Canada
Pros Or Newbies – Who’s Playing Live Poker at Online Casinos?

If you’re wondering who gambles online, the short answer is – almost everyone. It’s estimated that more than 4.2 billion people gamble on the internet at least once a year. Most of them do it by either playing online casino games like slots or roulette or by placing sports wagers.
Surprisingly, there’s also a significant community that plays live poker games over the internet. Many place the number at more than 100 million active players in the world. What’s interesting is that their number keeps on growing exponentially. This could mean that a significant number of players are only making baby steps in online poker, which raises the question of whether there are more pro-poker players or beginners.
How Experienced are Online Poker Players?
Who plays online poker more – pros or beginners? The answer is both. However, the two categories don’t cross their paths on internet poker platforms too often.
The thing is that pros are usually willing to play online poker at higher stakes. After all, they have money that they earned from playing poker professionally. Therefore, they tend to play against other high-rolling poker pros.
Poker newbies, on the other hand, usually start slowly, playing low-stakes games. That seems to be the right thing to do, at least for those who don’t want to risk losing all they got in just a few hands.
Another reason why newcomers are advised to start with low stakes is that this will enable them to get better at poker. This way, they get a chance to play poker for a long time against different types of opponents, gaining valuable experience along the way.
Play Poker Games Live In Different Languages
A study by researchers from the University of Hamburg a few years ago revealed that nearly one-quarter of all online poker players are from the United States. It’s no surprise, considering that this game’s birthplace is America. The growth of online casinos, on the other hand, has significantly contributed to the global increase in the number of poker players.
Poker at online casinos is not only tailored to newcomers, but it is also available in more languages. Initially, live poker games could only be played on English-language platforms, but as online gambling became more popular in other parts of the world, operators began to offer live dealers in additional languages. This includes some languages spoken in countries where gambling is banned. One of the best examples is the Middle East.
Poker is one of the most popular game categories at Arabic-Casinos.org, and an increasing number of visitors from the region are looking for casinos that offer live poker in Arabic. As a result, online casino operators and game developers have recognized the market’s potential and are offering more products and services aimed at the Arabic market.
Gender Aspect of Online Poker
In the United States, 95% of all professional poker players are men, compared to just 5% of female poker players. Further, if you take a look at The Hendon Mob All Time Money List, there’s just one woman in the top 100. The lady in question is Vanessa Selbst, whose $11,906,247 in earnings make her the #79 most successful poker players in the world.
It’s a bit of a different situation when it comes to amateur poker players. Although no one can say for certain how many female players are playing live poker over the internet, it’s likely that their number isn’t small. The reason why there’s no data that could tell us the exact number of women playing online poker is that many gambling sites don’t require you to reveal your gender in order to be able to play.
What’s the Thrill Behind Playing Live Poker?
The main advantage of online poker is that you can play it wherever you might be. You don’t have to go to a casino – you can do it from the comfort of your home, but also on the go, playing it on your smartphone.
Another great thing about it is that the internet allows you to play poker against people from around the world. That said, you can always find some opponents ready to play with you for real money, even if it’s the middle of the night in your part of the world.
Conveniently, online live poker enables you to play whenever you want, wherever you might be, and against whomever you want.
Over the years, poker has become an integral part of American culture, with numerous movies and songs being inspired by the game. Just think of Lady Gaga’s breakthrough hit “Poker Face” and you’ll see what we mean.
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Canada
Soft2Bet’s Brand ToonieBet Named an Official Sports Betting and Casino Partner of the CFL

ToonieBet, Soft2Bet’s premier sportsbook and online casino brand tailored for Canadian players, has been named both an Official Sports Betting Partner and an Official Online Casino Partner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
The multiyear partnership also establishes ToonieBet as an Official Partner of the CFL’s championship game, the Grey Cup. Fans from coast to coast to coast annually gather for Canada’s largest single-day sporting event to celebrate an incredible season, and to witness one team earn the right to hoist the iconic trophy. The 112th Grey Cup will be played at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16.
Fans in Ontario aged 19-and-over will be able to responsibly wager on CFL games through ToonieBet with access to in-game betting and futures. The collaboration will also explore exciting branded online casino experiences on the ToonieBet platform to entertain existing fans and engage new ones.
ToonieBet’s partnership with the CFL underscores Soft2Bet’s ongoing commitment to Canadian sports fans and a further investment in the Canadian sporting tradition, as the deal marks Soft2Bet’s second sports partnership in the country within the last three months, following ToonieBet’s designation as the Official Online Casino Partner of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, which was recently expanded with a full sportsbook offering.
“This partnership is for the fans. Together with ToonieBet, we will unlock exciting avenues of entertainment, delivering new products, responsible gaming options and unique activations, to better serve the future of fandom. In the stadium, at home or online, we’re doubling down on engagement and innovation like never before,” said Tyler Keenan, the CFL’s Chief Revenue Officer.
“Partnering with the CFL will elevate our robust offerings in the Canadian market and allow us to continue building our passionate sports and online gaming community in Ontario. Our team at ToonieBet is deeply committed to building a premium fan experience, while delivering exceptional customer hospitality and ensuring both responsible and safe game play,” said Steve Spindler, ToonieBet’s Canadian Country Manager.
“We are proud to partner with the CFL and its local teams. This partnership goes beyond visibility – it’s about building relevance and establishing a real connection with fans. Aligning with one of Canada’s most trusted leagues allows us to strengthen our bond with Ontarians and deliver a best-in-class sports betting and gaming experience through ToonieBet,” said Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet.
Additionally, ToonieBet has been designated as an Official Authorized Gaming Operator of the CFL, allowing Soft2Bet to deliver best-in-class gaming experiences with official CFL data and statistics to sports fans and sportsbook users across Ontario through the ToonieBet platform.
ToonieBet will also serve as the presenting partner of CFL Fantasy, and the Game Tracker in Ontario on CFL.ca and LCF.ca, in addition to being the CFL’s odds provider on the league’s digital scoreboard.
The post Soft2Bet’s Brand ToonieBet Named an Official Sports Betting and Casino Partner of the CFL appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors with a signature guitar smash, marking the arrival of Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, a bold new destination where entertainment, hospitality, and music take center stage.
The $350 million resort brings the brand’s unmistakable energy to Canada’s capital, offering locals and visitors an immersive Hard Rock experience blending iconic music history with world-class entertainment, hospitality, dining, and gaming.
In true Hard Rock fashion, the opening festivities kicked off with the Canadian Tenors’ electrifying rendition of O Canada followed by the brand’s signature Guitar Smash, a modern take on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. Executives, dignitaries, and community leaders took the stage to ceremoniously smash guitars, signaling the official opening of the state-of-the-art entertainment destination.
A special moment included the presentation of a $100,000 donation to Ottawa Food Bank, reinforcing Hard Rock’s commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.
“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand. We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place,” said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Hard Rock International.
“Our government is thrilled that Hard Rock chose Ontario for its first fully integrated hotel and casino venue in Canada. This new entertainment and hospitality destination will draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
The post Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
AGCO
MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition

PointsBet Holdings Limited announced that MIXI has received written confirmation that AGCO has no concerns with the proposed acquisition by MIXI of the shares in PointsBet Holdings Limited.
PointsBet has also received written confirmation from iGaming Ontario (iGO) in relation to MIXI’s proposed acquisition of shares in PointsBet.
Accordingly, the condition precedent to MIXI’s proposed PointsBet-Board recommended Takeover Bid relating to Ontario approvals in paragraph 4.5 of Schedule 1 of the Bid Implementation Deed dated 16 June 2025 (BID) has been satisfied.
MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid remains subject to the satisfaction of certain other limited conditions as previously announced, including a 50.1% minimum acceptance of the proposed MIXI Offer (as defined in the BID).
The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission provided its approval on 24 March 2025 for MIXI to acquire PointsBet. PointsBet confirmed that MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid is no longer subject to any gaming regulatory approvals.
The post MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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