The Canadian Gaming Summit took place last June and, once again, provided some excellent insights into the current state of the gambling and betting scene. It featured some of the top movers and shakers in the business and included a range of events that focused on diverse aspects of the wider industry. Major brands showcased their products and ideas, with players like Bally’s Interactive in attendance. There were also some key events that highlight the evolution of the sector, including the ever-growing Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup.
Caption: A video about the Canadian Gaming Summit.
Latest Trends in Online Casino Games
With so many of the world’s biggest betting and casino brands at the CGS, it’s an excellent chance to assess the evolution of the industry and see what the hottest trends are. It was clear from the meeting that there’s still a heavy focus on live casino games throughout the industry, with brands pumping a lot of investment into improving their offerings. This is evident when you look at the growth of certain games that used to be on the fringes. Live baccarat, for instance, is rapidly becoming one of the top table games in the live casino market. There are numerous options to choose from, with players able to select traditional baccarat, Speed Baccarat, or Baccarat Squeeze.
Along with revitalizing classic table games like baccarat, brands like 888 and others at the CGS showed that they are open to new ways of progressing the live casino market. In recent years, there has been an influx of game show-style offerings in this category, and that looks set to continue. Titles like Vegas Ball Bonanza and Crazy Coin Flip have attracted new players to the online casino market, and developers are working on new offerings. This will most certainly involve the introduction of new technology, with virtual reality’s impact on the online casino industry getting ever closer.
Along with giving brands the chance to showcase their products and show attendees what they’ve been working on, the CGS is one of the best opportunities for these companies to network. Online casino operators often forge new partnerships with development studios at events like this, and this allows their product range to expand massively. Long gone are the days of online casinos working with one or two developers exclusively. When you look at the top sites, one of the ways they attract a lot of players is by providing a wide range of games from a diverse set of developers. Each studio brings something different to the table, and by offering all these games it means there’s a greater chance of making an appealing site.
Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup
One of the most striking things about the CGS this year was the sheer size of the Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup. A few decades ago, the gaming industry was predominantly a man’s game. There were a few women in positions of power at the major brands, but you could usually count them on one hand at events like this. This isn’t the case anymore, and power dynamics between the two genders appear to be shifting. The Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup gets bigger every year and gives women a unique networking opportunity.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Join us for an Introduction to <a href=”https://twitter.com/gaming_women?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@gaming_women</a> before we launch in Australia & New Zealand later this year!<br><br>The casual introduction event with drinks & canapes is on June 22, 5:30–7pm at Aristocrat’s NSW, Australia offices.<br><br>Registration: <a href=”https://t.co/gsKAtrwBG2″>https://t.co/gsKAtrwBG2</a> <a href=”https://t.co/3VCpiUEb3v”>pic.twitter.com/3VCpiUEb3v</a></p>— Global Gaming Women (@gaming_women) <a href=”https://twitter.com/gaming_women/status/1667175592788127744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Caption: A post from the Global Gaming Women Twitter account.
In 2022, there were approximately 100 women in attendance at the Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup. This year, there were even more chatting over coffee and nibbles in a buzzing atmosphere. One of the best-known leaders of the organization, Anne Hay, was back again and proud to see the incredible growth. The PayNearMe Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer had previously noted how the room was overflowing with powerful women at the SBC Summit North America a few months earlier.
The Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup was one of the opening events at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, and it occurred on all three days of the summit. Because of the event’s overwhelming popularity, people who wanted to enjoy the croissants and conversation needed to register in advance to secure their spot. That highlights just how far women have come in the industry and is exciting for the future.
First Nations Gaming Awards
Another important aspect of the CGS is recognizing the important contributions from First Nations groups in the country. This happens every year in the First Nations Gaming Awards event, which occurred on the Wednesday of the summit. The gaming industry has provided a lot of opportunities for First Nations communities to thrive, and these awards first came about to draw more attention to the incredible work that these hardworking people do. There are numerous categories, with plenty of prestigious awards for people to work for.
The winner of the top honors at the event this year was the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. The brand has been in business since 1995 and was initially established as a non-profit to create opportunities for indigenous people in the region. In the early days, the business only included four casinos. That has now branched out to seven, which generate hundreds of jobs and contribute to economic growth in the region.
The First Nations Gaming Awards also serve as inspiration to others who want to challenge themselves to get recognition. Just as the Global Gaming Women Breakfast Meetup grows each year, so too does the First Nations Gaming Award ceremony.
The Canadian Gaming Summit once again provided an excellent opportunity to witness what the biggest players in the gaming industry are doing. It grows more prestigious by the year, and organizers are already looking ahead to see what the next edition will bring.
