Canada
Simplicity Esports Signs Exchange Agreement with Diverted River Technology

Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company has entered into an exchange agreement with Diverted River Technology, LLC, pursuant to which Simplicity Esports agreed to acquire 100% of the membership interests of Diverted River in exchange for 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of Simplicity Esports’ common stock.
“I am thrilled with the prospect of working together with Zack Johnson and his incredible team. Their previous company, ggCircuit, had software and services that dominated the esports gaming center industry space. Their experience, relationships, and reputation provide a solid foundation to grow Diverted River into a powerhouse company servicing the technology needs of the broader $35 billion-dollar family entertainment center industry,” Roman Franklin, CEO of Simplicity Esports, said.
Following the closing, it is expected that, Simplicity Esports’ name will be changed to Diverted River Technology, Inc., and the business of Simplicity Esports will become that of Diverted River, an ETO focused on a sustainable, high margin, recurring revenue business model that requires limited capital expenditures. It is also expected that Mr. Johnson, Diverted River’s CEO, will become CEO of the public company following the closing.
“We met Roman and Simplicity Esports three years ago when four different companies were bidding to buy our esports software company, ggCircuit. Simplicity Esports was a great client of ggCircuit and we are impressed with Roman and his business and financial intelligence in the public market. Now as we expand our platform experience into a 10x larger entertainment market, we are excited to join forces and launch our new platform together as Diverted River in 2023,” Zack Johnson, CEO of Diverted River, said.
“Our team now boasts just shy of 80 million hours of usage on our software platforms over the past 20 years in high profile and public spaces in retail, educational, and esports venues. The Family Entertainment Center (FEC) industry is technologically fragmented and utilizes 15-17 software tools per business to manage their backend and customer experience. They are served by slow moving software companies utilizing outdated technology stacks that hold these businesses hostage with proprietary hardware and software. We plan to flip this industry on its head and provide solutions that allow venues to have open market hardware choices, and robust integration points with synergistic software platforms,” Johnson added.
The transaction, which is expected to close prior to year end, is subject to standard closing conditions, including the repayment of certain debts and achieving a minimum amount of working capital.
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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.
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