Canada

INSPIRED ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF SPORTECH LOTTERIES

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2022

Acquisition to expand Inspired’s content reach to new customers and geographies and build out a platform of turnkey lottery/iGaming systems solutions.
Concurrently, Inspired and LEIDSA have agreed to a 10-year extension to the lottery systems contract
Upfront purchase price of US$12.5 million represents a multiple of 4.0x Sportech Lotteries’ Adjusted EBITDA1 for the last twelve months (LTM) ended June 30, 2021 and 3.5x Sportech Lotteries’ (pre-COVID) Adjusted EBITDA¹ for calendar year 2019

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems and solutions, announced today that it has acquired Sportech Lotteries, Inc. (“Sportech Lotteries”), a subsidiary of Sportech PLC (“Sportech”) (LSE: SPO.L). The principal asset of Sportech Lotteries is the lottery systems contract to provide online and retail lottery services, as well as the upcoming launch of Sportech’s iLottery solution, to Loteria Electronica Internacional Dominica S.A. (“LEIDSA”) of the Dominican Republic. The current lottery systems contract with LEIDSA had been scheduled to run until March 9, 2025. Concurrent with closing of the acquisition of Sportech Lotteries, Inspired and LEIDSA extended the lottery systems contract through March 9, 2035.

This marks Inspired’s first acquisition in the lottery sector, further diversifying its business model on a product, customer and geographic level. It is expected to provide additional growth opportunities in North America, a key strategic geography for the Company, bolster the Company’s positioning in the growing iLottery market and enhance the Company’s ability to offer a platform with a full turnkey lottery/iGaming solution to new customers in the future, in line with its cross-platform approach.

“This acquisition accelerates our entry into the lottery business, where, as a management team, we have extensive collective experience and long-standing relationships,” said Lorne Weil, Executive Chairman of Inspired. “We expect to build on Sportech’s established lottery supply contract to increase our scale and scope within the lottery and gaming ecosystem. We are excited to enhance the value proposition we provide to operators and consumers as we seek to realize on significant opportunities in the sector.”

Weil continued, “LEIDSA is one of the largest and most successful lotteries in Latin America. Beyond the immediate potential in the Dominican Republic, we anticipate that the lottery systems platform can be further enhanced in order to accelerate the path of our strategic objectives in the worldwide online and retail lottery market.”

Inspired acquired Sportech Lotteries for US$12.5 million on a cash free/debt free basis, subject to certain customary adjustments and up to US$2.0 million of potential additional earnout consideration. The upfront consideration represents a multiple of approximately 4.0x Sportech Lotteries’ unaudited Adjusted EBITDA¹ of US$3.1 million for the LTM ended June 30, 2021, and 3.5x Sportech Lotteries’ unaudited (pre-COVID) Adjusted EBITDA¹ of US $3.5 million for calendar year 2019. This acquisition was funded with cash from Inspired’s balance sheet.

LEIDSA is a private lottery operator in the Dominican Republic that has offered electronic lottery products (draw games, Keno, etc.) as well as a host of other services since the lottery’s inception in 1997. In conjunction with the acquisition, Inspired will control Sportech’s Quantum System for LEIDSA, which supports more than 2,100 land-based outlets as well as software and field service support. Inspired will also license Sportech’s Lot.to system, an omni-channel iLottery solution that manages the entire lottery business from the cloud, which is currently undergoing testing with LEIDSA to launch digital lottery sales during 2022.

Note: USD figures based on IFRS using the USD:DOP exchange rate of 57.05 as of December 31, 2021, which may not be the applicable exchange rate under GAAP.

¹ Fee charged for former parent company (Sportech PLC). Sportech Lotteries will no longer incur a parent company management fee upon closing of transaction.

AGCO

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

Published

4 days 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

1 week 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.”

Canada

Glitnor Group expands IBIA’s betting integrity presence in Ontario

Published

2 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

glitnor-group-expands-ibia’s-betting-integrity-presence-in-ontario

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.

The post Glitnor Group expands IBIA’s betting integrity presence in Ontario appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.