Canada

Ryu Games Takes on Skillz

Published

6 years ago

September 25, 2020

A bid against the billion-dollar cash tournament giant

Ryu Games, a San Francisco-based startup in the current 500 Startups batch, is launching a mobile gaming cash tournament SDK to compete with industry leader Skillz. Over 15 games across many genres from world class developers are launching with Ryu’s SDK.

The SDK, which monetizes hyper casual mobile games with cash tournaments instead of in-game ads, offers users an elevated mobile gaming experience and the ability to win real money from playing in asynchronous tournaments.

Indie studios like Spaceloom have revolutionized their business model by integrating cash tournament SDKs. CEO Axel Svensson reports that “monetizing with cash tournaments has significantly improved the way our games generate revenue. We no longer need hundreds of thousands of users to generate ad-revenue. The cash tournament model saves us development time and makes it easier for an indie studio to succeed in a market dominated by the big guys.”

Ryu’s SDK differentiates itself from Skillz’ platform by offering robust social functionality including in-game chat, detailed match history, and an easy invitation feature. The platform also includes leaderboard events where users can compete for cash prizes against many users at once, as well as a cross-promotion network allowing users to hop to other games in the Ryu catalogue.

“Games have always been inherently social,” says Ryu CEO Ross Krasner. “Especially in the esports competitive category, giving our players new ways to chat and interact is at the core of what we do differently.”

Skillz, the current industry leader in mobile cash tournament gaming, was recently valued at $3.5 billion and boasts a large catalogue with hit games like Blackout Blitz and Solitaire Cube.

“The growth of this space has been incredibly exciting to watch, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this fast-growing sector,” says Krasner. “It’s rewarding to partner and grow with a cohort of game developers from around the globe.”

Ryu’s first hit was Cash Blocks VS, which has garnered praise for smooth mechanics and well-paced gameplay. Ryu also found success in Color Hit VS, a game released with partner Spaceloom. Ryu seeks to scale several more titles by the end of 2020.

Alberta

St8 extends TonyBet partnership to Alberta after securing supplier registration

Published

3 hours ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

st8-extends-tonybet-partnership-to-alberta-after-securing-supplier-registration

St8 has extended its partnership with TonyBet into Alberta, expanding their Canada footprint following an earlier launch in Ontario this year.

Under the expanded agreement, TonyBet will use St8’s game aggregation platform through a single API integration. St8 said this provides access to its wider catalogue of casino content for players in Alberta.

St8 said the Alberta rollout follows its newly acquired registration to operate in the province as an iGaming Services Supplier, allowing it to provide aggregation services to licensed operators in the market. The company said its platform connects partners to more than 200 game providers via a single API.

David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said:

“Entering Alberta’s regulated market is a strong step for St8 that represents our continued efforts to bring our offerings to as many territories as possible, delivering top-tier results for partnerships at the local, national and international stage. We share this commitment with TonyBet, a company that we are very fortunate to be working with so collaboratively and closely as we continue to grow our presence across North America.”

Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at TonyBet, said:

“We’re proud that our work with St8 has enabled us to continue expanding across Canada. Through St8’s aggregation platform, we can seamlessly access games from the industry’s leading providers via a single integration, helping us scale efficiently while maintaining a strong focus on the player experience. St8 has cemented itself as our go-to partner for expansion into regulated markets, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration as we grow into new jurisdictions.”

The post St8 extends TonyBet partnership to Alberta after securing supplier registration appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alberta

St8 continues partnership with TonyBet with an expansion into Alberta

Published

3 hours ago

July 22, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

st8-continues-partnership-with-tonybet-with-an-expansion-into-alberta

Casino game aggregation platform and full-service technology provider St8 has extended its ongoing partnership with TonyBet into Alberta, furthering both companies’ expansion into Canada.

As part of the extended agreement, Tonybet will benefit from St8’s next-generation platform via a single API integration, unlocking seamless access to a wide portfolio of games from the industry’s leading providers and enhancing its casino offering for players in Alberta.

The move is the latest in St8’s successful relationship with TonyBet, having previously launched in Ontario earlier this year in a bid to continually grow in regulated markets worldwide.

This expansion was made possible thanks to St8’s newly acquired registration to operate in Alberta as an iGaming Services Supplier, enabling St8 to provide its next-generation game aggregation services to licensed operators in the region, giving partners access to more than 200 premium game providers through a single API integration.

Featuring over 3,000 games from more than 60 providers, TonyBet, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength in its 17-year history, establishing itself as one of the industry’s leading game studios by delivering engaging titles that combine player appeal with premium gameplay.

Holding licenses in 10 different jurisdictions including Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, Ireland and Estonia, among others, Tonybet’s partnership with St8 has seen them now launch in two separate territories in Canada, with both companies working collaboratively to explore the opportunities available in exciting new markets. This latest agreement reinforces St8’s strategy of expanding its premium content portfolio while helping operators simplify integration, accelerate market entry, and deliver engaging gaming experiences across multiple regulated jurisdictions.

Speaking on the expansion, David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said: “Entering Alberta’s regulated market is a strong step for St8 that represents our continued efforts to bring our offerings to as many territories as possible, delivering top-tier results for partnerships at the local, national and international stage. We share this commitment with TonyBet, a company that we are very fortunate to be working with so collaboratively and closely as we continue to grow our presence across North America.”

Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at TonyBet, had this to say: “We’re proud that our work with St8 has enabled us to continue expanding across Canada. Through St8’s aggregation platform, we can seamlessly access games from the industry’s leading providers via a single integration, helping us scale efficiently while maintaining a strong focus on the player experience. St8 has cemented itself as our go-to partner for expansion into regulated markets, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration as we grow into new jurisdictions.”

The post St8 continues partnership with TonyBet with an expansion into Alberta appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Canada

IGT Signs Agreement to Deploy 720 Sierra27 Video Lottery Terminals Across Saskatchewan

Published

5 hours ago

July 22, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

igt-signs-agreement-to-deploy-720-sierra27-video-lottery-terminals-across-saskatchewan

IGT announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions Limited (IGT), signed an agreement with Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) to supply 720 additional Sierra27 video lottery terminals (VLTs) in 2026. The agreement strengthens IGT’s position as a leading VLT supplier in Canada and marks the second consecutive year that IGT has been selected through WCLC’s competitive VLT procurement process.

“WCLC selected IGT through a competitive procurement process, and these additional Sierra27 VLTs will support our venue network with hardware and content designed for the Canadian market. IGT has been a longstanding supplier to WCLC, and we look forward to continuing our work together,” said Eric Karmark, WCLC Vice President, VLT Gaming & Operations.

“As the leading VLT supplier in Canada, IGT is uniquely positioned to help WCLC enhance venue performance and player experiences with proven products and solutions backed by decades of market experience. This significant agreement with WCLC for 720 additional IGT Sierra27 VLTs reinforces the strength of our outstanding collaboration in providing games that excite and engage players,” said Chad Helm, IGT VP of Sales, Canada and Oregon.

IGT’s versatile Sierra27 VLT delivers comfort and serviceability and features two high-definition 27-inch screens, a 13.3-inch dynamic player panel with dual bash buttons, and a wireless inductive charger. The Sierra27 VLT is backed by a large library of high-performing content and games designed specifically for players in Canada, including Big City 5’s Diamond, Tiki Tiki Tiki Mayhem, Cash Climb Garden of Hesperides, and more.

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