Canada

ILLINOIS SPORTSBOOKS HIT $140 MILLION IN AUGUST DESPITE OBSTACLES Overcoming inconsistent remote registration and limited sportsbook options, Illinois now the fifth-largest legal market in the U.S., according to PlayIllinois

Published

6 years ago

October 7, 2020

Illinois online and retail sportsbooks attracted $140.1 million in bets in August, making the state the fifth-largest legal market in the U.S. The state’s rapid ascension comes even as in-person registration rules remain inconsistent and tenuous, and without the largest operator in the country for much of the month, according to PlayIllinois analysts.

“August’s results are a testament to just how lucrative a market Illinois truly can be,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “In-person registration was stunting growth, and that ended on Aug. 21. And FanDuel did not launch until the end of the month. Even with that, Illinois found itself ahead of Colorado, which has matured much more quickly, and on the heels of Indiana, the country’s fourth-largest market.”

The $140.1 million wagered in August was up 167% from $52.5 million in July, according to official reporting released Tuesday. That is more than Colorado’s $128.6 million in August, but less than neighboring Indiana’s $169 million.

August’s bets produced $7.2 million in adjusted gross revenue statewide, which yielded $1.2 million in taxes.

Without football, Illinois’ strong August performance came almost entirely on the power of the Major League Baseball, NBA, and NHL games. It was helped by remote registration — which allows bettors to sign up for an account without ever physically appearing at a state sportsbook — for the last 10 days of the month.

“The NFL will generate far more interest, and with mobile registration back for all of September, the pool of bettors will certainly grow significantly,” Gouker said. “August is really just a first taste of what Illinois can do as a market.”

BetRivers/Rivers Casino in Des Plaines — which had a significant head start on its competition — was by far the state’s largest revenue producer. BetRivers/Rivers Casino accepted a whopping $118 million in online and retail bets, yielding $6.3 million in adjusted gross revenue.

DraftKings — the nation’s No. 2 online sportsbook, operating under the Casino Queen license in Illinois — drew in $13.1 million in online bets. Rival FanDuel — the nation’s No. 1, which is partnering with Par-A-Dice Casino — attracted $4.2 million in bets after launching Aug. 28.

“BetRivers’ head start is a massive advantage that both FanDuel and DraftKings will have to try to overcome,” Gouker said. “But they are the two largest operators for numerous reasons, and it will be interesting to watch how long it will take for those two to eat into BetRivers’ market lead.”

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Illinois, visit PlayIllinois.com/news.

Canada

Gaming Corps goes live with OLG iCasino in Ontario

Published

17 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-corps-goes-live-with-olg-icasino-in-ontario

Gaming Corps has launched its casino game portfolio with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) in Ontario, bringing a selection of the Swedish studio’s titles to OLG’s digital casino audience.

The rollout includes football-themed games timed to the summer football calendar. Titles going live with OLG include Goals to Glory: Football Fever, Penalty Champion: Goals to Glory, and Goals to Glory: Instant Blitz, part of Gaming Corps’ Instant Blitz series.

OLG is a provincial crown agency that has operated in Ontario since 1975, with responsibilities spanning land-based gaming facilities, province-wide lottery games, internet gaming, bingo, and electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres.

Graham Greensmith, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Corps, said: “Launching with OLG gives Gaming Corps outstanding visibility in one of the most exciting regulated markets in North America. The timing could not be better. As global football moves into focus, we are bringing OLG a fantastic line-up that speaks directly to the moment, while also introducing some of our most recognisable titles, mechanics and characters.”

Ian Shelswell, Director, iCasino Product, Partnerships & Development at OLG, added: “OLG is always looking to bring high-quality content to our players, and Gaming Corps’ portfolio adds further variety to our iCasino offering at an exciting time in the sporting calendar. The combination of football-themed releases, instant win content, recognisable slot franchises and engaging game mechanics makes this a strong addition to our casino catalogue. We are pleased to welcome Gaming Corps to OLG and look forward to developing the partnership.”

The post Gaming Corps goes live with OLG iCasino in Ontario appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alex Cuoci

Wealthsimple and Kalshi Partner to Bring Prediction Markets to Canada

Published

4 days ago

June 22, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

wealthsimple-and-kalshi-partner-to-bring-prediction-markets-to-canada

Wealthsimple announced the release of Wealthsimple Predict, providing retail investors the ability to trade event contracts on Kalshi. The standalone application is scheduled to launch this summer. Through the app, users will have access to approximately 4000 Kalshi event-based contracts in categories Wealthsimple is authorized to offer in the Canadian market, specifically climate, financial markets, and economic indicators.

“Prediction markets are the fastest-growing segment of global financial markets, letting traders turn an opinion into a position on the factors that shape our world – where inflation is headed, what happens to rates, or how the year unfolds. Until now, Canadians have had limited access. Wealthsimple Predict gives Canadians a clean, well-designed way to access these markets, with education and guardrails built in from day one,” said Brett Huneycutt, co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Wealthsimple.

“Kalshi was founded on a simple belief: views on the future should have markets, and those markets should be available to everyone. That’s why we’re partnering with Wealthsimple, Canada’s leading financial innovator – to give everyday investors in Canada access to fair, secure, and regulated prediction markets,” said Alex Cuoci, Kalshi.

In March, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) authorized Wealthsimple to offer event and forecast contract trading, also known as prediction markets. These contracts are regulated as futures contracts (derivatives). The approval covers contracts with a 30-day settlement period or longer, within the categories of economic indicators, financial markets, and climate. Wealthsimple is the second investment dealer to receive regulatory approval from CIRO for prediction markets.

To access trading through Wealthsimple Predict, new clients must complete a standard Know Your Client (KYC) process. Education is built into every stage of the experience, including a guided orientation of a client’s first trade. The app also shows users key disclosures and definitions, including trading risk reminders, contract resolution information, notices that positions can be sold at any time, and liquidity risk warnings on lower-activity markets. Wealthsimple Predict will only be available to Canadian residents.

Kalshi is authorized to operate in the US as an event contracts exchange, with federal authority from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory authority for the U.S. derivatives market. Prediction markets follow the same regulatory framework applied to other financial assets traded in the US, such as equities, bonds, and traditional derivatives, with clear rules for price formation, settlement, and governance.

The post Wealthsimple and Kalshi Partner to Bring Prediction Markets to Canada appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Alberta

MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch

Published

1 week ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

mediatroopers-lines-up-eight-operator-partners-ahead-of-alberta-launch

MediaTroopers said it is preparing to launch in Alberta’s regulated gaming market on July 13, as Canada’s next regulated commercial gaming market opens.

The digital marketing and customer acquisition firm said it plans to enter Alberta alongside eight “premium operator” clients, which it said are also preparing for their own market entries. MediaTroopers did not name the operators.

The company said its Alberta offering will mirror its work in Ontario, including localized acquisition strategies, compliance-focused marketing, regional player education, and market-tailored performance campaigns.

MediaTroopers also said it has seen “strong interest” from Alberta players through pre-registration activity, without providing figures.

“Alberta represents an exciting next step for regulated iGaming in Canada, and Media Troopers is ready to support operators from day one,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of Media Troopers. “Our experience in Ontario has given us a strong understanding of what it takes to enter a new Canadian market successfully, from compliance and localization to scalable player acquisition. With eight of our premium clients already preparing for launch and early pre-registration traction underway, we see Alberta as a market with tremendous potential.”

The post MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.