THE INTERVIEW
gaming and operates in its own unique way. Some provinces centralize their refresh programs at the corporate offi ces while seeking input from their operators. Others have adopted a model that positions the operators of the facilities to manage the program and assets themselves. Some markets will bring in product that is GLI or BMM-certifi ed, while others will need to complete certifi cation via a provincial lab run by a regulator. But that’s just casino in Canada. The electronic bingo channel in Ontario, which is comprised of 37 charitable halls, is run by the hall owners through consultation with the OLG and provincial regulator. This model has proved highly benefi cial for the charities in Ontario, as a portion of all revenues at these halls goes to local charities. The video lottery programs have also undergone signifi cant change in recent years. The programs used to do a “big-bang” approach and replace their fl eet in a one to two-year window. However, that shifted in recent years. Most provinces are now replacing units annually or bi-annually to avoid the large peaks and valleys of the previous approach and to have a more consistent revenue outlook. I have not even touched on the digital vertical, which has had one the largest changes in the space in recent years. When the Ontario government opened the digital space to a new competitive environment, digital gaming has exploded with new operators and sites.
Matt: Canada is also NA’s most mature iGaming market. How does that affect how business is done there?
Chad: Yes, not many people know that
legal iGaming has been in Canada for about 15 years. This started with the provincial lottery in British Columbia and, within a year, the lottery in Quebec, kickstarting their own digital sites. IGT was there at the beginning of both and is a key partner for all provinces and large digital companies today. It’s a highly competitive space, and you see new start-up studios all the time looking to fi nd success in Canada. The success of IGT can be attributed to many factors, but one big factor is our recognizable land-based content. Some of our strongest games have roots in the land-based space. Customers continue to fall back on their favorite games like Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune, Cats, etc. But it’s not just casino games that do well in the digital space. Our video lottery titles are also strong performers, especially games that have a long in-market history. Personally, it’s interesting to see all the buzz around omni-channel or bi-channel games and launches in other regions of the world. For Canada, this is not new; over 12 years ago, we started our fi rst ever omni-channel launch with Quebec doing an Egyptian-themed promo using Cleopatra where the grand prize was a trip to Vegas and a stay at the Luxor. Since then, we have done numerous omni-channel promotions and launches with our brands to great success across the country. This also led us to develop the world’s fi rst omni-channel progressive, IGT’s
Powerbucks. Launched in 2016 in British Columbia, PowerBucks is a progressive that is linked between
Matt: Why do you think wide-area progressive jackpot games are successful in your region (and beyond)? Chad: There is something about a progressive that resonates with players. A jackpot that is growing right before your eyes is an exciting prospect as you know someone has to win it – so why not you! Canada is no different, as progressives have been player favorites since casinos opened and were linking a single progressive on a game like Red White and Blue. Today, we have all different types
of progressives: life- changing, must-hit-by, almost daily hit, guaranteed-to-hit-by, etc. Some players seek out these games while others play them as the last thing they do in a casino or online. A reason games like Powerbucks are so successful is that customers see them hitting. They can see that a casino in Manitoba or a player in Alberta online won the progressive. We publish the latest win and current progressive values along with a history of when the jackpot hits on
igtjackpots.com for players and operators – this is powerful. Matt: Can you talk a little more to the strength of the new IGT/Everi enterprise?
land, digital and now lottery terminals – Ontario only, for now. That shared liquidity continues to grow the jackpot at a rapid pace as we add more customers and products to link across Canada. That jackpot starts at $1 million dollars. We also have a second product with shared liquidity that we are expanding – Money Mania. It offers a lower jackpot that resets at $4,000 and hits frequently, often multiple times a day! We know current success does not guarantee future success, so we are always looking for and developing new and unique content for the digital space.
Chad: While the merger is still new, having only closed on July 1, it is having an immediate impact. First, I need to say that I have been blown away by the intricacies of the FinTech space. Having been an operator and vendor for 25 years, I have had some exposure to the FinTech space via kiosks or integrated system solutions – but the level of expertise that Everi has across this space is amazing. I am learning something new every week. Everi is not just about FinTech, however, they have a strong presence in the Class II bingo space and have carved out a share of the land-based casino and digital space. What we’ve created with this merger is a one- of-a-kind company that is unique in the gaming space with its sheer size in each vertical.
Matt: Can you tell me something about the VLT market that people might not know? Chad: Some people know this, but many do not: most VLT jurisdictions in Canada are measurably different. They have different rules and regulations for their games and products, so it’s critical that suppliers, such as IGT, create games that meet those bespoke requirement. Examples of these requirements can be: reel spin speed, max bet levels, top award caps and more. This creates some challenges as well as opportunities. We believe IGT’s advantage is that we don’t necessarily create a “one size fi ts all” game. We use market research and feedback to create and tailor games that not only resonate within the market, but we ensure each game meets all the jurisdictional requirements. We have a long and strong history of VLT in Canada and have a large game development studio in Moncton, New Brunswick that is dedicated to creating strong VLT games globally.
Matt: And what can we get excited about in IGT’s near future? Chad: What people saw at G2E is just the tip of the iceberg. We showed legacy IGT games on Everi cabinets, Everi content on IGT cabinets. We also launched an Everi classic, Cash Machine under the Wheel of Fortune Brand! We showed what AI can do in the systems space, and we showed the next evolution of FinTech products. The teams are just coming together now and are already transforming products and the company. It’s truly an exciting time to be with this new company as we look to disrupt the gaming industry.
NOVEMBER 2025 11
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