Canada
Why Nova Scotia Won’t Ban Problem Gamblers from Casinos
The Nova Scotia government won’t ban problem gamblers from going to the province’s casinos. The decision was announced on Monday, following an online survey in which the government asked Nova Scotians if it should ban people who don’t want to gamble from casinos and slot facilities. The government says 86 per cent of the 3,000 people who responded said no; 15 per cent said yes and one per cent didn’t know or refused to answer.
However, Health Minister Leo Glavine also said that, if a problem gambler has gambling problems, the matter should be dealt with through the justice system or addiction services.
A brief history of gambling in Canada
Gambling has been a part of Canadian culture for centuries, with many Canadians taking part in different forms of gambling including lotteries and casinos. However, as gambling becomes more accessible, an increasing number of Canadians are developing gambling problems. This led to the introduction of Bill C-290, which proposed stricter regulations on the industry to protect problem gamblers. The bill was passed unanimously by Parliament but was never fully implemented due to a lack of funding.
Gambling in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has long been known as the center of gambling in Canada and is home to over 1,000 slot machines. A recent push from anti-gambling groups to ban problem gamblers from entering casinos was dismissed by Premier Stephen McNeil as they believe it would be a violation of their freedom. In place of this, they have created a voluntary exclusion program that would allow people who are struggling with gambling addiction to voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos. Many online casinos that legally operate in Nova Scotia also welcome any one willing to bet.
Gambling addiction facts
Problem gambling is a serious and persistent public health problem. About 1-3% of the population has a gambling addiction, which means there are about 250,000 people in Canada who need help. It’s estimated that about 10% of the population gambles at any one time, but this doesn’t mean they’re all addicted to it.
Gambling disorder is considered an impulse control disorder like other impulse control disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and pathological gambling. Gambling disorder can be difficult to diagnose because gamblers may not be aware they have a problem until their life is impacted negatively by their behavior.
In general, provinces regulate casinos, but municipalities can create bylaws that prohibit or restrict casino development on their territory.
The connection between problem gamblers and casinos
Problem gamblers can be defined as people who spend an excessive amount of money on gambling or individuals who have trouble controlling their gambling behavior. There are many different factors that contribute to the development of a problem gambler, but it is often believed that spending time in a casino increases the risk for developing these behaviors.
Casinos are designed to make gambling more enticing by providing a variety of options and rewarding players with freebies. The layout of casinos contributes to this too – they are laid out so that slot machines and table games surround the player, which makes it difficult for them to leave without passing by even more gambling opportunities. The tendency of casinos to offer customers easy access to everything they want at any hour also encourages longer play sessions and worsens gambling addiction.
How can we solve this problem?
Nova Scotia should consider introducing a self-exclusion program that would allow people to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos. This would make sense because casinos are the only place problem gamblers can legally gamble. They also offer other forms of entertainment such as live music, movies, and restaurants.
Self-exclusion programs have proven effective in other countries with gambling addiction issues, so this could be a good way to stop problem gambling while allowing those who don’t have an issue to enjoy themselves.
Problem gamblers and online casino
Problem gamblers are no different than alcoholics or drug addicts, but the stigma around gambling addiction is much less. These people need help and support just like any other addict would. Banning them from casinos doesn’t mean they won’t continue to gamble; it just means they will do it in private and without help.
The government needs to focus on prevention and rehabilitation for this issue, not punishment. The focus should be on those who suffer from a gambling addiction rather than those who don’t. We know there’s going to be more at-risk populations if we don’t offer some sort of service, said Smith. If you’re doing harm reduction, then let’s look at those folks first.
In summary
Nova Scotia’s gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Authority of Nova Scotia (AGANS), has said that it will not ban problem gamblers from casinos. The decision comes after a recent report by the provincial government found that an estimated 11% of casino patrons are problem gamblers, up from 7% five years ago.
There is no evidence that banning these people from casinos would reduce their gaming activity. Rather than banning them, AGANS has chosen to implement a self-exclusion program where problem gamblers can voluntarily sign themselves out.
A self-exclusion program has been in place at the Casino Nova Scotia since 2006.
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Bragg Gaming Group
Bragg Strengthens Executive Team for Enhanced Content Strategy, North American Growth, and AI-First Transformation
Bragg Gaming Group has announced the appointment of Morten Tonnesen as its new Chief Operating Officer and the promotion of Garrick Morris to the position of Executive Vice President of Global Content, US and Canada.
These immediate management changes emphasize Bragg’s strategic focus on aggressively scaling and expanding the high-margin content business globally, especially throughout the US and Canada. This global content business demonstrated significant growth, increasing by 76% in Q4-2025 compared to Q4-2024 and achieving 69% growth for the full year 2025 compared to 2024. This growth is supported by the acceleration of the “Bragg AI Brain” initiative and the company’s future presence in key emerging markets, such as Historical and Live Racing and Prediction markets. The organizational realignment represents the necessary final steps following the structural cost changes announced in January 2026.
Matevž Mazij, CEO of Bragg Gaming Group, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Morten to Bragg and congratulate Garrick on his promotion. Both leaders are highly qualified, bringing extensive iGaming expertise that will be vital as we embark on our next chapter: becoming a global B2B leader in Content, Engagement, and Infrastructure and what we believe will be iGaming’s ‘AI-First’ company. Our cutting-edge tech stack has moved beyond the investment phase and is now a proven cash generator engineered for horizontal scaling.
“We believe their contributions will strengthen our ability to deliver operational leverage, meet our goals to streamline internal processes, enhance overall efficiency across our organization, and advance us further along the path toward EBITDA growth and net profitability. Importantly, with Morten streamlining operations and Garrick focused on U.S. and Global content expansion, we also believe that we are uniquely positioned to provide the robust iGaming ecosystems required by leading players in the evolving Historical and Live Racing and Prediction markets. We believe Bragg will stand out as the sole B2B provider operating at the convergence of iGaming, Sports, and Predictions.”
As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Tonnesen’s mandate includes driving operational leverage and implementing Bragg’s ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) transformation. The goal of this transformation is to establish Bragg as an AI-First company by 2027. This transition is supported by specific 2027 objectives: ensuring AI-Enhanced Products are standard in over 90% of new launches and integrating AI into more than three-quarters of Bragg’s operational workflows.
Mr. Tonnesen brings over 17 years of progressive leadership experience in the iGaming, sports betting and technology sectors. He is recognized for his expertise in scaling complex businesses, driving cost efficiencies and operational excellence, and successfully executing high-impact initiatives to expand into new markets and achieve profitable growth. Before joining Bragg, Mr. Tonnesen served as Chief Growth Officer at Xtremepush, a leading provider of AI-powered CRM and loyalty marketing. Prior to his role at Xtremepush, which he joined in 2024, he was Chief Commercial Officer at Shape Games, an award-winning digital B2B platform and service provider for the iGaming industry, which was subsequently sold to Kambi. Earlier in his career, he co-founded and successfully exited the sports betting operator BetWarrior, now a major player in LatAm. He also spent six years in various roles at PokerStars. Mr. Tonnesen holds a Bachelor of Science in General Economics and a Master of Science in Strategy, Management, and Organisation from Copenhagen Business School.
Mr. Tonnesen said: “It has been captivating to watch the scale, scope and speed with which Bragg is already building the Bragg AI Brain and, thereby, transforming itself into an AI-first company. With Bragg navigating a combination of increasingly complex regulatory compliance requirements and recent tax headwinds in the Netherlands and other regions, exciting new emerging market opportunities in the U.S. and elsewhere, and potential consolidation in the overall global iGaming and Prediction markets, my near-term focus will be squarely on helping steer the Bragg AI Brain toward protecting the Company’s cash runway and driving its EBITDA growth.”
Mr. Morris first joined Bragg as Senior Vice President Commercial for the U.S. & Canada in 2024. In an iGaming management career spanning more than 15 years, before joining Bragg, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Digital Gaming Corporation, Operations Manager at Microgaming, and IT Platforms Manager at Derivco. Mr. Morris has a Bachelor of Economics from Stellenbosch University.
Mr. Morris said: “Since I first joined Bragg in May 2024, we have significantly expanded our U.S. content footprint through the launch of our newest games, Remote Gaming Server technology, and Player Account Management platform. I look forward to working with the team to help further accelerate growth, including via our planned strategic entrance into the Historical and Live Racing, and Prediction markets segments, with the aim of enhancing value for our shareholders.”
The post Bragg Strengthens Executive Team for Enhanced Content Strategy, North American Growth, and AI-First Transformation appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
Wazdan’s North American Growth Accelerates Following FanDuel Alliance
Wazdan, the player-centric developer, has further strengthened its notable North American presence by forming a partnership with FanDuel, a top iGaming company in the area.
The deal represents a crucial milestone in Wazdan’s continuous global growth, as FanDuel introduces two feature-packed games at the same time in Ontario and Michigan, enabled by Light & Wonder’s aggregation platform.
In Ontario, gamers can experience Mighty Fish: Blue Marlin and 36 Coins, two games that highlight Wazdan’s distinctive blend of familiar themes and performance-focused mechanics. In Michigan, 12 Bells and Hot Slot: 777 Crown will offer players captivating gameplay designs centered on clarity, rhythm, and extensive features.
After the initial launch, FanDuel’s famous iGaming platform, FanDuel Casino, will have its collection expanded by a wide array of new slot games, each meticulously selected to include various Wazdan features that enhance player engagement like Cash Infinity
, Hold the Jackpot, and Sticky to Infinity
, all aimed at increasing entertainment and providing tangible growth for operators.
The newest expansion capitalizes on Wazdan’s progress in North America, succeeding in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and previous entries into West Virginia.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “Partnering with FanDuel represents a major milestone in Wazdan’s North American growth strategy and underlines the strong demand for our engagement-driven portfolio across regulated markets.
“FanDuel’s reach and reputation make them an ideal partner, and launching simultaneously in Ontario and Michigan is a powerful way to introduce our games to new audiences. We are confident that our feature-rich titles and proven mechanics will resonate strongly with players and deliver tangible value for FanDuel as we continue to scale our presence across the region.”
The post Wazdan’s North American Growth Accelerates Following FanDuel Alliance appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
PointsBet Canada to Contest Proposed 5-Day Suspension by AGCO
PointsBet Canada confirmed it will request a hearing before the independent Licence Appeal Tribunal to contest the Notice of Proposed Order issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) on February 12, 2026, proposing a five-day suspension of its operator registration.
PointsBet claims that the proposed sanction overemphasized an isolated incident that was a result of human error, not a systemic issue. The company also said that it did not intentionally withhold information from gaming regulators, and it immediately sent the necessary information once it was discovered.
The operator, which launched in Ontario in April 2022, also said that it cooperated fully with the AGCO’s investigation.
“We have a strong compliance record in Ontario and remain fully committed to the highest standards of integrity and player protection. We look forward to presenting our case at the Tribunal,” said Scott Vanderwel, PointsBet Canada Chief Executive Officer.
The post PointsBet Canada to Contest Proposed 5-Day Suspension by AGCO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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