Canada
Twin River To Reopen Almost Entire Portfolio Of Operating Casinos
Dover Downs Reopened June 1st, Rhode Island Casinos to Reopen June 8th
First Week at Hard Rock Biloxi Indicates Strong Customer Demand
Phased Reopening Approach Designed to Ensure Health and Safety of Employees and Customers
Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TRWH) (the “Company” or “Twin River”) today announced the reopening of its Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, DE (“Dover Downs”) effective June 1st. The Company also announced that it plans to reopen its two casinos in Rhode Island, including its flagship Twin River Casino Hotel (“Twin River Casino”), on June 8th, at which time over 90% of the Company’s current portfolio will have resumed operations.
Today’s announcement follows the successful reopening of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi (“Hard Rock Biloxi”) on May 21st. The Company has been encouraged by the strong initial results of its operations at Hard Rock Biloxi, which points to strong pent-up demand in regional markets. Through the first ten days of operations, this property experienced slot and table win results that were up approximately 30% and 150% compared to the same period in the prior year, respectively.
As part of Twin River’s overall COVID-19 reopening plan, the Company has committed to meeting or exceeding all guidelines established by the CDC. As such, the Company has implemented property-specific comprehensive health and safety protocols, developed in close consultation with applicable state regulators and public health officials in local jurisdictions. More details on these health and safety protocols can be found on the property specific website, a link to which can be found at https://www.twinriverwwholdings.com.
At Dover Downs, the Company reopened with 30% of capacity which will allow for approximately 950 VLT machines to be in operation. Table games and the hotel will not be opened in the first phase of reopening. In Rhode Island, the Company will initially open to invited guests with 1,570 VLTs available at Twin River Casino, and approximately 375 VLTs at Tiverton Casino Hotel. Table games and the hotels will not be open in the initial re-opening phase; however, stadium gaming positions, with appropriate social distancing, will be open to provide customers with a live dealer experience.
“We are very excited to continue to progress on our reopening plan and with the prospect of having our full portfolio opened by the beginning of July,” said George Papanier, President and Chief Executive Officer. “As evidenced by our successful reopening at Hard Rock Biloxi, there is strong market demand for which we are well-positioned as a regional gaming company focused on local and regional visitation. I am thankful and excited to welcome back our valued team members and loyal customers to safe and secure environments that meet or exceed CDC guidance.”
The Company also announced today that it believes its previously announced acquisition of Isle of Capri Kansas City in Missouri and Lady Luck Vicksburg in Mississippi, both of which have resumed operations, will close in early July, pending Missouri regulatory approval.
Mr. Papanier continued, “As we continue to reopen our properties, we are also looking forward to closing our previously announced acquisitions to expand our geographic footprint in attractive markets. Along with our recently closed acquisition in Black Hawk, Colorado, the five new properties we now have under contract are expected to drive sustained growth and enhance our already strong free cash flow profile.”
About Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc.
Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. owns and manages seven casinos, two in Rhode Island, one in Mississippi, one in Delaware, and three casinos as well as a horse racetrack that has 13 authorized OTB licenses in Colorado. Properties include Twin River Casino Hotel (Lincoln, RI), Tiverton Casino Hotel (Tiverton, RI), Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi, MS), Dover Downs Hotel & Casino (Dover, DE), Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, CO), Golden Gulch Casino (Black Hawk, CO), Mardi Gras Casino (Black Hawk, CO), and Arapahoe Park racetrack (Aurora, CO). Its casinos range in size from 695 slots and 17 table games combined for its Colorado facilities to properties with over 4,100 slots, approximately 125 table games, and 48 stadium gaming positions, along with hotel and resort amenities. Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TRWH.”
Boxes
Hacksaw Gaming and DraftKings Score Again in Ontario
2023 saw Hacksaw Gaming go live in West Virginia and New Jersey and now we have made our long-awaited entry in Ontario, Canada. Securing this trio has hit new heights and hopes for further successes throughout the rest of this year.
DraftKings Casino entered the iGaming market in Ontario in May of 2022 and partnered with Hacksaw Gaming in the back end of the same year. As Ontario’s regulated iGaming market only went live in April of 2022, the pair have given an outstanding performance with effective launch strategies and expansive footing in North America.
Apart from gaining an unprecedented reach across regulated markets, the mobile-friendly format of Hacksaw Gaming games can be visited on phone or tablet via the DraftKings Casino app. Boasting an impressive online casino’s selection of over 300 games, DraftKings now welcomes Hacksaw Gaming favourites such as Chaos Crew, Mines, Omnom and Boxes.
“The benchmarks we have set as a partnership are remarkable and we are ready to take on more challenges continuing into 2024,” the Chief Executive Officer for Hacksaw Gaming, Marcus Cordes, said.
BetVictor
Exploring Canada’s video Game Market: Survey Insights
Technology has become a great source of entertainment to many. Video games particularly have garnered interest from all demographics. In Canada, the gaming industry has experienced significant growth, fuelled by increased accessibility to gaming platforms and the growth of online gaming communities.
Statistics indicate that a large percentage of Canadians are engaged in gaming activities, whether it be playing console or PC games, mobile games, or online multiplayer games. The popularity of video games extends beyond leisure pastimes, with many Canadians participating in gaming competitions, attending gaming conventions, and consuming gaming-related content on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
The number of video game users in Canada reflects how broad the sector is, from mobile games to digital video games, download games and live streaming. In 2024, the gaming sector will see millions of users in each of these categories. Statista projects 13.38 million users for digital video games and 7.35 million users for online games respectively. It estimates that revenue in the Canadian video game market is expected to reach US$3,925.00m in 2024, so it is no surprise to observe the increasing popularity of the sector.
Well-known online casino provider BetVictor has compiled some key points from major surveys detailing the video game market to give further insight into its makeup and potential. The gaming culture in Canada is growing, which means the type of games and genres will grow along with the sector. Statista recently conducted a survey of 1 576 respondents aged 18 – 64 who are avid video game players, with telling results. In December 2023, a survey about preferred video game genres in Canada revealed the top four genres as being Action, Action – adventure, Adventure and casual games accounting for 31% of respondents’ preferences.
David Winter, Marketing Manager at BetVictor notes that “We’ve seen a steady increase in the popularity of action-themed and adventure-themed slots and many providers are exploring how to expand further into this market.”
The popularity of Action games such as platform and fighting games can be attributed to various factors, such as: social interaction, accessibility and inclusivity, social appeal, and cultural influence. With such a diverse audience, all these factors are crucial to understand the appeal of Action games.
In the digital age, gaming has transcended mere entertainment to become a cornerstone of culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in Canada. From coast to coast, a diverse community of gamers is thriving, reflecting the country’s inclusive spirit and passion for technology. Whether it’s the casual gamer enjoying a quick session on their smartphone or the dedicated enthusiast meticulously building a custom gaming PC, Canada offers a welcome haven for all kinds of gamers.
Diving deeper into the Statista results, Strategy games accounted for 29%. This shows us that players have a strong interest in tactical and decision-making games. While role-playing (RPG) and sports games garnered 22% each, simulation and shooters trailed slightly behind at 21% and 20% respectively.
MMO (massively multiplayer online games), as well as MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) and MOBA (multi online battle arenas) came in at 13% and 8% respectively, representing a significant but niche following. With such a diverse array of preferences, the survey underscores the multifaceted nature of interests among Canadian gamers. It highlights the need for game developers to cater for a wide range of genres and gameplaying styles in the Canadian market.
From action shooter games to role-playing adventures, the industry has something for every gaming enthusiast in the Canadian market. Overall, the popularity of video games in Canada reflects a growing cultural phenomenon, where gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment and a significant aspect of modern-day leisure activities.
Statistics anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.10% for 2022-2027, resulting in a projected market volume of US$24.52bn by 2027. Canada’s online gaming market is experiencing a surge in popularity, with a surging number of Canadian players engaging in immersive virtual reality experiences.
Canada
iGaming Ontario Seeks Proposals for a Centralized Self-exclusion Solution Until April 24, 2024
iGaming Ontario (iGO) is currently seeking proposals for Ontario’s centralized self-exclusion solution for igaming from now until April 24.
Partnering with iGO on this multi-year project offers a unique and exciting opportunity for forward-thinking and innovative organizations prepared to make a lasting positive impact on the igaming landscape in Ontario. Interested organizations can visit iGaming Ontario’s dedicated procurement page on MERX to review all NRFP details and prepare their submissions for this high-profile initiative.
The successful bidder will develop a system that:
- Integrates seamlessly with all Ontario igaming operators’ systems, including Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)’s igaming site.
- Provides anyone 19+ with easy access to create and manage their self-exclusion profile.
- Implements Know Your Customer (KYC) identity verification, registration, renewal, and reinstatement processes that are intuitive, simple, and offer supporting information.
How to Participate in the Bidding Process?
The Centralized Self-Exclusion (CSE) Solution, along with other iGO current and past bid opportunities, can be found on iGO’s MERX page.
Have a question?
Use the question and answer tool provided on iGO’s MERX page to submit any questions you might have. Please note that iGaming Ontario will only entertain questions about open bidding opportunities in accordance with government directives.
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