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A Swell of Support Helps Expand the Online Betting Industry
The sports betting market continues to gain popularity among people of all generations, especially as online betting is gradually becoming more mainstream. To illustrate the importance of this segment, data provided by a Zion Market Research report indicates that sports betting holds about 70% of the global gambling revenue, which is more than any other sectors, including those of lotteries, casinos, and poker, among other forms of gambling. As for which sports are the most popular, various games around the world are common among the sport betters, but European football attracts the greatest betting revenue, and is then closely followed by baseball. Of course, it has to be noted that numerous technological developments have helped propel the market to new highs. The stronger presence of online betting has completely transformed the process of sports betting, making it easier, faster and more convenient to place bets. On the other hand, the strict regulations by various governments are still an obstacle for the online market. Nevertheless, according to the report, the global sports betting market was valued at around USD 104.31 Billion in 2017 and is expected to reach approximately USD 155.49 Billion by 2024 while growing at a healthy CAGR of 8.83% between 2018 to 2024. FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (CSE: FANS), GAN Limited (NASDAQ: GAN), Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD), International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT), Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS)
Despite legal restrictions, regionally and country wise, in 2018 the market had already produced more than USD 48.9 Billion in worldwide revenue and is projected to expand past USD 134.5 Billion by 2027, according to data provided by Transparency Market Research. After the landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2018, in which the court struck down the ban on sports betting, all states got the option to pursue legalization. The state of New Jersey was the first to make sports betting legal. Other states followed, but California remains a legal battle ground for this gambling segment. However, a change might be possible this November. State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Assembly Member Adam Gray (D-Merced) have been working on an amendment to the state’s constitution that will go on the ballot in November, if it can get through both houses. “I think the leagues themselves are really the experts when it comes to keeping integrity of the games,” Assembly Member Gray explained in a report by NBC Sports Bay Area. “Obviously, in our proposal we’ve banned any high school sports betting and as we put the finishing details on this over the next few weeks it’s going to be important that those leagues engage with us on those final details to make sure that we have the highest quality product with the highest quality standards. And although they have been a little timid, I know that many out there in the sports world know that the future of the sports economy could be integrally tied to the success of sports wagering, fantasy sports and other activities.
FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (CSE: FANS) and Askott Entertainment Inc. just announced breaking news that two companies, “have entered into a definitive amalgamation agreement (the “Agreement”) to create one of Canada’s leading online gaming companies, focused on sports betting, esports wagering and casino games. Under the terms of the Agreement, FansUnite will acquire all of the outstanding securities of Askott by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (the “Transaction”) pursuant to which Askott and a newly incorporated subsidiary of FansUnite will amalgamate under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and continue as one corporation.
Combined Company Highlights
Expanded Consumer Base. The combined FansUnite and Askott will have four live business-to-consumer (“B2C”) platforms that have generated over CDN$350 million in wagers since inception and will have over 300,000 registered members;
Expanded Business Base. FansUnite and Askott will have four executed business-to-business (“B2B”) contracts, two of which are currently live and generating revenue with leading esports companies;
Expanded Betting Offerings. Two esports themed casino games which will be released on multiple casino games aggregators platforms this year with more games currently in development;
Increased Gaming Licenses: Applications have been completed for gaming licenses for B2C and B2B;
Established History of Operations: Askott has been in business since 2013, working closely with tier 1 partners around the world; and
Highly Accomplished and Experienced Team: The completion of the Transaction will add a team with decades of experience in esports, sports betting, casino, poker, licensing, government relationships and transactions to develop shareholder value.
According to a recent report by Grandview Research1, the global online gambling market size was valued at USD 53.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% from 2020 to 2027.
‘As the online gambling market continues to grow, the amalgamation with Askott is a significant milestone and transforms us into one of Canada’s premier iGaming companies,’ said Darius Eghdami, CEO of FansUnite Entertainment. ‘Combining with Askott provides us with a fully integrated gaming asset that offers multiple B2C platforms for users in a variety of betting offerings, B2B technology that can be licensed to all types of sportsbooks, and a seasoned team of executives that have led and grown multiple organizations on a global scale. This combination creates a leading online igaming company, and positions us strongly for significant growth with new offerings and market opportunities.’
‘We are recognized globally as a leader and pioneer in esports betting technology,’ said Scott Burton, CEO of Askott Entertainment. ‘As an early entrant in the sector we have already had a number of milestones, including, the launch of the first ever daily fantasy site dedicated to esports, the first esports betting site to receive an Isle of Man license gaming license in 2017 and more recently being shortlisted by EGR Magazine for the Esports Betting Supplier of the Year Award. This year, part of our growth strategy was to round out our offering with traditional sports and casinos to make us a complete iGaming solution. Merging with FansUnite accelerates our growth strategy and will bring us the scale and offerings to make our combined group the leading iGaming entity in the Canadian public markets.’…
GAN Limited (NASDAQ: GAN) is a business-to-business supplier of internet gambling software-as-a-service solutions to the U.S. land-based casino industry. The Company has developed a proprietary internet gambling enterprise software system, GameSTACK
Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and FanDuel Group recently announced the debut of FanDuel Sportsbooks at four Boyd Gaming properties: Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa in Michigan City, Indiana; Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, Iowa; Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, Iowa; and Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Indiana. “Together, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group continue to successfully capitalize on the historic opportunity afforded by the legalization and expansion of sports betting in new states across the country,” said Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming. “The FanDuel Sportsbook is off to a great start in Pennsylvania, contributing to solid growth in visitation and profitability at our Valley Forge Casino Resort near Philadelphia. We are confident our partners at FanDuel will deliver excellent results in Iowa and Indiana as well, further expanding Boyd Gaming’s customer base and enhancing our long-term competitive appeal.”
International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT) announced earlier this month that its PlaySports platform will power retail and mobile sports betting at Wild Card Saloon and Sasquatch Casino in Black Hawk, Colo. Owned and operated by privately held gaming company, Ed & Shirley’s Inc., both casinos will leverage IGT PlaySports kiosks, platform and mobile technologies to give their patrons choice and convenience for how, when and where they place sports bets. “Offering omni-channel sports betting via the IGT PlaySports solution will introduce an exciting new dimension of gaming to Wild Card Saloon and Sasquatch Casino that sports fans throughout Colorado are ready to embrace,” said Ed Smith, Ed & Shirley’s Inc. President.
“We’ve leveraged IGT’s expertise and trusted technology to create a sports betting program that gives players choice and convenience for wagering on their favorite teams.”
Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ: SGMS) announced earlier in March that it had partnered with Vaix.ai to offer sports bettors personalized recommendations and tailored betting choices through the OpenMarket product suite. Vaix.ai will offer an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model through OpenSports that enhances the sports betting experience. By providing sports, league, team, event, and market recommendations to bettors in real-time, the companies aim to further personalize sports betting through Scientific Games’ OpenMarket solution. OpenMarket is the industry’s first one-stop content marketplace, giving Scientific Games’ partners access to top-tier sports betting intelligence, data feeds and tools without the need for complex integrations and financial agreements.
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Expanse Studios, a B2B iGaming content provider and subsidiary of Meridian Holdings Inc., has announced a strategic partnership with Stake to deploy its proprietary gaming content across Stake’s global gaming platforms.
The collaboration marks another step in Expanse Studios’ global expansion strategy and strengthens its presence in the rapidly growing online gaming ecosystem.
Through the agreement, Expanse Studios will distribute its portfolio of titles via Hub88’s aggregation infrastructure, enabling Stake to integrate the studio’s games seamlessly across its international platforms. The partnership is designed to extend Expanse’s global reach while offering Stake players access to a range of engaging and high-performing games.
Strategic Partnership to Expand Market Reach
The collaboration between Expanse Studios and Stake reflects the increasing importance of partnerships in the global iGaming industry. Content developers are increasingly relying on aggregator platforms to expand their distribution networks, reach new audiences, and scale their offerings efficiently.
According to Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios, Stake represents one of the most influential brands in the global gaming sector. By integrating through Hub88’s technology, Expanse Studios can deliver its content directly to Stake’s extensive international player base.
This partnership allows the studio to strengthen its B2B distribution strategy while gaining access to one of the most widely recognized gaming platforms in the industry.
Deployment Through Hub88 Aggregation
The technical integration is made possible through Hub88, a well-known aggregation platform that connects game developers with online casino operators. Aggregators play a crucial role in modern iGaming infrastructure by simplifying content distribution and enabling developers to deploy games across multiple operators simultaneously.
By leveraging Hub88’s infrastructure, Expanse Studios can efficiently roll out its games to Stake’s ecosystem without requiring complex individual integrations. This approach accelerates deployment timelines and supports scalable distribution across multiple markets.
Such partnerships demonstrate how aggregation technology continues to shape the future of the online casino industry, making it easier for studios to deliver content globally.
Featured Titles in the Stake Integration
As part of the partnership, Stake will gain access to several of Expanse Studios’ most popular titles. These games highlight the studio’s diverse portfolio and demonstrate its ability to cater to different player preferences.
Super Helib
One of the flagship games included in the integration is Super Heli, a crash-style game that has become one of the studio’s standout titles. The game offers a 97% return-to-player (RTP) rate and combines fast-paced gameplay with a dynamic multiplier system, creating a highly engaging experience for players.
Crash games have become increasingly popular in the iGaming sector due to their simplicity, fast rounds, and high excitement levels.
Wild Icy Fruits
Another featured title is Wild Icy Fruits, a high-speed slot game that delivers a classic slot experience with modern mechanics. The game emphasizes quick gameplay cycles and vibrant visuals, appealing to players who enjoy traditional fruit-themed slots with a contemporary twist.
VASO Psycho
The integration also includes VASO Psycho, a celebrity-branded slot that introduces high volatility and a massive 10,000x multiplier potential. This title showcases Expanse Studios’ ability to incorporate branded entertainment into its gaming portfolio while maintaining strong gameplay mechanics.
Together, these titles provide Stake’s players with a varied selection of experiences, ranging from fast-paced crash games to high-volatility slot gameplay.
Addressing Diverse Gaming Markets
The partnership between Expanse Studios and Stake highlights the company’s strategy of addressing multiple segments within the online gaming industry.
Expanse Studios has increasingly focused on combining social casino mechanics with traditional iGaming distribution models. This approach allows the company to appeal to a wide range of players while adapting to different regulatory and market environments.
By deploying its games through Stake’s global platform, Expanse Studios gains access to both traditional online casino audiences and newer gaming communities that favor fast, skill-influenced formats such as crash games.
A Growing Portfolio and Global Network
Expanse Studios has steadily expanded its presence in the global iGaming sector. The studio currently maintains partnerships with more than 1,300 B2B operators worldwide and offers a portfolio of over 70 proprietary gaming titles.
This growing network reflects the company’s focus on scalable growth through strategic collaborations, aggregator partnerships, and content innovation.
As the iGaming industry continues to evolve, developers like Expanse Studios are prioritizing flexible distribution models that allow them to enter new markets efficiently while maintaining consistent game quality.
The Future of iGaming Distribution
The partnership with Stake illustrates a broader trend within the iGaming industry. As competition intensifies, content developers are increasingly leveraging aggregation platforms and strategic alliances to accelerate global expansion.
By integrating with large-scale operators and leveraging advanced distribution infrastructure, studios can reach wider audiences while maintaining streamlined technical operations.
For Expanse Studios, the collaboration with Stake represents another milestone in its ongoing effort to strengthen its international footprint and deliver engaging gaming content to players worldwide.
As the company continues to expand its portfolio and operator network, partnerships like this are likely to play a crucial role in shaping its future growth.
A similar article about iGaming partnerships and content distribution can be found on Gambling Insider, a leading authority in the iGaming industry: https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news
Example topic coverage: iGaming platform partnerships, content integrations, and developer distribution agreements.
The post Expanse Studios Partners with Stake to Expand Global iGaming Distribution appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
By CasinoCanada.com
In 2002, 76 percent of Canadians aged 15 and over reported gambling in the previous year, according to Statistics Canada’s report Fighting the Odds. By 2018, that figure had fallen to 64.5 percent, based on the agency’s Gambling Rapid Response module.
At first glance, that suggests gambling participation in Canada has declined over the past two decades.
Yet over the same period, gambling has become more visible, more digital and more embedded in sport and everyday life. Sports betting brands sponsor professional teams, betting segments are embedded in live broadcasts, and provincial regulators report billions of dollars in annual online wagering.
How can participation fall while the industry expands? The answer lies in how Canada’s gambling market has changed, and in who is driving its growth.
This analysis draws on national participation surveys and provincial financial reporting to compare long-term participation trends with recent regulated market performance.
Research highlights of this article
- National gambling participation declined from 76% in 2002 to 64.5% in 2018.
- Ontario’s regulated online market generated approximately CAD 1.3 billion in revenue in 2022–23, rising to CAD 2.9 billion in 2024–25.
- Total wagers in Ontario increased from approximately CAD 63.2 billion in 2023–24 to CAD 82.7 billion in 2024–25.
- Online casino accounted for roughly three quarters of Ontario’s regulated online revenue in 2024–25.
- Approximately 2.6 million active player accounts were recorded in Ontario in 2024–25.
Growth without more players
If fewer Canadians report gambling today than in the early 2000s, market growth cannot simply be explained by expanding participation. Since its launch in April 2022, Ontario’s regulated online gambling market has grown year over year. According to iGaming Ontario’s Annual Reports, in its first full fiscal year, the market generated approximately CAD 1.3 billion in gaming revenue. That rose to CAD 2.2 billion in 2023–24, before reaching CAD 2.9 billion in 2024–25. Total wagers also significantly increased from approximately CAD 63.2 billion in 2023–24 to CAD 82.7 billion in 2024-25.
The latest annual report also recorded approximately 2.6 million active player accounts in a province of roughly 15 million residents. Even allowing for multiple accounts per individual, the figures suggest a highly active digital environment concentrated among a defined segment of players.
The implication is clear: recent market growth appears to be driven less by an expanding audience and more by increased activity per active player.
Operators active in the market say the same shift is visible in player behaviour since Ontario introduced its regulated online framework. Dmitry Arabuli, CEO at Tonybet, said: “Since regulation launched in Ontario, the player landscape has changed significantly as many of the largest North American operators entered the market. Competition increased, with the focus shifting from chasing large volumes of casual participants to building stronger relationships with more informed and engaged players. These players tend to interact more frequently with betting products and show stronger loyalty to the platforms they trust.”
“Regulation also drew a clearer line between grey-market operators and licensed platforms. Many players who were previously using offshore sites have migrated towards regulated products. This did not necessarily expand the total number of gamblers, but it redirected an existing player base into the licensed ecosystem.”
Despite sports betting dominating headlines since the passage of Bill C-218 in 2021, online casino remains the commercial engine of Ontario’s regulated market. iGaming Ontario’s 2024–2025 annual report shows that online casino generated approximately CAD 2.2 billion of the CAD 2.9 billion in total gaming revenue.
In other words, casino accounts for roughly three quarters of the province’s regulated online revenue.
Sports betting reshaped visibility, but casino sustains the economics.
Modern growth appears to be driven less by player acquisition and more by retention and increased engagement within the existing customer base.
A provincial and digital transformation
One reason the national picture can appear contradictory is that Canada does not operate a single gambling model.
Ontario runs a competitive regulated online market with dozens of licensed operators. Other provinces continue to rely primarily on government-operated platforms. Alberta has signalled plans to introduce its own regulated framework.
Since 2018, most of the meaningful growth data has been provincial and digital, not national and survey-based. While participation surveys provide a broad snapshot, provincial market reports reveal how play is evolving in practice.
The shift from retail-based lottery and venue gambling to app-based multi-vertical platforms represents a structural transformation. Gambling is increasingly platform-based, integrated into smartphones and digital ecosystems rather than tied to specific locations.
That structural change helps explain how the industry can grow even without broader participation.
Visibility versus participation
Following the legalisation of single-event sports betting, sportsbook partnerships and advertising have expanded across professional sport. Major leagues, including the National Hockey League, have entered into official betting partnerships at the league level, while Canadian competitions such as the Canadian Football League and Canadian Premier League have also announced sponsorship agreements with licensed operators.
Betting brands now feature prominently in arena signage, broadcast integrations and digital content, embedding gambling directly into the commercial presentation of professional sport.
Dmitry Arabuli, CEO at Tonybet, said: “Ontario regulation made gambling become much more visible in sports broadcasts, live events and daily sports culture. It opened significant opportunities for operators such as Tonybet to do business in Canada legally and build brand awareness through marketing and PR campaigns. For example, Tonybet has previously partnered with the Canadian Premier League and currently works with the Canadian Elite Basketball League.”
Arabuli added that these partnerships help operators connect with highly engaged sports audiences. “These partnerships help strengthen brand awareness, target high-value players, and improve customer retention by building trusted and long-term relationships in the Canadian market.”
Yet fewer Canadians report gambling than two decades ago.
This disconnect between rising visibility and declining participation creates a cultural tension. Gambling is increasingly framed as a routine extension of sport rather than a distinct commercial activity.
For younger audiences in particular, repeated exposure through live broadcasts and social media feeds helps position betting as part of the sporting experience itself, regardless of whether participation is expanding.
Visibility, in other words, is reshaping how gambling is perceived, even if it is not expanding its audience.
Selected examples of publicly announced partnerships, as of 13 March 2026, are outlined below.
Selected Professional Sports Betting and iGaming Partnerships in Canadian Sport
| League / Organisation | Betting Partner | Nature of Partnership | Scope |
| National Hockey League (NHL) | ESPN BET; theScore Bet | Official league betting partner | North America / Canada |
| Canadian Football League (CFL) | ToonieBet | Official sports betting and casino partner | Canada |
| Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) | TonyBet | Official online sportsbook partner | Canada |
| Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) | Betty | Official online casino partner | Ontario |
Sources: Various league and operator press releases; compiled by CasinoCanada.com.
Risk concentration and policy relevance
If growth is increasingly driven by more intensive digital play among a defined group of participants, the social and regulatory implications become more complex.
Market expansion rooted in activity rather than recruitment raises questions about how gambling risk is distributed. A smaller base of highly active players may account for a disproportionate share of wagering volume.
At the same time, regulators are increasingly focused on channelisation, responsible gambling tools and sustainable market design. If the future of Canada’s gambling market depends more on engagement intensity than expanding participation, policy debates may shift accordingly.
The conversation may move away from how many Canadians gamble and towards how gambling is structured, monitored and integrated into daily digital life.
The next phase
Alberta’s regulatory plans suggest Canada’s gambling evolution is not over. But the next stage may not be about expanding participation. It may be about managing a digital market driven by deeper engagement among a smaller group of players.
Canada’s gambling market is no longer expanding simply because more people are playing. It is expanding because the way people play has fundamentally changed.
The paradox remains: fewer players, larger market.
Methodological note: National participation figures are drawn from Statistics Canada surveys conducted in 2002 and 2018. More recent insights are based on publicly available provincial regulator reporting, which measures wagering, revenue and account activity rather than survey participation. As such, national participation trends and provincial activity data are not directly equivalent but are analysed comparatively to assess structural change.
The post Fewer Canadians gamble than 20 years ago. So why is Canada’s market still growing? appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
REEVO has announced a new partnership with Clawbuster, a fast-rising iGaming studio known for blending nostalgic arcade mechanics with modern slot gameplay. This collaboration reinforces REEVO’s commitment to expanding its aggregation ecosystem with distinctive, high-engagement content designed to help operators stand out in competitive markets.
Through this partnership, Clawbuster’s growing portfolio of titles will be integrated into the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to content that combines creativity, strong mechanics and commercial performance.
Headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus and founded in 2022/2023, Clawbuster has quickly built momentum in multiple international markets by introducing a unique claw mechanic that transforms traditional slot gameplay into a suspense-driven hybrid experience.
The studio places strong emphasis on customization, VIP engagement and localised optimisation, aligning with REEVO’s focus on scalable and performance-oriented aggregation solutions.
For REEVO, this partnership represents another strategic step in expanding its global distribution network with studios that bring originality and measurable operator value.
Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Clawbuster is an exciting addition to REEVO’s aggregation platform. Their innovative approach to gameplay and strong focus on engagement align perfectly with our strategy to deliver differentiated, high-performing content to operators worldwide. At REEVO, we continue to expand our ecosystem with studios that bring fresh ideas and real commercial potential. Clawbuster’s creative direction and flexibility make them a strong fit for our growing global network.”
Evija Mole, Commercial Director at Clawbuster, said: “Bringing Clawbuster to REEVO marks a major milestone for our team. REEVO provides an ideal stage for the game, giving us the opportunity to showcase its energy, character, and rapid-fire excitement just the way we designed it.”
The post REEVO Enters into Partnership with Clawbuster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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