Canada

EPIC and Kindred Link-up Once Again in the US

Published

6 years ago

October 9, 2020

Gambling harm minimization consultancy EPIC Risk Management has once again teamed up with the Kindred Group to provide sector-leading training and development sessions for their staff in the US.

Liv Biesemans, Group Deputy Counsel to Kindred Group PLC, said: “Kindred’s U.S. player sustainability and customer support teams have engaged EPIC Risk Management for responsible gambling training. Kindred’s global commitment to sustainability and player protection is a key aspect in its U.S. operations as it prepares to enter more states in 2021. Kindred and EPIC Risk Management will continue to build on their existing collaboration to train Kindred employees in proactively monitoring its customers to guarantee a safe and secure gambling experience.”

Mark Potter, EPIC’s Head of Delivery in the US, said: “Responsible gaming requires a focus on culture change, understanding, and a desire for action and change. This is why EPIC will always begin any responsible gaming and problem gambling engagement with a process of consultancy to understand the current state of play within an organization, the requirements that are specific to that individual organization, and how best to tailor our solution to provide fit for purpose, effective, and impactful programs. Ultimately, EPIC firmly believes that a comprehensive and effective responsible gaming training program cannot be found ‘on the shelf’.

“For a sustainable culture to be created, the provision of proven, impactful training and development programs is a vital part of the journey. EPIC Risk Management has worked tirelessly across 16 countries and counting to become world leaders in this field, and we are excited to work with the industry throughout the US to better understand how we can effectively tackle responsible gaming and problem gambling together. In Kindred Group, we have a leading example of an operator who is looking to engage a more conscientious approach and we’re delighted to be working with them in the U.S.”

“EPIC Risk Management is without doubt market leaders when it comes to providing training around all aspects of responsible gambling. They offer a variety of courses, delivered face to face, digitally and via eLearning platforms that are customized to their client’s needs and an absolute must for gambling industry operators,” Maris Catania, Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred Group, said.

“Kindred/Unibet have been delighted to work with EPIC over the past three years and have benefited from their blended approach of combining lived experience of gambling harm with proven methodology and training concepts. Highlights of our collaboration have been their comprehensive risk assessment training, allowing our staff to better understand the significant risks that problem gambling can bring and then how to conduct effective interactions, focusing on the customers’ emotions and how to deal with conversations of a sensitive nature. Engaging with EPIC has brought about positive behavioral change for our company and is an essential tool for an organization to minimize harm,” Maris Catania added.

Canada

St8 expands Octoplay aggregation deal to Ontario and the UK

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

st8-expands-octoplay-aggregation-deal-to-ontario-and-the-uk

St8 has extended its content partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK, expanding distribution of Octoplay’s casino games in two regulated markets. The companies announced the move on 2 July, 2026.

Under the expanded agreement, St8 will make Octoplay’s full portfolio available to operators in both jurisdictions through St8’s single API integration.

David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said:

“Expanding our partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK is another important milestone as we continue to strengthen our aggregation platform with premium content from leading suppliers.

“Octoplay has built an excellent reputation for developing engaging, high-performing games, and we’re delighted to extend this collaboration into two highly strategic regulated markets. This agreement enables our operator partners to access even more quality content through a single integration while supporting their growth in competitive jurisdictions.”

Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay added:

“We’re pleased to expand our partnership with St8 into Ontario and the UK, making our full portfolio available to even more operators through its aggregation platform. St8 has established itself as a trusted technology partner for regulated markets, and we look forward to building on our successful collaboration together.”

The post St8 expands Octoplay aggregation deal to Ontario and the UK appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

St8 extends Octoplay partnership into Ontario and the UK

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

st8-extends-octoplay-partnership-into-ontario-and-the-uk

Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider St8 has expanded its partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK, further strengthening its premium content offering across two of the industry’s most important regulated markets.

Through the extended agreement, St8 will make Octoplay’s full portfolio of casino games available to operators in both jurisdictions, providing partners with seamless access to the supplier’s high-quality content through its single API integration.

The expansion builds on the successful relationship between the two companies and reflects St8’s continued commitment to providing operators with access to leading game providers across regulated markets. By broadening the availability of Octoplay’s portfolio, St8 further enhances the depth and diversity of content available to its operator network.

Octoplay has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s most innovative and fastest growing game studios, recognised for delivering engaging titles that combine premium gameplay with strong player appeal which are now available across 17 jurisdictions. The supplier’s focus on quality and performance aligns closely with St8’s mission to simplify content aggregation while helping operators deliver exceptional gaming experiences.

The latest agreement reinforces St8’s strategy of expanding its premium content portfolio while helping operators simplify integration, accelerate market entry and deliver engaging gaming experiences across multiple regulated jurisdictions.

David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said: “Expanding our partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK is another important milestone as we continue to strengthen our aggregation platform with premium content from leading suppliers.

Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay added: “We’re pleased to expand our partnership with St8 into Ontario and the UK, making our full portfolio available to even more operators through its aggregation platform. St8 has established itself as a trusted technology partner for regulated markets, and we look forward to building on our successful collaboration together.”

The post St8 extends Octoplay partnership into Ontario and the UK appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AGCO

AGCO Fines Great Canadian Entertainment $120,000 for Using Unauthorised Gaming System Software at Four Casinos

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

agco-fines-great-canadian-entertainment-$120,000-for-using-unauthorised-gaming-system-software-at-four-casinos

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has ordered monetary penalties totalling $120,000 against Great Canadian Entertainment (GCE) for using unauthorided gaming system software at multiple Ontario casino sites, a serious compliance failure that bypassed requirements designed to protect the integrity of casino gaming.

Gaming equipment and systems are central to casino operations. They process payments and wagers, support slot-game play and help maintain controls that protect the integrity, safety and security of the gaming environment. When these systems are used or operated without required testing, monitoring and approval, it weakens safeguards designed to detect and prevent unlawful conduct, including money laundering, and can undermine public confidence in Ontario’s regulated casino sector.

The AGCO reviewed 40 instances in which revoked or unapproved bill validator software had been installed across four casino sites between February 20 and March 15, 2025. Bill validators are components within gaming machines that accept and process cash and help support anti-money laundering controls.

The AGCO’s Standards for Gaming require gaming equipment and software to be tested and approved before being deployed in casinos. Bill validators verify the authenticity and value of cash inserted into electronic gaming machines and are an important safeguard. That is why these systems must undergo rigorous testing and approval to confirm they operate as intended, perform critical functions reliably and are authorised before being introduced into a live casino environment.

Casino operators are responsible for ensuring that changes to gaming systems are properly reviewed, tested and authorised before implementation. Using unapproved software in a live casino environment is a serious compliance failure.

A casino operator served with an Order of Monetary Penalty has the right to appeal the Registrar’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative body that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“The AGCO requires casino operators to protect the integrity of their gaming systems by making sure they are independently tested, approved and operating as intended. When unauthorised software is used in a live casino environment, it bypasses critical safeguards that are meant to uphold the integrity of gaming and the public’s confidence in the system. The AGCO will continue to hold all casino operators accountable for meeting Ontario’s high standards of gaming system integrity,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer at AGCO.

The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Entertainment $120,000 for Using Unauthorised Gaming System Software at Four Casinos appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.