our dedication to offering our clients a diverse range of options. We extend our gratitude to the Tobique Gaming Commission for their trust and stringent standards. We are proud to announce that one of the companies under the SOFTSWISS brand has become the first company to secure the B2B Tobique iGaming Licence.”
“The DLAG team is pleased to announce that the first Tobique Licence has been granted. The Licensee is under the tier-1 international brand, SOFTSWISS, in our industry, recognised for its leading products and services. These are exciting times for both the gaming world and Tobique!” adds Graham Martin, Chairman of DLAG.
SOFTSWISS supplies multiple operators under three international licences: MGA, CGA, and Kahnawake. Additionally, SOFTSWISS has several national licences and certifications, among which the recently obtained South African Licence through the acquisition of Turfsport, a leading South African provider of wagering software with 35 years of experience. Additionally, last year, as part of its strategy to enter regulated markets, the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform and the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook obtained GLI-19 and GLI-33 certifications, respectively.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Casino Platform, Game Aggregator, the Affilka affiliate tracking platform, Sportsbook Platform, and Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.
Canada
Hacksaw Gaming and Caesars Digital Partner to Launch Online Casino Games in Ontario
Launch brings Hacksaw Gaming titles to Caesars Palace Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario
Hacksaw Gaming today announced its first market launch with Caesars Digital in North America, in the regulated iGaming province of Ontario, Canada. The new partnership marks the exciting launch of new games on Caesars Palace Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in the province.
This new partnership, a first between the two companies, will bring familiar titles to online casino players and will be followed by a dedicated roadmap for additional launches in more jurisdictions in 2024, showcasing the entire Hacksaw Gaming catalog. The first release of games includes Hacksaw Gaming classics Wanted Dead or a Wild, RIP City, Hand of Anubis and Mines.
“Forging partnerships with new faces is always an exciting time but the influence of Caesars Digital is one we pride,” the Chief Executive Officer for Hacksaw Gaming, Marcus Cordes, said. “Launching this partnership in Ontario is the perfect place to begin our journey.”
“Hacksaw Gaming brings an exciting catalog of games to our platforms that should provide a thrilling experience for our players,” the Senior Vice-President and Chief iGaming Officer for Caesars Digital, Matthew Sunderland, said. “We’re excited to see how our players engage with this content in Ontario and in jurisdictions in the future through our new partnership.”
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