Wire NORTH AMERICA
Pennsylvania Betting Slows in February
Canada - SBC buys Canadian Gaming Summit International events and media company SBC has agreed to terms to acquire the long-running Canadian Gaming Summit (CGS), Canada’s premier annual conference and trade show for land-based and iGaming professionals, from current joint owners the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) and MediaEdge Communications.
The acquisition will be completed after this year’s edition of the Summit, which takes place June 7-9, 2022, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto. Included in the deal is the Canadian Gaming Business news website, e-newsletter, and print magazine.
As part of the arrangement, SBC will work with MediaEdge and the CGA to bring even more content and commercial opportunities to this year’s Summit. This includes all three organisations hosting a Special Gaming Industry Reception on April 4 to celebrate the launch of Ontario’s new online gaming regime.
After the acquisition, the CGA will continue to be involved as an official and strategic partner of the Summit and will work with SBC to ensure the CGS supports the continued development of the gaming industry in Canada.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder & CEO of SBC, commented: “This is a wonderful acquisition for SBC as it fits perfectly with our growing portfolio of market-leading events and media properties in the US and Latin America. We are delighted to bring the Canadian Gaming Summit into the SBC family, as the opening of single event betting is likely to be transformational for an already vibrant Canadian gambling sector and enables us to build on what is already a great conference.”
Canada - Third largest Powerbucks jackpot On February 24, a slots player won CA$2,129,070 ($1,676,834) while playing Powerbucks Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Exotic Far East at Casino Nanaimo, a British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) casino operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
Dan Beebe, Interim Chief Operating Officer, BCLC, said: “BCLC continues to focus on delivering omnichannel experiences that resonate with our players in British Columbia. This IGT Powerbucks win demonstrates BCLC’s commitment to elevating entertainment and excitement for our players.”
David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, South and Central America, added: “This significant jackpot marks yet another example of how Powerbucks is driving omnichannel jackpot excitement and differentiating our customers’ casinos across Canada. Since its Canadian debut with the BCLC, Powerbucks link has awarded more than 30 life-changing jackpots.”
P24 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Pennsylvania’s sports betting sector, including online and retail sportsbooks, slowed to less than $600m in wagering in February.
Pennsylvania’s sports betting sector, including online and retail sportsbooks, slowed to less than $600m in wagering in February, an expected post-football hangover leading to the state’s lowest monthly handle since September. Meanwhile, a short month kept online casinos from reaching another monthly revenue record despite setting a state high for revenue per day.
“Te Super Bowl is the most bet-on single game in the US, but it can’t alone replace a full schedule of football games,” said Dustin Gouker, analyst for the
PlayUSA.com Network, which includes
PlayPennsylvania.com. “Te lull in February is expected and always short-lived. March Madness should get sportsbooks back into record or near-record territory.”
Spurred by $68m in Super Bowl bets, Pennsylvania’s sportsbooks attracted $597.1m in wagers in February, according to official data, which is up 17.2 per cent from $509.5m in February 2021. However, February’s handle was the lowest since $578.8m in September, and down 24.8 per cent from the record $793.7m in
Michigan
Michigan has become the 19th regulated market for the casino game supplier, Wazdan, following its recent entry into the Netherlands. Te awarding of the licence allows the provider to bring its array of video slots to the regulated state, following similar legislative recognition in the US for New Jersey and West Virginia.
Wazdan has enjoyed marked growth in North America over the last 12 months, including signing a commercial deal with Light & Wonder. Michal Imiolek, Chief Operating Officer at Wazdan MI LLC, remarked: “We are very pleased to receive our licence for Michigan, which marks our 19th regulated market certification. We work tirelessly to ensure our games meet the rigid standards expected by the industry’s regulators. North America has been a huge growth area for the business, and we can’t wait to hit the ground running in the state.”
wagers in January. Bettors fared well in February, too. Wagers produced $22.2m in gross revenue for sportsbooks, down 33.2 per cent from $33.2m in February 2021 and down 58.5 per cent from $53.4m in January. With $22.6m in promotional spending, Pennsylvania sportsbooks ended up with a loss of $442,847 in taxable revenue, which put tax revenue in negative territory at -$268,976.
Super Bowl betting is vital to sportsbooks, and the heavy promotion for the game shows how operators view it as an opportunity, but even with the big game, there wasn’t enough betting inventory in February to extend a streak of four straight months of $750m in wagers or more.
“Te Super Bowl was a prime opportunity for sportsbooks to expand their customer base, which is why they promote it so heavily,” said Katie Kohler, an analyst for
PlayPennsylvania.com. “Tat took a significant bite out of tax revenue. However, the industry is in excellent shape going forward, and poised for more growth.”
US Gaming Arts partners with Jumbo Technologies
Gaming Arts has agreed an exclusive partnership with Jumbo Technology of Taiwan, to bring Ocean Phoenix, to North American casino markets.
Te partnership between Gaming Arts and Jumbo was created in 2021 when Gaming Arts and Jumbo teamed up to bring Ocean Phoenix to North America, as it had never been offered in the US or Canada.
Allen Hsu, Jumbo Vice President, said: “We are very exhilarated to have this opportunity to launch our first multi- player Fishing Game, which has been popular in Asia, in one of the best casinos in North America. It’s been a privilege to work hand in glove with Gaming Arts for this project, and we are hoping the game will provide U.S Players an exceptional gaming experience.”
Ocean Phoenix debuted at the Gaming Arts booth at G2E 2021, and it quickly became apparent
that this game was sought after by US casino operators.
Due to the high level of interest in the game, Ocean Phoenix, was fast-tracked and the first installation in North America occurred only four months after debuting at G2E.
Te seven and one-half foot long gaming console features spaces for six players. During game play, all players participate in the same game and can see the 66ins. screen in the center of the gaming area.
Jean Venneman, COO of Gaming Arts, explained: “Ocean Phoenix is unlike any gaming machine now on casino floors. We are pleased to work with Jumbo to bring this exciting game to the North American markets. Te arcade style cabinet will attract players and build a loyal fanbase as they encounter exciting characters and numerous opportunities to Win Big,” Venneman concluded.
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