Canada
Improving Accessibility Helps Grow the Sports Betting Market
The legal battle for online sports betting has been a subject of debate for many years. But, in 2008, the online betting enthusiasts received positive news. New Jersey won a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court that potentially opened the door to multiple states being able to legalize betting on college and professional sports. Justice Samuel Alito, a New Jersey native, wrote the court’s opinion in the case. “Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each state is free to act on its own,” Alito said according to an article by USA Today. “Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution.” Even though strict regulations by various governments are still an obstacle for the online market, according to a Zion Market Research 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. (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS), Century Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTY), Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL), International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT), Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD)
As the legal infrastructure becomes more friendly towards sports betting, specifically in the online space, many companies in the gambling industry are investing in offering more sports betting options. According to a report by the Associated Press, companies like DraftKings are making serious strides in developing easy to use systems available to the public through partnerships with sports leagues. For example, The National Basketball Association and DraftKings had announced a multiyear partnership that will make DraftKings an authorized sports betting operator of the league. And, according to a report by MarketWatch, many have invested money into a new exchange-traded fund that tracks the sports betting and online gambling industries. This represents a “remarkable vote of confidence for a fund that’s only a few days old,” said Dave Nadig, a longtime industry veteran now at ETF Database. “I am a fan of this fund. If you believe online sports betting is the next big thing, this fund will capture everything from back-office infrastructure to front-facing retail plays.”
FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS) announced yesterday the, “acquisition target Askott Entertainment Inc. (“Askott”) has completed its second video game themed casino game ‘Crash Heist’. After the successful launch of ‘Loothunter’, Askott is ready to offer its second game in what will be a series of video game and esports themed casino games for online sportsbooks and casinos to offer.
RNG/casino games represent a large piece of the online real money gaming industry. Many sportsbooks offer casino games and with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of having such games has been magnified. Askott is developing games that will appeal to a broader target market that includes a growing younger demographic along with traditional gamers.
‘We currently offer a betting solution for esports books and wanted to add RNG casino games to round out our partners’ betting offering to their customers,’ said Scott Burton, CEO of Askott Entertainment. ‘These additional offerings will result in more engagement from bettors and higher retention on our platforms. Without the need for live esports events, these games can be played 24/7 by our players allowing for more consistent betting and predictable revenue.’
‘As a leading developer of casino style games, we have now developed two games that can be leveraged on various platforms. Our partners will now be able to access our full suite of games, and other operators can license these games as stand alone products for their customers.’
The Askott suite of games will be a mix of pure chance games in addition to games that will combine some skill elements. ‘Loothunter’ was modeled on the popular loot case concept used in video games whereby you buy a key for a case and hope to get an item/reward greater than the price of the key. The game also allows you to earn key fragments for free to build out a key.
The Crash Heist concept has the users breaking into a bank vault for an entry fee of their choice. Once in the vault, their money rises steadily until they exit. If they get out of the vault before the police arrive, the money is theirs, if not they crash out.
‘We look forward to our stage of growth with Askott games where we will target casino aggregator partners that serve as an additional channel to leverage and distribute our games to a much broader audience,’ continued Scott Burton.
All of the games are built on our own certified and tested random number generator with provably fair elements built in and adhering to the gaming jurisdictions where our partners have licenses.”
Century Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTY) reported back in April that its Colorado subsidiaries received approval for three Sports Betting Master Licenses. The licenses were awarded during a special meeting of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission held on April 2nd, 2020. In addition, the Commission awarded Circa Sports Colorado LLC, the Company’s partner for one of its Master Licenses, with a temporary Internet Sports Betting Operator License. The Commission is moving forward with licensing and will meet the May 1st, 2020 legislative launch date deadline. Due to impact of the pandemic on the sports betting industry, the Company is uncertain of the timeline that the Circa | Sports TM mobile sports betting app will launch.
Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) announced earlier this month that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire LHE Enterprises Ltd, the holding company of online sportsbook and casino operator Argyll Entertainment AG and its operating subsidiaries. Closing of the acquisition is expected to occur on or before July 31st, 2020. “Reaching a definitive agreement to complete our first acquisition as a NASDAQ company is a major milestone,” commented Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “Argyll CEO Stuart Tilly and CFO Dan Marks already joined our senior leadership team in June as Corporate Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. They are a great addition to our organization and will help us build on Argyll’s base of more than 100,000 registered users, placing us in a great position to grow revenue moving forward.”
International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT) announced last 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.
Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and FanDuel Group announced last year 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. The openings follow the successful debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Boyd Gaming’s Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, in March, as well as the companies’ launch of mobile sports betting across the state of Pennsylvania in July. In the coming months, the two companies also plan to introduce mobile sports products under the FanDuel brand in both Iowa and Indiana, pending the receipt of required regulatory approvals. “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.
SOURCE FinancialBuzz.com
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Canada
What Canadian Slot Players Are Really Comparing in 2026: Payout Speed, Interac and RTP Transparency
Canadian online slot players are becoming more practical.
The old conversion model was simple: show a big welcome bonus, list a few popular games, and hope the player clicked through. That still has a place, but it no longer reflects how better-informed casino players compare sites in 2026.
The conversation has shifted.
Players are now asking sharper questions before they deposit. How fast can I cash out? Does the casino support Interac? Are the best games actually available in Canada? What happens after I win? Are the slot terms clear? Can I see RTP information without digging through a help centre?
For operators, affiliates and suppliers watching the Canadian market, this change matters. The slot player is not just bonus-led anymore. The player is becoming banking-led, payout-led and value-led.
Payout speed has become a decision factor
Withdrawal speed is one of the biggest practical differences between online casinos.
Many casinos still market themselves around welcome packages, but the post-win experience is where trust is won or lost. Players notice pending periods. They notice extra verification steps. They notice whether withdrawals are processed quickly or whether the process feels deliberately slow.
That is why comparison behaviour around fastest payout casinos in Canada has become more commercially important. A casino can have a large slot library and a generous bonus, but if the payout process is slow, many experienced players will look elsewhere.
This is especially true for slot players. Slots create quick sessions, frequent bonus rounds and unpredictable payout moments. A player who wins on a Friday night does not want to discover that the casino only starts reviewing cashouts on Monday.
Fast payout positioning is not just a payment feature. It is a trust signal.
Interac remains central to the Canadian player journey
Interac is still one of the most important payment expectations in Canada.
For many players, it feels familiar, local and practical. It connects online casino banking with everyday Canadian banking behaviour. That matters because casino payments are a high-friction moment. Players may be comfortable browsing games, comparing bonuses and reading reviews, but depositing money is where hesitation appears.
Clear information about Interac casino payments helps reduce that hesitation.
The most useful casino pages now explain more than whether Interac is accepted. They answer questions such as:
- Is Interac available for deposits only, or withdrawals too?
- Are there minimum and maximum limits?
- Does account verification affect payout speed?
- Are e-Transfer withdrawals supported?
- Are there fees? Is Interac treated differently by province or operator?
This level of detail is valuable because Canadian players are not just asking “Can I pay?” They are asking “Can I deposit, play, withdraw and trust the process?”
That is a much more commercial question.
RTP transparency is becoming part of player value
RTP has always existed as a technical concept, but it is becoming more visible in player decision-making.
A casual player may not calculate long-term return percentages before every spin. But more players now understand that slot choice matters. They know that some games are more volatile, some bonuses are harder to clear, and some titles publish better long-term return figures than others.
This is why content around high-RTP slots is becoming more useful when it is presented properly.
The weak version of RTP content is an educational glossary: “RTP means return to player.” That is not enough anymore.
The stronger version connects RTP to actual player behaviour:
- Which high-RTP games are worth knowing?
- Which casinos offer strong slot libraries?
- How does volatility affect the player experience?
- Does the bonus structure make a high-RTP game less valuable?
- Are high-RTP slots available on mobile?
- Can Canadian players access the games easily?
RTP transparency does not mean players expect to beat the casino. It means they want clearer information before choosing where and what to play.
Mobile play is raising expectations
Canadian slot players are heavily mobile-led.
That changes the comparison process. A player may research on desktop, but the actual deposit and session often happen on a phone. If the casino lobby is slow, payment forms are clunky, or game filters do not work well on mobile, the player experience suffers.
Mobile also puts more pressure on clarity. Players do not want to scroll through huge blocks of bonus terms. They want fast answers:
- Best casino for quick withdrawals
- Best Interac option
- Best slot lobby
- Best high-RTP games
- Best mobile experience
For affiliates and operators, this means page structure matters. Tables, verdict boxes, payment summaries and direct recommendations often outperform long, generic content.
The market is moving away from generic casino comparisons
The Canadian slots market is not short of casino lists.
The issue is that many lists look the same. Same bonus-first ranking. Same generic claims. Same vague “safe and secure” language. Same lack of useful payout or banking detail.
The better opportunity is to compare casinos around real player decisions.
For Canadian slot players, that often means:
- How fast can I withdraw?
- Can I use Interac?
- What games are actually worth playing?
- Is the casino reliable after I win?
- Does the site work properly on mobile?
- Are the terms clear enough to trust?
These questions are more practical than promotional. They also create stronger commercial intent.
A player searching for payout speed, Interac support or slot value is usually further along the decision journey than someone casually browsing a bonus list.
What this means for the industry
The Canadian slot player in 2026 is not necessarily less bonus-driven. But the bonus is no longer the whole story.
The market is becoming more mature, and mature players compare the full experience. They want payment confidence, game quality, mobile usability, transparent terms and fewer surprises after depositing.
For operators, this means the product experience has to support the marketing promise.
For affiliates, it means generic casino pages are losing their edge. The stronger play is to build content around the actual comparison points players care about.
Payout speed, Interac and RTP transparency are not side details anymore.
They are becoming part of the main decision.
The post What Canadian Slot Players Are Really Comparing in 2026: Payout Speed, Interac and RTP Transparency appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alberta
Octoplay secures conditional Alberta iGaming supplier approval from AGLC
Octoplay has secured conditional licence approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC), allowing the supplier to begin the process of offering its games catalogue to operators in Alberta.
The company said the approval positions it to launch in Canada’s newest regulated iGaming market when it opens in July. Octoplay is already live in Ontario with BetMGM and PokerStars, and has also entered the US through New Jersey and Michigan, according to the company.
“Alberta is one of the most strategic market openings on our 2026 roadmap. Entering it with the performance data we’ve built in Ontario, New Jersey, and Michigan gives us a strong foundation to be one of the first suppliers to partner with local tier-one operators as soon as the market opens,” says Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay.
“We’ve worked closely with the AGLC throughout the licensing process, and clearing the conditional stage reflects the strength of our compliance infrastructure,” says Martina Borg Stevens, Chief Legal Officer at Octoplay. “Our team has built a process that allows us to enter new regulated jurisdictions efficiently without compromising on the technical standards each regulator requires.”
Octoplay said Alberta adds to its regulated footprint, which it stated includes 17 operational markets: the United Kingdom, New Jersey, Michigan, Ontario, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Greece, Romania, Malta, Slovakia, Finland, Brazil, and Georgia.
The post Octoplay secures conditional Alberta iGaming supplier approval from AGLC appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
Tonybet pays first $15,000 CAD prize in World Cup Card Collection Canada promo
Bronze card has been claimed during the group stage; silver and gold prizes remain available until 31 July.
Tonybet said it has paid out its first major prize in its World Cup Card Collection campaign for Canadian customers (excluding Ontario), after a player secured the promotion’s bronze card worth $15,000 CAD.
The operator said the World Cup Card Collection includes 51 cards to collect during the tournament: 48 digital cards tied to participating World Cup nations, plus three unique cards—gold, silver and bronze—linked to a $150,000 CAD total prize fund.
According to Tonybet, the bronze card has been available through the World Cup’s group stage and has now been claimed. The silver card is available during the knockout rounds up to the quarter-finals, while the gold card is held back for the closing semi-finals and final.
Tonybet Head of Product Kiryl Liudvikevich said: “With Canada co-hosting the World Cup for the first time, the tournament has felt closer to home than ever before for Canadians, and it has already delivered a moment most supporters could only dream about with the national team advancing to the knockout stages.
“For one lucky Canada supporter, it has now produced another story that will be worth retelling long after the final whistle has gone – with our lucky winner among the first Tonybet customers to win one of the unique cards in our World Cup Card Collection, taking home a cool $15,000 for managing to get his hands on bronze. Who will end up with silver and gold?”
Tonybet said the same three unique cards are also in circulation across its other markets, with varying outcomes so far. The World Cup Card Collection campaign runs until 31 July, with a $150,000 CAD prize pool for Canada and separate prize pools in other markets.
The post Tonybet pays first $15,000 CAD prize in World Cup Card Collection Canada promo appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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