Canada
Safe, festive ways to celebrate the holidays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino and Oscar’s steakhouse

As the end of 2020 approaches, many families and businesses are looking for ways to celebrate in a safe yet festive manner. Home to the largest ballroom in downtown Las Vegas and the award-winning Oscar’s steakhouse, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is offering holiday luncheon and dinner options for small groups in line with its #MaskOnMeetOn Initiative that outlines enhanced health and safety protocols for meetings and events as directed by federal, state and local health agencies.
“The holiday season is upon us, and people deserve the opportunity to celebrate in a safe, relaxed manner,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “The Plaza and Oscar’s can provide a beautiful space and a delicious menu, prepared and served by our expert culinary staff, while observing all mandated health and safety protocols, to allow small groups of friends and family the chance to celebrate the holidays and toast the end of 2020.”
To ensure social distancing, this holiday season Oscar’s steakhouse can accommodate a total of 165 guests spread out over the main dining room under the glass dome (79), the lounge (32) and private dining room (54). Oscar’s offers various group dining menus and packages, including a selection of hors d’oeuvres and 3- or 4-course plated dinners.
The Plaza’s 30,000 sq. ft. of convention space can accommodate groups less than 250 people (per current state standards) and be transformed into smaller spaces with floor-to-ceiling sound buffering air walls to separate groups. In addition to three standalone meeting rooms, the 19,000 sq. ft. Sierra Ballroom can be divided into 10 rooms.
Inside the convention space, the Plaza’s professional event planning and catering team can develop customized menus, including a plated holiday luncheon starting at $25 per person and a plated dinner starting at $30 per person. Catered dinners will include a complimentary holiday toast to send off 2020. A winter wonderland photo opportunity background can also be set up upon request for selfies during the event.
The Plaza’s #MaskOnMeetOn Initiative outlines numerous protocols for event planning and execution to help ensure the health and safety of attendees, including mandatory face coverings and social distancing. The Plaza also offers customized technology solutions, such as live web streaming and engaging social media interaction for all attendees, onsite and remotely.
Other #MaskOnMeetOn protocols include the continual sanitization of frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, tables and chairs; no shared culinary services such as buffets or water stations; numerous hand sanitizer stations; and a mandatory wellness check point with a temperature screening for all guests. Air quality automation system in all meeting and conference spaces has also been adjusted to provide 100 percent fresh air 24 hours a day to achieve 14-16 air exchanges per hour.
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Betty
Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has agreed a deal with Ontario-based operator Betty to supply the rapidly growing online casino with a diverse collection of globally popular titles.
Betty, an official partner of sporting franchises Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, has risen to prominence since its 2022 establishment, when it was built following the consultation of 300 casino players to create the optimal iGaming environment.
Distinguishing itself from North American competitors by catering specifically to slot enthusiasts rather than sports bettors, the operator has curated a portfolio of 2,800 games, hand-picked to deliver customers maximum entertainment value.
Thunderkick’s content is the latest to be integrated into Betty’s online casino, and the agreement will see a selection of its most popular titles, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3, made available to a greater number of Ontarian players.
Thunderkick marked its debut in the Canadian province in Q2 of 2024, and has since partnered with a network of leading operators to improve its market position. The collaboration with Betty will further amplify its visibility in a key jurisdiction as the provider looks to reinforce its reputation as a global slot developer.
Svante Sahlström, CCO at Thunderkick, said: “It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible.
“Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players.”
Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty, added: “Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.
“Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience.”
The post Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BCLC
Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026

BCLC is pleased to announce the return of the New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference, taking place November 2–4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
This global event brings leading voices in research, policy and industry together to explore innovative approaches to safer gambling. Attendees can expect two days of forward-thinking dialogue, evidence-based insights and collaborative solutions to help shape the future of player health.
Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available
New to the 2026 conference, BCLC is excited to offer sponsorship opportunities to organizations that share BCLC’s passion for safer gambling. Benefits of sponsoring New Horizons 2026 include industry visibility, leadership recognition and meaningful engagement with a global audience. To learn more about sponsorship, please e-mail [email protected].
Registration and program details will be released later this fall.
The post Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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