Playtech predicts 'wave' of partnerships after betting launch in Ontario

Playtech said its RNG casino and its live offerings, followed by its full platform, went live on the first day of market opening through various partnerships. The brand said that “a new wave” of offerings in Ontario will be announced in the coming weeks.

The company was previously active in the province providing data analytics technology and other services to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

In January, the company announced that its products: IMS, casino, live casino, poker and bingo technology, would be used to launch NorthStar Gaming in the newly regulated province.

“This is a significant market in size and an important milestone for Playtech in North America,” said Playtech Chief Operating Officer Shimon Akad.

“We are thrilled to have launched our product alongside multiple licensed operators on day one and look forward to continuing to launch with more of our partners in the coming days.”

“We also expect Ontario to be at the forefront of responsible gaming, where our technology and our ability through artificial intelligence to analyze certain player behavior will be particularly relevant and important.”

Regulation of the Ontario Gaming Market and Playtech’s Efforts

Launching Ontario’s regulated market took nearly three years of work after the provincial government unveiled plans to end the online gambling monopoly in April 2019.

The government has introduced legislation to allow for a licensing regime in 2020, and the final standards for online betting and gaming were published in September last year.

Charmaine Hogan, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Playtech, added: “As we continue to enhance our efforts on the sustainability of the gambling industry at large, we wholeheartedly welcome the launch to the Ontario gaming market.”

“An efficient regulatory framework puts operators and providers under local oversight and, as is the case with Ontario, with a strong emphasis on player protection from the start.”

“At Playtech, artificial intelligence is being used to enable analysis of player behavior and early warning flags of game issues, and to engage with these players in-game in a personalized way using automated tools and personalized messages” .

“We offer our technology, tools as well as experience to everyone, and while acceptance is with the operators, we want to see a more responsible and sustainable entertainment industry for the long term – and we intend to continue to engage, wherever we can, with all stakeholders and sharing best practices as well as our research findings”.

Last month, Playtech reported $123.3 million in adjusted net income for its 2021 fiscal year, amid ongoing conversations about a potential acquisition of the business by TTB Partners.