Canada
Sports Betting Continues to Gain Traction in the United States

After the landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2018, in which the court struck down the ban on sports betting, any state got the option to pursue legalization. The state of New Jersey was the first to make sports betting legal. Yet, the legal infrastructure of sports betting still remains complex. For example, in each state, online betting companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings have to apply for supplier licenses, and the licensing process varies depending on the state. In addition, after the licensed is granted, these companies must reach agreements with existing land-based casinos for what is called “skins,” which is what eventually gives them the right to operate in each state. For instance, DraftKings made a deal with Caesars last year, which gave it market access in 12 states outside New Jersey, and in the meantime, Caesars received DraftKings equity for the skins access. FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (CSE: FANS), DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG), GAN Limited (NASDAQ: GAN), MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR)
The complexity of the legal infrastructure means that states may have different companies competing for market share. According to an article by CNBC, Richard Carter, CEO of SBTech, explained that “there is no doubt both FanDuel and DraftKings will have large market share… But different states will have different market leaders. You need market access. Some states will be lottery-only. Some states will be limited to tribal gaming. Some states won’t allow FanDuel and DraftKings to use their brands. They’ll have to use the casino brand. There are lots of nuances. You have to take each state as it comes.” More recently, sports betting also started to get traction in California, an enormous potential market for this segment. MarketWatch reported that two California lawmakers recently pitched legalized sports betting as a way to help increase the state budget, which is currently devastated by the economic shutdown designed to slow the spread of the pandemic. California trails 22 other states that have already authorized sports betting.
FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (CSE: FANS) just announced breaking news that it is, “pleased to introduce Mr. Saxon Shadforth, a leading gaming executive.
Mr. Shadforth has over 25 years of global leadership expertise and 15 years experience as an online gambling executive. With a background in commercialization, consumer hardware/software, enterprise software, product strategy and delivery; Saxon has extensive experience managing complex ecosystems required to operate and scale gaming brands in many categories and jurisdictions. Saxon has previously worked at Activo in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yew Tree Services in Manila, Philippines, Riplife Gaming Technologies in Barcelona, Spain and Gateway Inc. in both Sydney, Australia and Denver, Colorado.
‘We are extremely excited to have an individual of Saxon’s caliber join our board of directors,’ said Darius Eghdami, Chairman and CEO of FansUnite Entertainment. ‘As a fast growing company in the gaming sector, Mr. Shadforth is perfectly equipped to provide us with oversight in a number of growth areas. Having spent the majority of his career working abroad in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, Saxon will be integral in expanding our footprint and entering international gaming jurisdictions by leveraging his established network.’
As a veteran in the gaming industry, he has structured and advised on the launch of new platforms across the globe, numerous M&A transactions in both start ups and later stage growth companies, and has managed teams of over 300 people in the gaming industry.
‘I am thrilled to be joining such a great team where I will be able to apply my skill set in helping FansUnite build and grow their platform,” said Saxon. “As a online gambling company, FansUnite is uniquely positioned to consolidate gaming assets globally with a key focus on M&A integration and brand awareness. I am eager to provide my insights and I look forward to assisting FansUnite become a leader in the fast growing gaming market.’
FansUnite expects Mr. Shadforth to add expertise in various areas including: product development, acquisition strategy, and commercialization of brands into global markets to support its continued growth as an emerging gaming leader.”
SOURCE FinancialBuzz.com
Powered by WPeMatico
Canada
Rivalry Reports Q1 2025 Results Highlighting Strengthened Unit Economics, Operating Leverage, and Strategic Progress

Rivalry Corp., an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, announced financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 (“Q1 2025”). All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
Q1 2025 was the first full quarter operating under Rivalry’s restructured model, following a company-wide transformation that began in Q4 2024. This included a strategic shift toward high-value users, deep cost rationalization, significant product upgrades, and tighter execution across every layer of the business. The result is a streamlined, modernized operating model with materially improved performance and long-term leverage.
“This quarter marks the full emergence of Rivalry 2.0 – leaner, sharper, and structurally stronger,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “We’ve rebuilt the foundation of the business around high-efficiency acquisition, high-value users, and a proprietary product – and we’re already seeing the impact. Rivalry today is not just a leaner version of itself – it’s a fundamentally different company built for scalability.”
Key Highlights
- Net revenue of $1.3 million, consistent with the preliminary results announced on April 16, 2025. While temporary sportsbook margin variance impacted topline outcomes, underlying KPIs continued to improve and validate the strength of Rivalry’s rebuilt model.
- Operating expenses decreased 58% year-over-year to $4 million in Q1 2025, down from $9.6 million in Q1 2024.
- Net loss reduced by 43% to $3.0 million in Q1 2025 from $5.2 million in the prior-year quarter.
- A meaningful portion of Q1 expenses were non-recurring or non-operational in nature, including annual audit costs, regulatory fees, and legacy payables from prior periods. The Company’s adjusted marketing spend during the quarter was approximately $175,000, materially lower than the reported figure due to these factors.
- Average Customer Acquisition Cost payback across H1 2025 was approximately 1.5 months, reflecting improved funnel conversion, higher player value, and stronger retention – all achieved under constrained spend conditions.
- Q2 2025 set new all-time records across key user economics1:
- Net revenue per player increased 49% versus Q1 2025, and was 210% higher than the historical average prior to the Q4 2024 transformation.
- Wagers per player rose 7% quarter-over-quarter, and nearly 300% above the pre-rebuild average.
- Average monthly deposits per player in Q1 2025 were over 175% higher than the historical average. In Q2 2025, this increased a further 28%.
- Monthly deposit frequency per player in Q1 2025 was up 115% over the historical average, and rose another 22% in Q2 2025.
- Ongoing improvements in VIP identification, segmentation, and servicing, driven by Rivalry’s proprietary Business Intelligence (“BI”) tools and Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”) infrastructure, further contributed to gains in deposit behavior and overall player value.
These improvements reflect the effectiveness of Rivalry’s strategic overhaul – including product modernization, in-house BI tooling, optimized segmentation, and CRM systems that support higher-value customer behavior and lifecycle retention.
Streamlined Operations
Rivalry’s breakeven net revenue is now approximately $600,000 USD per month, down from more than $2 million USD per month a year ago, based on current run rate operating expenses, with further cost optimizations planned in Q3 2025. The rebuilt business is operating on a structurally lower fixed-cost base with proven user economics and performance-ready infrastructure.
“We’ve created an operating model that is not only lean and disciplined, but also high-leverage,” Salz added. “This is a structurally better business than it was a year ago. The team is tighter, the product is stronger, and the KPIs are outperforming – all with limited capital deployment. The engine is rebuilt.”
Strategic Review & Outlook
Rivalry is actively exploring strategic alternatives aimed at maximizing shareholder value. As part of this ongoing process, the Company is also evaluating non-dilutive capital options as part of broader strategic initiatives to accelerate growth. These are intended to complement the broader review and enable Rivalry to fully capitalize on the performance capacity of its rebuilt model.
As the Company progresses into H2 2025, key initiatives include:
- Deployment of a new promo engine, enabling more dynamic and cost-efficient bonus structures.
- Casino-led engagement mechanics, including lootboxes, missions, and summer campaigns to drive offseason activation.
- Geographic reactivations and enhanced CRM, focused on high-value player segmentation and deeper lifecycle engagement.
- Further operating cost reductions in Q3 2025, aimed at lowering the breakeven point and increasing flexibility.
Rivalry’s transformation over the past three quarters has positioned the business with a distinct set of structural advantages: a deeply aligned and experienced team, proprietary technology and BI systems, strong regulatory licenses in Ontario and the Isle of Man, and a globally recognized brand with demonstrated reach. These strengths now form the basis of a highly scalable and differentiated operator in the global online gambling market.
“Rivalry today is a high-performance engine – structurally rebuilt, road-tested, and positioned to scale,” said Salz. “We’re focused on unlocking the next chapter of growth, and the strategic review process is designed to support that path.”
The post Rivalry Reports Q1 2025 Results Highlighting Strengthened Unit Economics, Operating Leverage, and Strategic Progress appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
AGCO
AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards for Gaming and Lottery

As of July 11, 2025, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) no longer requires Registrar approval for responsible gambling (RG) training programs for casino and lottery employees. This change applies to both the Gaming and Lottery Standards and supports a more flexible, outcomes-based approach.
What’s changing
• Standard 2.5 has been updated to remove the need for Registrar approval of RG training.
• Training must still be mandatory, regularly updated, and based on best practices.
• Employees must understand responsible gambling, their role in player protection, and how to support those showing signs of gambling harm.
What this change means for operators and lottery retailers
• Casino and lottery operators now have more flexibility to design and update RG training.
• Existing PlaySmart training remains valid.
Why this change matters
This change reduces red tape, encourages innovation, and maintains Ontario’s high standards for player protection. This also aligns with AGCO’s outcomes-based regulatory approach and brings greater consistency across gaming sectors, including iGaming.
The post AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards for Gaming and Lottery appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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.
-
Balkans7 days ago
BFU and Elitbet Extend Their Partnership Until 2028
-
Baltics6 days ago
Betsson Lithuania Extends Sponsorships with FK Žalgiris and Lithuanian Basketball Federation Until 2027
-
Brazil7 days ago
SkillOnNet Expands Nolimit City Partnership to Enter Brazil
-
EurAsia7 days ago
Amusnet Sponsors the Most Traded NFT Collection at the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 2025
-
Baltics5 days ago
Swintt Joins Forces with TOPsport to Capitalize on Lithuanian Market
-
Africa7 days ago
Premier Bet Announces Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador
-
Endorphina Press Releases5 days ago
Endorphina’s Sticky Lips: Our Joker Returns, Ready to Stick You with Unforgettable Luck!
-
CP Games7 days ago
Zenith expands in LatAm with exclusive CP Games content distribution deal