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PlayIllinois.com: $580 million January at Illinois sportsbooks marks the beginning of a year of growth

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Illinois became the fourth U.S. state to take in more than $500 million in sports bets in a single month — nearly reaching $600 million in January — reaching the milestone even as retail sportsbooks remained closed for much of the month. But as rapid as the ascension of Illinois’s sports betting market has been, the state will need new sportsbook operators to come online to help raise the market’s ceiling, according to PlayIllinois, which offers news and analysis of the state’s gaming industry.

“No state has come close to reaching $500 million in handle in such a short time frame after launching, and to reach that mark with just five online operators and retail casinos closed for much of January is even more impressive,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “Multiple factors had to come together to make that happen. The next step for the market is to get more operators online, which will help expand the pool of bettors.”

Illinois online operators attracted $581.6 million in bets in January, 98.9%, or $575.2 million, of which came online, according to official data released Wednesday. January’s handle was up 18.3% from $491.7 million in December, the fourth most among legal U.S. markets, behind only New Jersey ($958.7 million), Nevada ($646.5 million), and Pennsylvania ($615.3 million) during that month.

January’s bets pushed Illinois past $2 billion in lifetime handle, but more importantly, it generated a record $49.4 million in operator revenue, up 106.8% from $23.9 million in December. The win yielded $7.2 million in taxes for the state and another $479,052 in local taxes.

January is just the opening month in a year that could bring in more than $6 billion in wagers and $450 million in operator revenue, according to PlayIllinois projections. But that assumes continued maturity, including the addition of new operators.

To that end, Illinois will get a boost with the addition of Penn National’s Barstool-branded app, which is scheduled to launch on Friday and has made waves in Pennsylvania since launching there in September.

“Seeing an impactful operator such as Barstool launch is a reminder that Illinois still has so much more room to grow,” said Joe Boozell, analyst for PlayIllinois.com. “A few uncertainties could slow the market, including the potential return of in-person registration. But January’s results are more evidence that 2021 will almost certainly mark a sizable leap forward for the state’s sports betting market.”

January’s results were helped by football wagering, including on the Chicago Bears’ brief playoff appearance. Football brought in $158.3 million bets, or 27.2% of the state’s handle. But with the NBA enjoying its first full month in January, basketball drew in $229.7 million, 39.5% of the state’s total handle.

With the state’s ban on betting on in-state college teams, sportsbooks did miss out on the opportunity to capitalize on the college basketball success of Illinois and Loyola Chicago, both of which have been among the nation’s best teams for much of the year. But legislation is currently proposed that could remove the ban, which would allow bettors to place wagers on local teams.

“In every legal market local teams, particularly those that are playing well, are crucial in fueling bettor engagement with sportsbooks,” Welman said. “Illinois isn’t alone in barring betting on in-state college teams, but it does artificially suppress wagering.”

DraftKings/Casino Queen took in 42% of the state market share with its $244.2 million combined handle in January, which was up from $195.4 million in December. That included $243.5 million in online bets. FanDuel/Par-A-Dice Casino was No. 2 in January with $173.5 million, including $173.3 million online. Overall handle was up from $144.5 million overall. BetRivers/Rivers Casino was No. 3 with $109 million in online betting and $112.7 million overall, up from $111.2 million in December.

Many retail sportsbooks reopened on Jan. 15, when pandemic related closures were lifted. Still, sportsbooks managed to attract $6.3 million in in-person bets.

“Having retail sportsbooks reopen was an important step for the state industry, even if sportsbooks weren’t as busy as they would’ve been during an ordinary year,” Boozell said. “With the retail market back in business, and the roster of online sportsbook operators growing, the coming months should offer a more trustworthy gauge of where Illinois is as a market.”

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

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Canada

What Canadian Slot Players Are Really Comparing in 2026: Payout Speed, Interac and RTP Transparency

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Canadian online slot players are becoming more practical.

The old conversion model was simple: show a big welcome bonus, list a few popular games, and hope the player clicked through. That still has a place, but it no longer reflects how better-informed casino players compare sites in 2026.

The conversation has shifted.

Players are now asking sharper questions before they deposit. How fast can I cash out? Does the casino support Interac? Are the best games actually available in Canada? What happens after I win? Are the slot terms clear? Can I see RTP information without digging through a help centre?

For operators, affiliates and suppliers watching the Canadian market, this change matters. The slot player is not just bonus-led anymore. The player is becoming banking-led, payout-led and value-led.

Payout speed has become a decision factor

Withdrawal speed is one of the biggest practical differences between online casinos.

Many casinos still market themselves around welcome packages, but the post-win experience is where trust is won or lost. Players notice pending periods. They notice extra verification steps. They notice whether withdrawals are processed quickly or whether the process feels deliberately slow.

That is why comparison behaviour around fastest payout casinos in Canada has become more commercially important. A casino can have a large slot library and a generous bonus, but if the payout process is slow, many experienced players will look elsewhere.

This is especially true for slot players. Slots create quick sessions, frequent bonus rounds and unpredictable payout moments. A player who wins on a Friday night does not want to discover that the casino only starts reviewing cashouts on Monday.

Fast payout positioning is not just a payment feature. It is a trust signal.

Interac remains central to the Canadian player journey

Interac is still one of the most important payment expectations in Canada.

For many players, it feels familiar, local and practical. It connects online casino banking with everyday Canadian banking behaviour. That matters because casino payments are a high-friction moment. Players may be comfortable browsing games, comparing bonuses and reading reviews, but depositing money is where hesitation appears.

Clear information about Interac casino payments helps reduce that hesitation.

The most useful casino pages now explain more than whether Interac is accepted. They answer questions such as:

  • Is Interac available for deposits only, or withdrawals too?
  • Are there minimum and maximum limits?
  • Does account verification affect payout speed?
  • Are e-Transfer withdrawals supported?
  • Are there fees? Is Interac treated differently by province or operator?

This level of detail is valuable because Canadian players are not just asking “Can I pay?” They are asking “Can I deposit, play, withdraw and trust the process?”

That is a much more commercial question.

RTP transparency is becoming part of player value

RTP has always existed as a technical concept, but it is becoming more visible in player decision-making.

A casual player may not calculate long-term return percentages before every spin. But more players now understand that slot choice matters. They know that some games are more volatile, some bonuses are harder to clear, and some titles publish better long-term return figures than others.

This is why content around high-RTP slots is becoming more useful when it is presented properly.

The weak version of RTP content is an educational glossary: “RTP means return to player.” That is not enough anymore.

The stronger version connects RTP to actual player behaviour:

  • Which high-RTP games are worth knowing?
  • Which casinos offer strong slot libraries?
  • How does volatility affect the player experience?
  • Does the bonus structure make a high-RTP game less valuable?
  • Are high-RTP slots available on mobile?
  • Can Canadian players access the games easily?

RTP transparency does not mean players expect to beat the casino. It means they want clearer information before choosing where and what to play.

Mobile play is raising expectations

Canadian slot players are heavily mobile-led.

That changes the comparison process. A player may research on desktop, but the actual deposit and session often happen on a phone. If the casino lobby is slow, payment forms are clunky, or game filters do not work well on mobile, the player experience suffers.

Mobile also puts more pressure on clarity. Players do not want to scroll through huge blocks of bonus terms. They want fast answers:

  • Best casino for quick withdrawals
  • Best Interac option
  • Best slot lobby
  • Best high-RTP games
  • Best mobile experience

For affiliates and operators, this means page structure matters. Tables, verdict boxes, payment summaries and direct recommendations often outperform long, generic content.

The market is moving away from generic casino comparisons

The Canadian slots market is not short of casino lists.

The issue is that many lists look the same. Same bonus-first ranking. Same generic claims. Same vague “safe and secure” language. Same lack of useful payout or banking detail.

The better opportunity is to compare casinos around real player decisions.

For Canadian slot players, that often means:

  • How fast can I withdraw?
  • Can I use Interac?
  • What games are actually worth playing?
  • Is the casino reliable after I win?
  • Does the site work properly on mobile?
  • Are the terms clear enough to trust?

These questions are more practical than promotional. They also create stronger commercial intent.

A player searching for payout speed, Interac support or slot value is usually further along the decision journey than someone casually browsing a bonus list.

What this means for the industry

The Canadian slot player in 2026 is not necessarily less bonus-driven. But the bonus is no longer the whole story.

The market is becoming more mature, and mature players compare the full experience. They want payment confidence, game quality, mobile usability, transparent terms and fewer surprises after depositing.

For operators, this means the product experience has to support the marketing promise.

For affiliates, it means generic casino pages are losing their edge. The stronger play is to build content around the actual comparison points players care about.

Payout speed, Interac and RTP transparency are not side details anymore.

They are becoming part of the main decision.

The post What Canadian Slot Players Are Really Comparing in 2026: Payout Speed, Interac and RTP Transparency appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Alberta

Octoplay secures conditional Alberta iGaming supplier approval from AGLC

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Octoplay has secured conditional licence approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC), allowing the supplier to begin the process of offering its games catalogue to operators in Alberta.

The company said the approval positions it to launch in Canada’s newest regulated iGaming market when it opens in July. Octoplay is already live in Ontario with BetMGM and PokerStars, and has also entered the US through New Jersey and Michigan, according to the company.

“Alberta is one of the most strategic market openings on our 2026 roadmap. Entering it with the performance data we’ve built in Ontario, New Jersey, and Michigan gives us a strong foundation to be one of the first suppliers to partner with local tier-one operators as soon as the market opens,” says Ralitsa Georgieva, CEO at Octoplay.

“We’ve worked closely with the AGLC throughout the licensing process, and clearing the conditional stage reflects the strength of our compliance infrastructure,” says Martina Borg Stevens, Chief Legal Officer at Octoplay. “Our team has built a process that allows us to enter new regulated jurisdictions efficiently without compromising on the technical standards each regulator requires.”

Octoplay said Alberta adds to its regulated footprint, which it stated includes 17 operational markets: the United Kingdom, New Jersey, Michigan, Ontario, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Greece, Romania, Malta, Slovakia, Finland, Brazil, and Georgia.

The post Octoplay secures conditional Alberta iGaming supplier approval from AGLC appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Tonybet pays first $15,000 CAD prize in World Cup Card Collection Canada promo

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Bronze card has been claimed during the group stage; silver and gold prizes remain available until 31 July.

Tonybet said it has paid out its first major prize in its World Cup Card Collection campaign for Canadian customers (excluding Ontario), after a player secured the promotion’s bronze card worth $15,000 CAD.

The operator said the World Cup Card Collection includes 51 cards to collect during the tournament: 48 digital cards tied to participating World Cup nations, plus three unique cards—gold, silver and bronze—linked to a $150,000 CAD total prize fund.

According to Tonybet, the bronze card has been available through the World Cup’s group stage and has now been claimed. The silver card is available during the knockout rounds up to the quarter-finals, while the gold card is held back for the closing semi-finals and final.

Tonybet Head of Product Kiryl Liudvikevich said: “With Canada co-hosting the World Cup for the first time, the tournament has felt closer to home than ever before for Canadians, and it has already delivered a moment most supporters could only dream about with the national team advancing to the knockout stages.

“For one lucky Canada supporter, it has now produced another story that will be worth retelling long after the final whistle has gone – with our lucky winner among the first Tonybet customers to win one of the unique cards in our World Cup Card Collection, taking home a cool $15,000 for managing to get his hands on bronze. Who will end up with silver and gold?”

Tonybet said the same three unique cards are also in circulation across its other markets, with varying outcomes so far. The World Cup Card Collection campaign runs until 31 July, with a $150,000 CAD prize pool for Canada and separate prize pools in other markets.

The post Tonybet pays first $15,000 CAD prize in World Cup Card Collection Canada promo appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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