Canada
North Carolina Senate Approves Bill to Legalize Sports Betting

Senate lawmakers tentatively approved sports gambling in North Carolina on Wednesday. The narrow 26-21 vote, which didn’t follow party lines, broke precedent for Senate Republican leaders.
Senate Bill 688 would legalize betting on sports online, via mobile phone and in person at approved facilities in the immediate area of major sporting events. The North Carolina Lottery Commission would handle the regulation of the industry.
The state would raise money from the industry by getting an 8% cut of the proceeds and by charging for no more than 12 state licenses for online sports betting outlets, not counting additional tribal licenses.
Online gambling outlets would have to pay $500,000 for their initial license and then $100,000 annually to renew. The state would also require licenses and fees from vendors that supply licensed gambling operations.
The money would go to the state’s general fund “to support education,” according to sponsor Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir.
Perry acknowledged the difficulty of persuading many lawmakers to support the idea. He said it is an attempt to help raise revenue to help less-affluent rural counties construct more schools without having to raise property taxes on their fewer and fewer residents.
“Prohibition doesn’t work,” Perry told the Senate. “We know that activity takes place today, whether we like it or not.”
“I see this as a revenue bill,” said co-sponsor Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth. “Somebody said, ‘Well, it’s gambling.’ Well, we already have gambling. We’ve got the lottery. It’s here.”
The bill would also create a new fund to help attract major sporting events to the state.
Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, was the lone speaker against the measure on the Senate floor.
“This bill produces very little money, and it targets young people, and I plan to vote against it,” he said.
Powered by WPeMatico
Canada
absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.
Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.
The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.
“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”
Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”
The post Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.
Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.
The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.
The post iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
eSports6 days ago
TEAM VITALITY AND HUMMEL LAUNCH ALTERNATE JERSEY AND EXCLUSIVE APPAREL COLLECTION
-
Africa6 days ago
Rise & Hustle partners with Altenar to power its new sportsbook offering
-
Africa6 days ago
Ghana’s NLA Introduces New Sticker to Clamp Down on Illegal Lotto Operators
-
EurAsia6 days ago
Groove Technologies Shines in Georgia at SmartSoft Partner Event: Culture, Connection, and Collaboration Take Centre Stage
-
Eastern Europe6 days ago
Digitain Strengthens Romanian Market Presence Through KingCasino Partnership
-
Central Europe6 days ago
CT Interactive Announces Strategic Partnership with Ecasino
-
Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay6 days ago
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment
-
Central Europe5 days ago
CT Interactive grows its certified game portfolio in the Slovak market