Canada

Arizona, It’s Time To Indulge In Some Sports Betting!

Published

4 years ago

July 27, 2021

After the federal ban on sports betting was struck down, states across the US began legalizing sports betting. However, Arizona’s decision to legalize sports betting truly comes as surprising due to various reasons.

Though the momentum kept growing, negotiations between the tribes and the Governor of Arizona didn’t seem like it was working out, especially with the scheduled adjournment date of April 24^th nearing. In addition, there were a lot of controversies surrounding the topic that could have ruined the whole sports betting legislation thing.

Nonetheless, at the last moment, everything fell into place perfectly. An agreement was reached in April 2021 that gave event wagering licenses to both professional sports teams as well as the tribes in the state. Though the decision was made in April, it is expected to launch on September 9, 2021, coinciding with the beginning of the NFL season.

To avoid conflicts down the lane, a draft of rules surrounding sports betting was published by the Arizona Department of Gaming. Then it was left for a public comment period where interested parties could submit their opinions and participate in public discussion periods.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

On July 2, the second draft of rules was released, which featured an 8 percent tax rate on retail wagers and 10 percent on mobile bets. It also spoke about the initial license fee that was valued at $850,000. Following this, another public comment and discussion session were held and a separate session for license allocation.

Ultimately, the state representatives approved a bill legalizing sports betting, and Gov. Doug Ducey signed Arizona betting into law this year. Nonetheless, it is to be remembered that Ducey indulged in an array of negotiations with Arizona tribes asking them to include sports betting into their contracts.

If you are interested in learning more, this article will discuss everything you need to know about the approaching launch of legal sports betting in Arizona.

What Did Arizona’s Path to Legal Sports Betting Look Like?

Regardless of the state, the road to legalizing sports betting is a tough one filled with challenges both anticipated and unforeseen. The case of Arizona was no different. There was even an instance when a mere typo almost wrecked the entire effort put towards legalization. In the next section, let’s look at how Arizona got from negotiation to complete legalization.

The idea of legalizing sports betting was born in 2019. However, the support it received was minimal, and with the opposition from the tribes, the efforts didn’t get anywhere. Post-PASPA, most betting enthusiasts were sure that sports betting legalization would come to Arizona at some point. Nonetheless, there didn’t seem to be a lot of urgencies, especially from the tribe. The tribes were happy with their existing operations as they didn’t want any competition for the profits they could earn in the state.

When Will Sports Betting Launch in Arizona?

Sports betting was signed into law, but when will it finally launch? The simple answer to this question is on September 9^th, 2021. Officials repeatedly declared the date as the target “go-live” date. What’s more, this date will coincide with the first game of the NFL 2021 season. A few states took more than a year to come up with and then finalize the rules supervising sports betting. On the other hand, other states took just a few months. However, thanks to the

Canada

Tsleil-Waututh Nation Signs MoU to Acquire Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino

Published

4 days ago

June 11, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

tsleil-waututh-nation-signs-mou-to-acquire-casino-business-at-hastings-racecourse-&-casino

Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire the casino business and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino (Hastings) in the City of Vancouver from Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (Great Canadian Entertainment).

“We are thrilled to take another important step towards economic self-determination for our Nation in our traditional territory, and we are eager to work with the senior management team at Great Canadian Entertainment to finalize due diligence and execute a definitive agreement, as well as working with the City of Vancouver to ensure the best long-term use of this important asset within the City. We believe that this opportunity is historic for us in many ways, and we look forward to entering the gaming industry in due course,” said Jen Thomas, Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

“We are excited about working with TWN on their potential acquisition of the casino operations and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino. Recognizing that Hastings is part of the TWN’s traditional territory, we can think of no better entity to inherit this asset, and we look forward to supporting them in the transition after the anticipated close of the sale,” Matt Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Canadian Entertainment.

The agreement is subject to further due diligence, finalization of financial terms and the execution of a definitive purchase and sale agreement. Once a definitive agreement has been executed by the parties, it is anticipated that the transaction will be subject to customary closing conditions as well as customary approvals by gaming regulatory and other authorities, including certain approvals by the City of Vancouver given its ownership of the real property. It is expected that Great Canadian Entertainment will provide transition services to TWN for a period of time following the anticipated closing.

The post Tsleil-Waututh Nation Signs MoU to Acquire Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Ben Clemes

High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario

Published

2 weeks ago

May 30, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

high-roller-submits-gaming-license-application-in-ontario

High Roller Technologies, operator of the premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application in Ontario, Canada, targeting the launch of its flagship brand HighRoller.com in the second half of 2025.

“The submission of our licensing application to access Ontario’s regulated online gambling market is an important milestone in our Company’s journey. Once our application is approved, we anticipate that we will have the opportunity to launch our online casino product into the market later this year,” said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.

Ontario is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world as measured by gross gaming revenue. In 2024, regulated online gambling operators within the province generated approximately $2.3B in gross gaming revenue, and growth continues to be recorded in the first half of 2025. Recently, the province of Alberta passed enabling legislation to establish a regulatory framework for online gambling. Once available, the Company also intends to pursue licensure in Alberta to expand its regulated market footprint in Canada.

“Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. We’re excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product,” said Clemes.

The post High Roller Submits Gaming License Application in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Canada

IAGR announces program for IAGR2025 conference in Toronto

Published

2 weeks ago

May 29, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

iagr-announces-program-for-iagr2025-conference-in-toronto

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has released the program for its upcoming annual conference, to be held in Toronto from 20-23 October.

With the theme ‘Resilient regulation: Exploring what works, why and what’s next’, the event brings together global regulators and thought leaders to examine how regulatory frameworks can evolve to meet today’s challenges.

The four-day program explores timely issues, including the rise of AI and behavioural analytics, the impact of converging technologies, cross-border collaboration and the continued push to strengthen responsible gambling policies.

IAGR President Ben Haden said the program offers a strong preview of the content and conversations delegates can expect in Toronto.

‘This year’s program showcases the breadth and complexity of the challenges facing gambling regulators worldwide, from protecting player wellbeing to tackling illegal markets and understanding new technologies,’ Haden said.

‘I encourage regulators, researchers and policy professionals from around the world to join us in Toronto. The conference is a space to learn, share experience, challenge assumptions and shape the future of effective, collaborative regulation.’

Confirmed speakers and panellists include:

Andrew Rhodes, CEO, Gambling Commission, Great Britain
Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark
Dr Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada
Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming and Carrie Torrisi, Chief of Sports Wagering Division, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States
Bashir Are, CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Nigeria
Teo Chun Ching, Chief Executive, Gambling Regulatory Authority, Singapore
Ladipo Abiose Akolade, Founder, GamblePause Initiative Africa, Nigeria
Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO, Mindway AI, Denmark
Tracy Parker, Senior Vice President, Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council, Canada
Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker, Gibraltar
Sonia Wasowska, Head of Supervision, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, United Arab Emirates
Steven Blackburn, Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory, Australia