Canada

Virtual Live Racing: Massive growth in virtual racing boosts revenue for tracks and racinos

Published

5 years ago

January 14, 2021

The market for the latest virtual racing products is booming as horse and greyhound racetracks – and racinos – look to extend their digital brand to reach new audiences and develop new revenue streams.

That’s the view of Virtual Software which, under its Virtual Live Racing (VLR) brand, has pioneered unique tote-betting enabled, ultra-realistic products based on real life race data and is now a major player driving this trend. Until VLR’s products were launched in 2020 no tote platform had a virtual live racing product on which to accept wagers in a market worth a $100billion per year. That’s why VLR is a real game-changer in the industry.

They already have five major US tracks using their products – the latest being Parx (based just 20 minutes north of Philadelphia) which is Pennsylvania’s number 1 casino and racetrack and the biggest so far to go live with VLR. Parx Casino offers state of the art gaming, thoroughbred racing, and exciting entertainment events. The 260,000 square foot Parx Casino and the 280,000 square foot Parx East (home to Parx Racing). Since Pennsylvania launched sports betting in November 2018, Parx has grown rapidly and now handles around $30million per month with around 67% of that total being online (for example, the November 2020 total handle was $28.59million, with $19.3million online).

Joe Wilson, COO, Parx Racing, commented: “Parx Racing is happy to be participating with Virtual Software Limited [the business behind the Virtual Live Racing brand] in this new and groundbreaking wagering product. VSL’s impeccable attention to detail in creating Parx Virtual, coupled with our race data, guarantee the customer a truly unique and exciting entertainment experience.”

VLR Chairman Vincent Caldwell commented: “Partnering with Parx is a major milestone for us, and the iGaming and racing industries. We’re offering tracks all over the world a no cost, risk free, revenue stream which would be a fantastic opportunity at any time, but especially right now when there is so much disruption to real racing.”

VLR has grown fast since it was launched in May 2020 but, adds Caldwell, they have even bigger ambitions for 2021: “Our next goal is to put 12 products up which would enable us to run 87,600 races a year. The goal after that is to get the wagering on each race to $3,500 per race. If we succeed in that, over $306million will be handled in wagers on our products in a full year.”

In addition to Parx, VLR products are also live at Hawthorne in Chicago, plus Florida tracks Derby Lane, Tampa Bay Downs and Palm Beach Kennel Club. VLR has also partnered with the world famous Ascot Racecourse in England – when that product is launched it will signal the company’s entry into the UK market.

Canada

St8 expands Octoplay aggregation deal to Ontario and the UK

Published

11 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

st8-expands-octoplay-aggregation-deal-to-ontario-and-the-uk

St8 has extended its content partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK, expanding distribution of Octoplay’s casino games in two regulated markets. The companies announced the move on 2 July, 2026.

Under the expanded agreement, St8 will make Octoplay’s full portfolio available to operators in both jurisdictions through St8’s single API integration.

David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said:

“Expanding our partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK is another important milestone as we continue to strengthen our aggregation platform with premium content from leading suppliers.

“Octoplay has built an excellent reputation for developing engaging, high-performing games, and we’re delighted to extend this collaboration into two highly strategic regulated markets. This agreement enables our operator partners to access even more quality content through a single integration while supporting their growth in competitive jurisdictions.”

Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay added:

“We’re pleased to expand our partnership with St8 into Ontario and the UK, making our full portfolio available to even more operators through its aggregation platform. St8 has established itself as a trusted technology partner for regulated markets, and we look forward to building on our successful collaboration together.”

The post St8 expands Octoplay aggregation deal to Ontario and the UK appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

St8 extends Octoplay partnership into Ontario and the UK

Published

11 hours ago

July 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

st8-extends-octoplay-partnership-into-ontario-and-the-uk

Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider St8 has expanded its partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK, further strengthening its premium content offering across two of the industry’s most important regulated markets.

Through the extended agreement, St8 will make Octoplay’s full portfolio of casino games available to operators in both jurisdictions, providing partners with seamless access to the supplier’s high-quality content through its single API integration.

The expansion builds on the successful relationship between the two companies and reflects St8’s continued commitment to providing operators with access to leading game providers across regulated markets. By broadening the availability of Octoplay’s portfolio, St8 further enhances the depth and diversity of content available to its operator network.

Octoplay has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s most innovative and fastest growing game studios, recognised for delivering engaging titles that combine premium gameplay with strong player appeal which are now available across 17 jurisdictions. The supplier’s focus on quality and performance aligns closely with St8’s mission to simplify content aggregation while helping operators deliver exceptional gaming experiences.

The 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.

David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said: “Expanding our partnership with Octoplay into Ontario and the UK is another important milestone as we continue to strengthen our aggregation platform with premium content from leading suppliers.

Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay added: “We’re pleased to expand our partnership with St8 into Ontario and the UK, making our full portfolio available to even more operators through its aggregation platform. St8 has established itself as a trusted technology partner for regulated markets, and we look forward to building on our successful collaboration together.”

The post St8 extends Octoplay partnership into Ontario and the UK appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

AGCO

AGCO Fines Great Canadian Entertainment $120,000 for Using Unauthorised Gaming System Software at Four Casinos

Published

14 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

agco-fines-great-canadian-entertainment-$120,000-for-using-unauthorised-gaming-system-software-at-four-casinos

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has ordered monetary penalties totalling $120,000 against Great Canadian Entertainment (GCE) for using unauthorided gaming system software at multiple Ontario casino sites, a serious compliance failure that bypassed requirements designed to protect the integrity of casino gaming.

Gaming equipment and systems are central to casino operations. They process payments and wagers, support slot-game play and help maintain controls that protect the integrity, safety and security of the gaming environment. When these systems are used or operated without required testing, monitoring and approval, it weakens safeguards designed to detect and prevent unlawful conduct, including money laundering, and can undermine public confidence in Ontario’s regulated casino sector.

The AGCO reviewed 40 instances in which revoked or unapproved bill validator software had been installed across four casino sites between February 20 and March 15, 2025. Bill validators are components within gaming machines that accept and process cash and help support anti-money laundering controls.

The AGCO’s Standards for Gaming require gaming equipment and software to be tested and approved before being deployed in casinos. Bill validators verify the authenticity and value of cash inserted into electronic gaming machines and are an important safeguard. That is why these systems must undergo rigorous testing and approval to confirm they operate as intended, perform critical functions reliably and are authorised before being introduced into a live casino environment.

Casino operators are responsible for ensuring that changes to gaming systems are properly reviewed, tested and authorised before implementation. Using unapproved software in a live casino environment is a serious compliance failure.

A casino operator served with an Order of Monetary Penalty has the right to appeal the Registrar’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative body that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“The AGCO requires casino operators to protect the integrity of their gaming systems by making sure they are independently tested, approved and operating as intended. When unauthorised software is used in a live casino environment, it bypasses critical safeguards that are meant to uphold the integrity of gaming and the public’s confidence in the system. The AGCO will continue to hold all casino operators accountable for meeting Ontario’s high standards of gaming system integrity,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer at AGCO.

The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Entertainment $120,000 for Using Unauthorised Gaming System Software at Four Casinos appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.