Canada

XB Net partners with Magic City Jai Alai to launch new Jai Alai service

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2022

Breakthrough streaming and data harnesses low-latency pictures and in-play pricing for the resurgent sport of Jai Alai

New sports rights deal for leading U.S. streaming, data and betting services provider and popular Florida casino venue

XB Net has partnered with Magic City Jai Alai in Miami, Florida, to broaden its burgeoning live-broadcast, data-feed and betting services, thanks to a breakthrough deal with the World Jai Alai League.

This comprehensive agreement sees Magic City Jai Alai partner with XB Net to offer live streaming, alongside precise pricing and data, for pari-mutuel Jai Alai games worldwide and H2H matches outside North America across its competitive 2022/23 calendar. This product has accordingly been licensed by Miami’s local gaming authority, the Florida Division of Parimutuel Wagering, around video signal and data for the purposes of fixed-odds and commingled betting.

The World Jai Alai League is a governing body for professionals and amateurs, working with XB Net and Magic City Jai Alai to drive deeper fan-engagement around the sport, developing its international influence and scope in lockstep with commercializing its live pictures, commentary, odds and data.

Like horse racing, Jai Alai is a sport made for betting and fits in organically with XB Net’s existing stable of racing products, powered by its pre-eminent fixed-odds and pari-mutuel pools platform. Players can now pre-play and in-play on traditional fixed-odds winner, under-over total points, point-by-point, win place or show (based on team player numbers jai alai), or even try an exacta, trifecta, and quinella.

An engaging Jai Alai schedule is played on a weekly basis, and maintains a robust timetable and steady stream of live performances with regular Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday slates of games. Matches and their derivative markets settle quickly and optimize the player betting cycle for international operators.

These competitive games are staged and broadcast live from the Magic City Fronton, whose state-of-the-art make-up is a boon for viewing, thanks to its customized court-size, glass walls, and well-positioned cameras seamlessly tracking every aspect of the high-octane action. This tailored arena measures 37m in length by 12m in width, slightly smaller than other such facilities, increasing the speed of the ball and quickening the pace of play for this spectacular sport.

The innovative offering also combines the latest trading algorithms with low-latency pictures and deep data (head-to-head records, player profiles etc) to promote and educate around a dynamic, adrenaline-pumping sport that offers a myriad of betting opportunities for improved customer engagement.

Scott Savin, Chief Operating Officer at Magic City, said: “We’re thrilled to sign this breakthrough deal with XB Net on a sport that has been largely overlooked for its international appeal and flexible benefits for retention. Magic City unveiled its innovative take on the sport of Jai-Alai by taking the best features of the “World’s Fastest Game”, combining them with a state-of-the-art Jai-Alai court, and marrying these aspects to the skill-sets of University of Miami athletes. This key collaboration means fans old and new need not miss a minute of the action!”

Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President of International at XB Net, added: “Considering the relatable and transferable success of tennis as a betting product, and the breakthrough appeal of table-tennis during the pandemic, it was high time that Jai Alia was as well-served by recent gains in live data and automation. Magic City Jai Alai and XB Net have now achieved a step-change for fans of this sport, effortlessly blending live pictures with the live point-by-point tracking to create a seamless viewing and betting experience with far fewer market suspensions around the critical moments of any match.

“The aim is always to deliver a best-in-breed journey for operators and their players. Our feed harnesses bespoke pricing and data-feeds to provide the fastest feeds and lowest-latency data on the market, helping our operator partners to stay ahead of the game.

“Data and streaming are the spine of sportsbooks. Data is used to drive markets and add narrative to an event, while streaming remains crucial for customer engagement and retention.”

Unpacking Jai Alai

Jai alai is recognized as the fastest ball sport in the world, with ball-speed often reaching up to 170mph. Players compete against each other in both singles and doubles. Magic City Jai Alai offers two distinct formats of play. The traditional 8 player post round-robin format branded as Magic City Pelota, and their groundbreaking Head-to-head (H2H) format which features H2H Championships and Battlecourt squads competing in an intuitive format and scoring system not dissimilar to those of tennis and table tennis. The aim is to outwit your opponent by making balls difficult to catch or throw back cleanly or placing a ball where the player cannot reach.

From the opening credits and narratives of iconic Eighties TV series Miami Vice, to the marketing materials of the Basque government in Spain, and even an enduring appeal across the Philippines, Jai Alai has remained a popular sport among those international communities with a Hispanic influence. This breakthrough partnership with XB Net, Magic City Jai Alai and the World Jai Alai League now bids to bolster that audience with new fan-engagement opportunities and grow the sport’s appeal throughout LatAm, Europe and APAC, not to mention the hugely underserved Hispanic market in North America.

Underserved market for a comeback sport

As an instructive case in point, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Report, 62 million people living in the U.S. identify as Hispanic or Latino. That community, 18.7% of the total U.S. population in 2021/22, is nearly equivalent to the entire population of the United Kingdom. The U.S. Hispanic demographic is already the second-largest ethnic group in America, and a superpower in economic terms, the seventh largest GDP in the world (tied with France) estimated at $2.7 trillion in 2019 per the 2021 LDC U.S. Latino GDP Report. This influential population is predicted to grow to account for over 30% of the total U.S. population, 132.8 million people, by 2050. This is a population that is fiercely loyal to their roots, their culture, their heritage, and their chosen sports, from football to Jai Alai, and it is an audience that is also currently being underserved by the international sports betting industry.

British Columbia Lottery Corporation

SCCG Management Signs Contract with British Columbia Lottery Corporation

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

sccg-management-signs-contract-with-british-columbia-lottery-corporation

SCCG Management has signed a contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the B.C. Crown corporation which conducts and manages commercial gambling in the province, including lotteries, casinos, and online gaming. This partnership aims to undertake a comprehensive assessment and strategic enhancement of BCLC’s diverse operations.

The work between SCCG and BCLC will involve a thorough review of technological infrastructures, strategic market positioning, and the integration of various gaming modalities. SCCG’s extensive expertise will be pivotal in harmonizing BCLC’s online and physical gaming experiences.

Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, said: “Our collaboration with BCLC represents a remarkable opportunity to push the boundaries of innovation within the gaming industry. We are committed to deploying our resources and expertise to enhance BCLC’s operational efficiencies and customer engagement strategies. It’s an honor to partner with an organization that has a robust impact on the community through its support of public initiatives.”

AGCO

AGCO Requires Ontario Gaming Operators to Stop Offering WBA Bets Due to Integrity Concerns

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

agco-requires-ontario-gaming-operators-to-stop-offering-wba-bets-due-to-integrity-concerns

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has mandated all Ontario-registered sportsbook operators to halt offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events immediately. This measure is being taken to protect the Ontario betting public following concerns that WBA-sanctioned boxing matches are not adequately being safeguarded against match-fixing and insider betting.

Since December 2023, the AGCO has been conducting a comprehensive review of suspicious wagering activity on a WBA-sanctioned title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro that was held in Orlando, Florida. Suspicious betting patterns on the bout lasting over 5.5 rounds were reported to the AGCO by two registered independent integrity monitors and detected in Ontario by a registered igaming operator. Media reports also alleged that Tellez’s Manager placed $110,000 on the match lasting longer than 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The bout ended with Tellez knocking out Navarro in the 10th round.

Following an intensive review that included outreach to the WBA, Ontario-registered gaming operators, independent integrity monitors, and regulators in other jurisdictions, the AGCO has concluded that bets related to WBA events do not currently meet the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.

The AGCO requires all Ontario-registered gaming operators to ensure the sport betting products they offer are on events that are effectively supervised by a sport governing body. At a minimum, the sport governing body must have and enforce codes of conduct that prohibit betting by insiders.

Registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate to the AGCO that the WBA prohibits betting from insiders, which could include an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, medical professionals, or others with access to non-public information. Further, registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate that the WBA took any action to investigate or enforce the allegations of potential match-fixing and insider wagering.

The AGCO has indicated to registered operators that in order for WBA betting products to be reinstated in Ontario, operators must demonstrate that the WBA effectively supervises its events, thus bringing them into compliance with the Registrar’s Standards. In December 2022, the AGCO required gaming operators to stop offering bets on UFC events for similar issues related to insider betting safeguards. Within a month, UFC amended its policies and implemented new protocols that allowed the AGCO to reinstate betting on UFC events in the province.

“Ontarians who wish to bet on sporting events need to be confident that those events are fairly run, and that clear integrity safeguards are in place and enforced by an effective sport governing body. Knowing the popularity of boxing in Ontario, we look forward to reinstating betting on WBA events once appropriate safeguards against possible match-fixing and insider betting have been confirmed,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of AGCO, said.

Andrew Cochrane Chief Business Officer of GiG

GiG increases Ontario market presence, powering the launch of Casino Time

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

gig-increases-ontario-market-presence,-powering-the-launch-of-casino-time

Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG), has announced the launch of Casino Time, powered by its award winning iGaming platform and pioneering real-time rules engine LogicX, with revolutionary sportsbook, SportX soon to follow, to further extend its footprint in the regulated Canadian province of Ontario.

The launch of Casino Time carries extra significance, marking only the second time that on-demand, regulated online Bingo has been made available in Ontario. The new Bingo product vertical, launched alongside a strong Casino offering, will be boosted by GiG’s new sportsbook, SportX, as part of a planned release later this year.

GiG has focused its solutions on driving exponential growth in revenue for operators with its highly scalable iGaming platform, offering localised third party content and leading suppliers for the Ontarian market. GiGs peerless gamification layer creates an optimised and immersive casino experience tailored to regional preferences, swelling client retention and player engagement.

Canadian owned and operated, Casino Time is a joint venture amongst leading retail operators in Ontario’s Charitable Gaming sector, delivering Bingo, Slots and Live Dealer Casino Games. Promising a personalised service and community experience, Casino Time is continuing its long-standing partnership with local charities, introducing its joint fundraising model into the iGaming space for the first time.

Now coming towards the end of its second year of licensed operations, Ontario has emerged as one of the largest iGaming markets in North America, second only to New Jersey according to data supplied by Vixio. The first and as yet only Canadian province to launch a regulated market, Ontario boasts more than 1.6 million active player accounts spread over 40 plus operators, generating €1.3 billion in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in its first year of trading, with this data supplied by iGaming Ontario.

Andrew Cochrane, Chief Business Officer of GiG, said: “GiG continues to set the pace with a strong cadence of brand launches in 2024, and I’m pleased that when operators are seeking platform solutions in regulated markets, GiG is leading the pack. Our partnership with Casino Time, will help deliver something new and exciting to the Ontarian market, and further helps to demonstrate the flexibility of our solutions, adapting to match the regional aspirations of our partners to deliver growth.”

D’Arcy Stuart, CEO of Casino Time, said: “We are thrilled to partner with GiG as the core technology provider of our iGaming platform. Their powerful suite of player engagement tools, as well as diverse content and regulatory integrations, underpin our ability to serve and delight our player community. Our hybrid online and offline customer network, as well as unique bingo offerings, will drive exciting opportunities as the platform and the marketplace continues to grow.”