Canada

BCLC Calling on Senate to Prioritize Consideration of Bill C-218

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2021

BCLC is hopeful the Senate will prioritize its consideration of Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, before the Chamber adjourns for the currently scheduled summer break.

The House of Commons passed Bill C-218 to legalize single-event sports betting on April 22 and the Bill remains with the Senate for approval before it can receive Royal Assent and become law.

Bill C-218 will enable BCLC to provide single-event sports betting – as well as betting on racing and fighting – almost immediately on PlayNow.com. As B.C.’s only regulated online gambling website, PlayNow.com delivers important revenue to the Province of B.C. to support healthcare, education, and community initiatives.

“Bill C-218 will provide BCLC with the ability to deliver safe, legal and regulated sports betting options to our players and – most importantly – in a way that prioritizes the health of our players,” said Lynda Cavanaugh, President and CEO. “Legalized single-event sports betting would support BCLC to shift play from unregulated websites to PlayNow.com, where numerous safeguards support healthy play and where revenue goes back to support B.C. communities.”

Currently, the only sports bets permitted in Canada are those requiring a ‘parlay’ – meaning players must wager on the outcome of at least two different events. As such, B.C. players are making single-event sports bets on unregulated gambling websites that don’t provide jobs nor revenue that benefits the Province of B.C.

In fact, BCLC estimates that it has lost as much as $250 million in revenue to unregulated websites over the last five years because current federal law prohibits BCLC from offering single-event bets.

As part of its work to deliver gambling entertainment in a socially responsible way, BCLC continues to prioritize the health of players. On PlayNow.com, this work includes identifying play behaviours associated with risk and problem-gambling levels, proactively intervening when players are actively experiencing harms, and exploring incentives for healthy-play behaviours.

In addition, PlayNow.com is the only online gambling website in North America and one of the few in the world with dedicated player-health specialists available via telephone and online chat to support players with healthy play habits or refer them to treatment and support services, if needed. PlayNow.com also has other player-health safeguards such as weekly deposit limits, playing time limits, session reminders, and short-term lockout.

AGCO

Amusnet Marks Strategic Entry into North America with Ontario Licence

Published

19 hours ago

April 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

amusnet-marks-strategic-entry-into-north-america-with-ontario-licence

Amusnet is entering the North American market after securing a Gaming-Related Supplier–Manufacturer Registration from the AGCO in Ontario, Canada, marking a strategic milestone in the group’s global expansion.

Licensing grants Amusnet access to Ontario’s regulated iGaming market, which is one of the most established and fast-growing jurisdictions in North America, known for its robust regulatory framework and strong long-term growth potential.

It will allow the supplier to offer online gaming content to licensed operators in the province, officially establishing its presence in the region. Amusnet will initially roll out its iGaming portfolio, with the option to expand into Land-based solutions at a later stage.

Ontario’s regulatory framework emphasises strict compliance, ensuring that all suppliers adhere to high standards in technology, security and player protection. This makes Ontario a key benchmark market for companies entering North America. The new registration further confirms that Amusnet has successfully met these rigorous requirements for integrity and regulatory compliance, enabling it to distribute its content across the province.

“Securing the AGCO licence is an important milestone for Amusnet and reflects our long-term commitment to operating in fully regulated markets. Our entry into Ontario represents a key strategic step into North America, which is a high-priority region with strong long-term growth potential. We look forward to partnering with local operators and building a sustainable presence in the market,” said Ivo Georgiev, CEO of Amusnet.

The post Amusnet Marks Strategic Entry into North America with Ontario Licence appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Canada

DraftKings Announces Intent to Launch Online Sportsbook and Casino in Alberta, Canada

Published

19 hours ago

April 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

draftkings-announces-intent-to-launch-online-sportsbook-and-casino-in-alberta,-canada

DraftKings announced its intent to launch its online sports betting and casino products in Alberta, Canada, pending licensure and regulatory approval. If granted approval, DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino intends to be available on the province’s anticipated universal launch date of July 13, 2026, as set by the AGLC.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to expand DraftKings’ footprint in Canada and bring our online sportsbook and casino experiences to customers in Alberta. With the anticipated launch aligning with the World Cup — hosted right here in North America — it’s a particularly exciting moment for sports fans in the province to engage with our platform,” said Greg Karamitis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports at DraftKings.

Alberta would represent the second province in Canada where DraftKings operates mobile sports betting and casino products, alongside Ontario. It would also mark the 34th jurisdiction in North America where DraftKings offers online sports betting, and seventh with online casino.

Eligible Alberta residents can pre-register for DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino ahead of the expected launch.

The post DraftKings Announces Intent to Launch Online Sportsbook and Casino in Alberta, Canada appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Caesars Digital

RubyPlay partners with Caesars Entertainment in Ontario to advance North American expansion

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

rubyplay-partners-with-caesars-entertainment-in-ontario-to-advance-north-american-expansion

RubyPlay, a studio-based content ecosystem, is further strengthening its presence in Ontario as part of its broader North American growth strategy with a new partnership with Caesars Entertainment.

The partnership will see a curated selection of RubyPlay’s fan-favourite titles, including JMania® Lucky Pyggs, Mad Hit® Mr Coin and Diamond Explosion® 7s SE, made available on Caesars Entertainment’s online casino platforms including Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino.

This partnership is also set to expand in the near future with the addition of content from Koala Games, one of RubyPlay’s most popular titles. The launch with Caesars represents a significant milestone for RubyPlay in Ontario, building on its momentum following its initial entry into the province early last year, where its portfolio of high-performance games has already gained traction with top-tier operators.

Partnering with Caesars Digital underscores RubyPlay’s growing influence and reputation within a key global territory, as well as the strength of its multi-studio platform, which is designed to bring tailored content to regulated markets worldwide. The partnership also forms part of a broader collaboration, with potential to expand into additional North American markets.

Dima Reiderman, CCO at RubyPlay, said: “By launching with one of the most trusted names in gaming, we’re not only expanding our footprint in Ontario but also demonstrating the value of our multi-studio model.”

“Launching with Caesars in Ontario allows us to further scale our content offering within a highly competitive regulated market. Our approach is to deliver high-performing titles that align with each operator’s needs, combining the flexibility required for local markets with the consistency needed to scale, while ensuring efficient rollout and strong market relevance.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, added: “We’re committed to partnering with brands that bring high-quality, differentiated content to our players.

“RubyPlay provides exactly that with its steady pipeline of tailored, high‑performance titles and we’re looking forward to introducing their games to our online casino customers in Ontario and enhancing our content offering in the province.”

The post RubyPlay partners with Caesars Entertainment in Ontario to advance North American expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.