Canada
More UK Casinos Likely to Move into the US in the Near Future
The UK gambling market may be one of the largest in the industry, but it’s also one of the strictest in world. Over the past few years, the Gambling Commission has placed more restrictions on online casino and betting operators. This has prompted several big brands in the United Kingdom to consider expanding their businesses overseas in the growing US gambling market.
That being said, it’s not only tighter regulations that has caused UK betting and online casino site operators to show interest in the evolving American gambling market. Financial gain is another driving force for UK companies. Ever since 2018 when the US Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting in America, several states legalized it and began offering both online casino and online sports betting activities. Currently, online casinos are legal in 6 states and online sports betting is legal in 21 states, and more states are expected to legalize some form of online gambling activity in the future.
As gambling becomes legalized throughout America, its popularity grows, as does its revenue. According to the American Gaming Association, although December revenue has yet to be reported for 2021, the US’ annual gaming revenue for 2021 reached $48.34 billion through the end of November. This number crushed the industry’s 2019 full-year record of $43.65 billion. What’s more, this eleven-month period in 2021 tracked 21.3% ahead of the same eleven-month period in 2019.
Long-time UK Brands Compete Over US Market
Wanting a piece of this profitable pie, a number of UK gambling firms have seized the opportunity to break into the growing lucrative market. The primary goal: either to become a valuable business partner with an American gambling giant or to be a takeover target. Notable examples of UK gambling firms that are making their mark in the USA include:
Entain
Entain PLC, the UK owner of popular casino and betting brands Ladbrokes and Coral, entered into a $200 million deal with American hospitality and entertainment company MGM Resorts back in 2018 to capitalise on the newly liberalized sports betting market in the US.
Fast forward a few years later and the latest projected deals reveal that major American sports betting company, DraftKings, sought to acquire Entain for $22 billion in cash and stock in September 2021. However, this offer, as well as a previous offer of $11 billion from MGM Resorts to acquire Entain back in January 2021, were rejected. According to MGM – Entain’s joint venture partner – a DraftKings acquisition of Entain would require the consent of BetMGM due to DraftKings owning a competing business in the US.
Flutter
Also wanting to bolster its assets in the United States, Flutter Entertainment – owner of PaddyPower and Betfair – acquired FanDuel in 2018, one of the leading daily fantasy sports operators in the US at the time. Later, in 2019, Flutter merged with Canadian company The Stars
Group. With the merger, Flutter expanded further into the US, as media giant Fox corporation – which owned a minority stake in The Stars Group – took a 2.6% minority stake in Flutter Entertainment. Moreover, the merger resulted in the creation of the largest online gambling company in the world based on revenues.
Today, Flutter holds a 95% stake in FanDuel, which offers daily fantasy sports, sportsbook, online casino and horse racing products in several states. FanDuel is also the leader in the US online sports betting industry, with 40% of the market share.
William Hill
William Hill, another huge UK brand well known for its online casino and sportsbook, also made headlines in the industry with a major US gambling deal. Instead of partnering with an American company or acquiring one however, William Hill was purchased by American hotel and entertainment company Caesars Entertainment. William Hill agreed to the £2.9 billion ($3.9 billion) takeover bid by the Nevada-based casino operator in September 2020, after previously turning down two rival bids by another US company, Apollo, a private equity group.
Caesars completed its acquisition of William Hill in April 2021, after which William Hill was delisted from the London Stock Exchange. Later in September of that same year, Caesars sold all of William Hill’s non-US assets to 888 Holdings for £2.2 billion ($2.9 billion). In the US, William Hill sportsbooks were rebranded to Caesars Sports.
What is in Store for 2022
This year, it is likely that more deals will occur between the two nations as the world slowly comes out of the clutches of the pandemic and more US states pass laws to legalize gambling within their borders. Both UK gambling operators and US gambling operators have plenty of benefits to offer the other.
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Alberta
Play’n GO granted Alberta iGaming licence, expanding Canadian market footprint
The Swedish gaming giant confirms its entry into another regulated market, with its industry-leading portfolio of games set to launch in Alberta.
Play’n GO, one of the world’s leading casino entertainment providers, has been granted a licence to supply online gaming content in the Canadian province of Alberta, marking another milestone in the company’s expansion across regulated North American markets.
The licence, awarded by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC), allows the company to offer its portfolio of premium online casino titles to licensed operators in the province ahead of Alberta’s planned market launch later this year.
Alberta represents an important new regulated opportunity within Canada, complementing Play’n GO’s established presence in Ontario and Quebec, while reinforcing the company’s commitment to operating exclusively in regulated jurisdictions.
Magnus Olsson said: “Being granted a licence in Alberta is another important step in our North American growth journey and further strengthens our presence in Canada.
“Regulated markets are the foundation of our business, and Alberta represents an exciting opportunity to expand our footprint in a jurisdiction that shares our commitment to high standards, player protection and long-term sustainability.”
The Alberta licence forms part of Play’n GO’s broader strategy of expanding through regulated markets, working closely with licensed operators to deliver compliant, high-quality gaming content focused on innovation, responsibility, and long-term commercial value.
As part of its market entry preparations, the company has aligned its technology and game portfolio with Alberta’s regulatory standards and requirements, with an initial batch of titles already undergoing certification to ensure launch readiness.
About Play’n GO
With more than 20 years of experience in mobile-first gaming, Play’n GO is a global leader in casino entertainment and the creator of some of the industry’s most iconic online titles, including Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Reactoonz, and Moon Princess.
A pioneer in the sector, Play’n GO was among the first to recognize the potential of mobile gaming, developing casino content for mobile devices as early as 2005, before the smartphone era.
Today, the company offers a portfolio of more than 450 premium titles, available to regulated operators across over 35 jurisdictions.
Play’n GO is strongly committed to a fully regulated, sustainable gaming industry built around entertainment, safety, and long-term collaboration.
The company works closely with operators, regulators, and research institutions to promote responsible gaming standards across all markets in which it operates.
With a deep understanding of both operators’ and players’ needs, Play’n GO focuses on creating high-quality, enduring content designed for long-term engagement.
In addition to game development, the company also provides backend services and solutions that support operators in delivering a seamless gaming experience.
Beyond gaming, Play’n GO has expanded into complementary entertainment verticals with Play’n GO Music and Play’n GO Shop, and is also a proud partner of the TGR Haas F1 Team.
For more information, please visit www.playngo.com
The post Play’n GO granted Alberta iGaming licence, expanding Canadian market footprint appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Alberta
Play’n GO secures Alberta iGaming supplier licence from AGLC
Play’n GO has been granted a licence to supply online gaming content in Alberta, as the province prepares to launch its regulated online market later this year.
The licence was awarded by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC). Play’n GO said the approval allows it to provide its online casino games to licensed operators in the province.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, said:
“Being granted a licence in Alberta is another important step in our North American growth journey and further strengthens our presence in Canada.
“Regulated markets are the foundation of our business, and Alberta represents an exciting opportunity to expand our footprint in a jurisdiction that shares our commitment to high standards, player protection and long‑term sustainability.”
Play’n GO said it has aligned its technology and game portfolio with Alberta’s regulatory requirements, with an initial batch of titles undergoing certification ahead of launch. The supplier is already active in Canada, with an established presence in Ontario and Quebec, according to the company.
The post Play’n GO secures Alberta iGaming supplier licence from AGLC appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AGLC
Alberta iGaming Corporation Appoints Dan Keene as its CEO
Dan Keene, who served as the interim CEO of the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), has been appointed to the role permanently, effective April 21, 2026. Under his leadership, AiGC will launch Alberta’s regulated iGaming market on July 13. Keene has played a pivotal role in shaping the province’s gaming landscape, both through his work standing up AiGC and in his previous roles at the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).
“Dan brings deep operational experience and a strong track record in gaming and market development. His leadership will be essential as the Alberta iGaming Corporation prepares for launch and delivers a regulated market built on social responsibility and player protection,” said Sanjeev Kad, Board Chair, Alberta iGaming Corporation.
About Dan Keene
Serving as Vice-President, Gaming at AGLC since July 2022, Keene overseen a broad portfolio, including gaming retail services, technical operations, compliance, online gambling, player loyalty, supply chain, electronic gaming, and product development across Alberta. He has been instrumental in advancing consumer-focused initiatives. He co-led the creation of Winner’s Edge, Alberta’s first province-wide casino loyalty program, and guided the operations of PlayAlberta.ca, currently, the province’s only regulated online gambling platform. Previously, Keene worked at AGLC as Manager, Casino Products. In this role, he led a team of specialists responsible for selecting slot games and terminals for Alberta’s 30 casinos and 750 VLT locations. Before joining AGLC, he completed successful tenures with Molson Breweries and Century Casinos Inc.
The post Alberta iGaming Corporation Appoints Dan Keene as its CEO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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