PointsBet Canada’s parent company sold to Japan firm MIXI Inc. for $320 million Cdn

Several news outlets were reporting this morning that the parent company of PointsBet Canada has been sold, pending approval of PointsBet’s shareholders. The news comes the day after the company reported its net win in Ontario is up 14% to $16.4 (all figures Cdn dollars unless otherwise noted).

The editorial team at iGaming Business reported this morning that the board of the Australian company unanimously approved a bid from MIXI Australia to acquire 100% of PointsBet which operates online gambling in Australia and Canada. MIXI Australia is an arm of the Japanese entertainment and sports group MIXI Inc.

If approved at a vote in May, PointsBet shareholders will receive $1.06 per share as part of the deal (about $353 million AUS or $320 million Cdn). That’s 27.7% higher than PointsBet’s closing share price on Tuesday.

The bid beat out a competing offer from BlueBet.

On Tuesday, PointsBet released its financials for the last six months of 2024. Counting both its Australian and Canadian operations, PointsBet had a total net win of $122 million, with a sports betting net win of $113 million Cdn was up 5% year-over-year.

Ontario is the only jurisdiction where PointsBet operates an online casino. The total net win in the online casino division was up 15% to $9.9 million. Sports betting via PointsBet in Ontario alone was up 13% to $6.5 million.

In April of 2024, PointsBet, which was founded in Australia, left the U.S. market after completing a deal to sell its operations in that country to Fanatics.

Atlantic Lottery switched on GBG identity data verification for Casino players in Canada, their pass rate improved from 68% to 82%, which resulted in over 10,000 extra players in a year. Read the latest GBG case study to learn more.

4 Nations Face-Off hugely popular with gamblers

In reporting for Canadian Gaming Business released Monday, Tom Nightingale wrote last Thursday’s (Feb. 20) 4 Nations Face-Off final won by Canada over the United States generated not only viewership of 10.7 million in Canada via Sportsnet, but also huge business in the gambling world.

(Editor’s Note) We’ll have more on the Four Nations tournament with DraftKings trading legend Johnny Avello and John Ewing from BetMGM joining Steve McAllister on tomorrow’s Gaming News Canada Show presented by GBG Plc.

Some notable numbers from Nightingale’s reporting:

• The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) said the hockey tournament brought in 10 times the betting activity when compared to the NBA All-Star Canadian Gaming Business that, overall, the 4 Nations brought in over 10 times the betting activity that was seen around the NBA All-Star Game. That increase was 20 times higher when Canada played the USA.
• The 4 Nations final was the most bet on hockey game this year via the British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s PlayNow online sportsbook and was the third most popular hockey game ever via the operator.
• Loto-Québec said betting on the title tilt surpassed last year’s Stanley Cup final.
• FanDuel Ontario told CGB that the Four Nations finale drew its highest betting for a hockey game ever.

People on the Move

• Ilkim Hincer, the former Chair of the board for the Canadian Gaming Association, leaves Fogler, Rubinoff LLP to become the new Chief Legal Officer for GeoComply.
• Great Canadian Entertainment promotes Chuck Keeling to Executive Vice President, External Relations and Business Development.
• Ahmed Baker is the new Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games.
• Lachlan Fitt and Cameron Rodger leave Entain’s Australia & New Zealand business as Deputy CEO and Managing Director, respectively.
• Idan Levy is the new CEO, Wikibet for Quantum Gaming.
• Novig promotes Henry Kerins to Executive VP of Trading Technology and Operations.
• Tim Whitehead departs Rush Street Interactive as Head of Sportsbook.
• William Thompson exits Sporting Group after more than four years to join DraftKings as a Product Manager.
• Ian Davey-Hicks joins EPIC Global Solutions as Senior Sales Manager – Sports.
• The Global Esports Federation announces the confirming of Josselyn Abusabal as Vice Chair, Athletes, Players & Community Commission.
• Josie Pingitore Batista is promoted to President by the CEBL’s Brampton Honey Badgers.

Classified (Jobs) Information

• GBG is searching for a Head of IT Digital Delivery, and is also hiring an Account Director.
• This LinkedIn post from Eberg Capital grand poobah Roger Ehrenberg seeking an investment partner caught our interest.
• Entain is on the lookout for a Global People Relations Team Leader to be based in the UK. The company also has some openings in the content araa, and is hiring a Programmatic Executive for its Gibraltar operations. Finally, there’s also an opportunity for a Brand & Sponsorship Executive in the UK.
• Among a trio of openings at LeoVegas Group is one for a Country Manager – Canada.
• American Gaming Systems has a posting for a Director of Interactive Growth.
• Hard Rock Digital has an opportunity for a Senior Data Analyst in the UK. For its Florida operations, HRD is seeking a Performance Marketing Video Editor. And in Toronto, there’s an opening for a Senior Customer Service Representative.
• Push Gaming is looking for a Senior FP&A Analyst.
• Bet99 is seeking a Head of Business Intelligence and also hiring a VIP Host. The operator is also in the market for a Compliance Analyst.
• FanDuel is in need of an NBA/NFL/MLB Trader for its Jersey City location.
• Pinnacle is searching for a Junior Accountant to join its North York, ON operations.
• Low6 has a job posting for a Full Stack TypeScript Developer.
• Niagara Casinos is seeking a Compensation Specialist.
• Wanted by Glitnor Group: a Talent Acquisition Partner.
• Edmonton-based Norquest College wants to bring on board an Esports Community Coordinator.
• Sportradar has an opportunity for an Enterprise Client Partner.
• Canadian fintech company KOHO has an opening for a Senior Director, Brand Marketing.
• The WNBA Toronto Tempo are hiring a Manager, Community Marketing.
• The CEBL Brampton Honey Badgers are searching for a Game Day Manager.
• Among the job postings at the Canadian Premier League is a Director, Digital Marketing, and a Director, Media Sales.
• The Athletic is looking for a Senior News Editor to join its global sports team in London.
• The Detroit Pistons are in the market for a Strategy Analyst.
• Wanted by Red Bull: a Senior Manager, F1& Circuit Racing.
• Swimming Canada is hiring a Coach, High Performance Centre, Paralympic Program to be based in Montreal.
• The FIFA World Cup 2026 team in Toronto is in need of a Senior Manager, Medical.
• Rugby Canada has an opening on its Board of Directors.
• Meanwhile, BC Rugby is looking for its next Chief Executive Officer.
• Acushnet is looking for a Titleist Golf Ball Fitting Specialist.

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