GTECH G2 expands Canadian online poker presence

The minister responsible for lotteries in Manitoba, Steve Ashton, announced plans last week that will see the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation partner with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation to bring regulated online gaming to the western Canadian province in hopes of earning up to us$ 17 million a year by 2018.

The arrangement could see the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation premiere an online casino and poker offering regulated by the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission as early as next year and the new enterprise is now set to join the Canadian Poker Network from GTECH G2 via its arrangement with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

“Manitoba Lotteries Corporation joining the Canadian Poker Network through its partnership with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation is a very exciting development for GTECH G2,” said William Scott, Vice-President for GTECH G2. “We have seen the Canadian Poker Network increase in scale since launching in December of 2010 and its continued growth will help generate greater player numbers and larger tournaments.”

GTECH G2 is the interactive subsidiary of American gaming technology and services firm GTECH Corporation and stated that it already provides its poker solution to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and fellow operator Loto-Quebec, with the pair offering Canadian players over 40,000 legalised regulated online poker tournaments last year alone.

“GTECH G2 provides a world-class poker solution and has a strong reputation in regulated markets,” said Rhonda Garvey, iGaming Vice-President for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. “The experience of GTECH G2 in both Canada and around the world in running successful poker networks has been fundamental to our success and continued growth.”