Canada

PlayIndiana.com: Sportsbooks reach $250 million plateau for first time

Published

5 years ago

December 11, 2020

Indiana sportsbooks continued their torrid pace in November — surpassing $250 million in wagers in a month for the first time — as local bettors continued to put money on the state’s NFL and college football teams, according to analysts from PlayIndiana.

“Indiana has largely managed to shrug off increased competition from its neighbors, which is a good sign for the future of the state’s industry,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “A lot has gone right in recent months to get Indiana to this new high point, but considering the challenges, it has been an impressive string of months.”

Buoyed by continued interest in the Indianapolis Colts, as well as particular interest in Notre Dame and Indiana football, sportsbooks accepted $251.4 million in bets in November, according to official reporting released Thursday. That marks the third consecutive month Indiana sportsbooks have set a state record for monthly handle, topping $230.9 million hit in October.

Wagering in November produced a record $25.3 million in adjusted gross revenue for the state’s operators, up 20% from the record $21.1 million set in October, and yielded $2.4 million in state taxes. Year over year, Indiana’s handle grew 70.7% from $147.3 million in November 2019 while gross revenue jumped 172.4% from $9.3 million.

Indiana reclaimed its position in October as the fifth-largest market in the U.S., ahead of Colorado, but behind New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. And November’s results should be enough to stay in that position.

“I think some of the worries that Indiana would slip as its neighbors legalized sports betting are calming,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “The market in the Hoosier State is proving to be quite dynamic.”

One way the Hoosier State has been able to improve is a boost in local football interest. Notre Dame and Indiana University are both among college football’s elite, and the Colts continue their drive toward the NFL playoffs. The result is a swell of football bets, hitting $113.5 million in November, a rise of 33.9% from $84.7 million in October and up 96.5% from $57.7 million in November 2019. With only a sliver of college basketball season to drive interest, basketball was a distant second with $17.7 million in November bets.

“There really isn’t any substitute in sports betting for a local team doing well, and Indiana is enjoying three at once,” Gouker said. “And with both college and NBA basketball returning, a sport that enjoys particular interest in Indiana compared with most other legal jurisdictions, December really sets up to be another jump forward.”

Online betting generated 85%, or $213.7 million, of November’s handle, increasing the share of all bets from 83.6% in October. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino continued its dominance of the digital market, increasing its bets to $95.2 million in November from $90.5 million in October. Those bets produced $7 million in gross receipts, down from $8.6 million in October.

DraftKings was followed by:

FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino ($64.2 million handle, up from $63.6 million; $7.7 million in gross receipts, up from $7.1 million.
BetMGM/Belterra ($25.3 million handle, up from $20.1 million; $2.2 million win, up from $1.8 million)
BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($10.3 million handle, up from $7.8 million; $660,365 win, up from $632,752)
PointsBet/Hollywood Lawrenceburg ($9.9 million handle, up from $7.1 million; $794,517 win, down from $862,865)
William Hill/Tropicana Evansville ($4 million handle, up from $149,897; $685,922 win, up from $65,406)
TheScore/Ameristar ($2.2 million handle, up from $1.5 million; $45,530 win, down from $123,494)
Unibet/Horseshoe Hammond ($1.8 million handle, even with October; -$7,008 win, down from $188,558)
Caesars/Horseshoe Hammond ($564,046 handle, up from $403,136; $67,095 win, up from $31,182)
BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($144,130 handle, down from $189,108; $11,005 win, up from -$10,016)

Retail sportsbooks took in $37.7 million in November wagers, down slightly from $37.9 million in October. The emergence of Illinois’ online sportsbooks has been felt most in Indiana’s retail market. Once dominated by sportsbooks nearest Chicago, retail sportsbooks were led in November by Hollywood Lawrenceburg, nearest Cincinnati. Hollywood Lawrenceburg’s $11.6 million handle in November was more than the combined handle of state No. 2 Ameristar Casino ($6.3 million) and No. 3 Horseshoe Hammond ($4.9 million).

“Chicago is still an important market for sportsbooks near the border, but the combination of Illinois’ sports-betting expansion and the pandemic has challenged the retail market,” Welman said. “As a whole, though, growth in online betting has more than made up for any slowdown in the retail market. And Indiana made last-minute protocol changes to keep casinos open while properties in surrounding states shut down, which has helped the industry.”

About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

23 Broadway

23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform

Published

7 hours ago

March 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

23-broadway-secures-$3m-seed-funding-to-launch-ai-powered-user-acquisition-financing-platform

23 Broadway has secured $3 million in Seed funding to accelerate the next phase of its growth and launch a fully integrated AI-powered user acquisition financing platform.

The funding round was co-led by Betty and Will Ventures, with participation from 359 Capital, CEAS Investments, and Dave Bartman.

23 Broadway was integral in catapulting Betty to an 18% market share in Ontario through its world-class performance marketing team and proprietary AI system called Atlas.

Atlas determines the optimal cost of acquiring a customer and their predicted long-term value.
With this new funding, 23 Broadway will add non-dilutive capital to fund user acquisition to run alongside its existing performance marketing and technology capabilities into a single integrated solution.

Jordan Tuch, CEO of 23 Broadway, said: “23 Broadway is reimagining user acquisition financing by not only providing capital but deploying it through proprietary technology and performance marketing expertise. We’ve created a model that empowers businesses to scale faster without needing to build complex technology or marketing infrastructure themselves. The ability to use AI and execute bids based on a customer’s predicted lifetime value means we can deploy capital far more efficiently. That combination of predictive intelligence and funding creates a powerful growth engine for our partners.”

The underlying thesis is that platforms combining in-house technology and performance marketing expertise can offer a truly differentiated and durable user acquisition financing solution.

Growth-stage businesses benefit from access to dedicated capital for customer acquisition without equity dilution, while also being able to implement advanced marketing execution across platforms such as Google Ads and other major advertising ecosystems.

Funding will be allocated to develop Atlas further and enhance 23 Broadway’s predictive modelling capabilities. Another focus will be building new AI-driven models to help gaming companies strengthen retention marketing strategies. A final part will be to onboard additional partners seeking scalable user acquisition financing solutions.

The post 23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

23 Broadway

23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform

Published

8 hours ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

23 Broadway has raised $3 million in Seed funding to drive the next phase of its growth and launch a fully integrated, AI-powered user acquisition financing platform.

The funding round was co-led by Betty and Will Ventures, with participation from 359 Capital, CEAS Investments, and Dave Bartman.

The company played a key role in helping Betty achieve an 18% market share in Ontario, leveraging its world-class performance marketing team and proprietary AI system, Atlas. Atlas predicts the optimal cost to acquire a customer and estimates their long-term value, allowing marketing spend to be deployed with precision.

With this new capital, 23 Broadway will integrate non-dilutive financing with its existing performance marketing and technology capabilities, offering a single, streamlined solution for user acquisition.

Jordan Tuch, CEO of 23 Broadway, said: “23 Broadway is reimagining user acquisition financing by not only providing capital but deploying it through proprietary technology and performance marketing expertise. We’ve created a model that empowers businesses to scale faster without needing to build complex technology or marketing infrastructure themselves. The ability to use AI and execute bids based on a customer’s predicted lifetime value means we can deploy capital far more efficiently. That combination of predictive intelligence and funding creates a powerful growth engine for our partners.”

The company’s strategy centers on combining in-house technology with performance marketing expertise to deliver a differentiated, durable user acquisition financing solution. Growth-stage businesses gain access to dedicated capital for customer acquisition without giving up equity, while also benefiting from advanced marketing execution across major advertising platforms like Google Ads.

The funding will support further development of Atlas and enhance 23 Broadway’s predictive modeling capabilities. Additional priorities include creating new AI-driven tools to strengthen retention marketing for gaming companies and onboarding more partners seeking scalable user acquisition financing solutions.

The post 23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AiGC

Soft2Bet Eyes Alberta iGaming Market Expansion in Canada

Published

2 days ago

March 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

soft2bet-eyes-alberta-igaming-market-expansion-in-canada

Soft2Bet, a global provider of turnkey iGaming solutions, has announced plans to pursue entry into the regulated gaming market in Alberta as part of its broader strategy to expand its footprint across Canada.

The company confirmed that its entry will depend on regulatory approval once the province finalizes its evolving legal framework for online gaming. The move reflects Soft2Bet’s growing commitment to the Canadian market and its strategy to scale operations across newly regulated territories in North America.

A Strategic Move Toward Alberta’s Emerging iGaming Market

As one of Canada’s most economically robust provinces, Alberta has quickly become a focal point for iGaming operators and technology providers preparing for potential market liberalization.

Industry forecasts indicate that Alberta’s regulated online gaming sector could become one of the country’s most lucrative regional markets. Estimates from analysts at Citizens JMP Securities suggest that the province’s iGaming industry could generate over $700 million in annual revenue once the market reaches maturity.

Soft2Bet’s early evaluation of the market demonstrates the company’s proactive approach to identifying high-growth opportunities in newly regulated jurisdictions.

Monitoring the iGaming Alberta Act

Soft2Bet is closely observing developments surrounding the proposed regulatory framework established under the iGaming Alberta Act. The legislation outlines the structure for Alberta’s regulated online gaming industry and establishes oversight responsibilities for provincial authorities.

Under the proposed system, the Alberta iGaming Corporation would oversee the province’s online gaming ecosystem, while regulatory enforcement would remain with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.

Soft2Bet has indicated that it is preparing to meet Alberta’s anticipated compliance and technical standards, ensuring its platform technology aligns with the province’s regulatory expectations.

Building on Canadian Experience

Soft2Bet’s potential expansion into Alberta builds upon its experience operating in Ontario, where the company already offers localized gaming services through its consumer-facing brand ToonieBet.

The Ontario market has become one of North America’s most successful regulated online gaming jurisdictions since its launch in 2022, attracting numerous international operators and platform providers.

By leveraging insights from its Ontario operations, Soft2Bet aims to deliver tailored gaming experiences for players in Alberta while maintaining full compliance with regional regulations.

Localization as a Key Strategy

Localization remains a central pillar of Soft2Bet’s international growth strategy. The company emphasizes adapting its platforms and gaming products to match the cultural preferences, language requirements, and regulatory expectations of each market in which it operates.

Soft2Bet plans to apply this hyper-localized approach in Alberta by ensuring that its gaming offerings reflect the specific needs and preferences of Canadian players.

This includes customized content, localized branding, and user experiences that resonate with regional audiences.

Commitment to Innovation and Player Experience

According to company leadership, innovation remains a driving force behind Soft2Bet’s expansion strategy.

David Yatom Hay, General Counsel at Soft2Bet, highlighted the company’s commitment to delivering engaging gaming experiences that align with local player expectations.

The company continues to invest in platform technology and product development to create dynamic gaming environments that combine entertainment, compliance, and user-friendly design.

Expanding Across Regulated Markets

Soft2Bet’s interest in Alberta is part of a broader roadmap for 2026, which includes entering additional regulated markets around the world.

As governments increasingly adopt regulated frameworks for online gaming, technology providers like Soft2Bet are focusing on scalable solutions that allow them to quickly adapt to different regulatory environments.

Turnkey platforms, which include player management systems, gaming content, and compliance tools, have become essential for operators looking to enter new markets efficiently.

Canada’s Growing iGaming Landscape

Canada has rapidly become one of the most promising regions for online gaming growth in North America. The success of Ontario’s regulated market has encouraged other provinces to explore similar frameworks.

If Alberta successfully launches a competitive iGaming market, it could further strengthen Canada’s position as a key hub for regulated online gaming innovation.

Operators, developers, and platform providers are closely monitoring the regulatory process, positioning themselves for entry once licensing becomes available.

Looking Ahead

For Soft2Bet, Alberta represents a strategic opportunity to expand its presence in Canada while reinforcing its reputation as a global iGaming platform provider.

By preparing early for regulatory approval and leveraging its experience in Ontario, the company aims to deliver localized gaming experiences that meet the expectations of Canadian players and regulators alike.

As Alberta moves closer to establishing its regulated online gaming framework, Soft2Bet’s planned market entry signals the growing interest from international technology providers seeking to participate in Canada’s evolving digital gaming ecosystem.

The post Soft2Bet Eyes Alberta iGaming Market Expansion in Canada appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.