TORONTO – December 14, 2023 – NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET) (“NorthStar“, or the “Company“), a leading force in the Canadian gaming and entertainment industry, is proud to announce its recent recognition from the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) Awards and Clio Sports Awards.
The Company was awarded a Bronze Award for Innovative Media in Consumer Products & Services at the CMA Awards and a Silver Award for Fan Engagement in Product/Service at Clio Sports Awards.
NorthStar Gaming's recognition came from its unconventional marketing campaign, the 90-Minute Stat Holiday, which encouraged Canadians to take a 90-minute statutory holiday to support the Canadian men's soccer team on the world stage during the 2022 tournament. The campaign not only captured the spirit of the moment but also demonstrated NorthStar Gaming's commitment to its local roots and engaging with the community in innovative and meaningful ways.
“It’s no secret that Ontario is home to a sizable and passionate soccer community, the 90-minute stat holiday engaged and united soccer fans as we all celebrated Canada’s historic return to the world stage,” said Dante Anderson, Vice President of Marketing, NorthStar Gaming. “We are thrilled to be recognized for our innovative media approach and fan engagement strategies. At NorthStar Gaming, we believe in pushing the boundaries of creativity to deliver exceptional experiences to our audiences.”
The award-winning campaign was developed in collaboration with Publicis Groupe partners Leo Burnett, Starcom and North Strategic. The hosts of the popular soccer podcast Footy Prime, including former Canadian men's national soccer team stars Craig Forrest and Jimmy Brennan, contributed to rallying Canadians behind NorthStar’s 90-minute stat holiday program.
The winning campaign, recognized for their creativity and effectiveness, played a pivotal role in achieving outstanding business results, including a 50% increase in website page views, a 180% increase in Soccer wagering, an impressive overall 470% increase in new customers placing their first bets on soccer[1], and driving Team Canada’s games to contribute a remarkable 14% of all Sportsbook wagering on game days[2]. NorthStar’s marketing efforts have contributed to continued growth in 2023, with the Company reporting year-over-year increases of 140% in total wagers and 131% in revenue in its most recent financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2023.[3]
The Canadian Marketing Association Awards celebrated the best in Canadian marketing under the theme "Boundless: The Future of Creativity." NorthStar Gaming's recognition in the Innovative Media category reflects its prowess in navigating the evolving marketing landscape and creating campaigns that capture the imagination of audiences.
The Clio Sports Awards honoured outstanding achievements in sports advertising and marketing globally. NorthStar Gaming's Silver Award for Fan Engagement in Product/Service underscored its ability to connect with sports enthusiasts and create compelling marketing experiences in the sports industry.
The accolades come less than two years since NorthStar Gaming first introduced NorthStar Bets to Ontarians in May 2022. For more information on NorthStar Gaming, please visit www.northstargaming.ca.
About NorthStar Gaming
NorthStar proudly owns and operates NorthStar Bets, a made-in-Ontario casino and sportsbook gaming platform that provides players with a uniquely local, premier user experience. The NorthStar Bets sportsbook provides real-time news, stats, analysis and scores directly in the betting environment along with the most popular online casino games. NorthStar also provides managed services to Northstarbets.com, an iGaming site owned and operated by the Abenaki Council of Wolinak.
A Canadian company, NorthStar is uniquely positioned to become a convergence leader in the intersection of sports media and sports wagering thanks to its partnerships and agreements with leading media companies. NorthStar is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible gaming standards.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
[1] Increases are expressed as the percentage change during the month-long campaign compared to monthly averages over the four preceding months (July 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022).
[2] % of wagering on Team Canada’s group stage matches vs. all other Sportsbook wagering (Nov 23, 27 and Dec 1, 2022)
[3] “Total wagers” is a non-IFRS financial measure. For important information on the Company’s non-IFRS measures, see “Non-IFRS Financial Measures”.
