Canada
BCLC Calling on Senate to Prioritize Consideration of Bill C-218
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.
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affiliate marketing
CasinoCanada partners with Slota Casino for content and traffic growth
CasinoCanada.com has entered into a partnership with Slota Casino focused on increasing visibility and directing traffic from non-regulated Canadian markets.
Under the agreement, CasinoCanada will prepare and publish informational materials detailing Slota Casino’s features and game portfolio. The partnership also includes ongoing content development, visibility initiatives and user acquisition activity across CasinoCanada’s media channels.
CasinoCanada is an online casino guide focused on the Canadian market and is operated by SEOBROTHERS.
Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR at SEOBROTHERS, said: “We focus on delivering accurate information about the Slota Casino platform while maintaining consistent content updates and supporting steady traffic growth across our channels.”
Slota Casino launched in 2024 under GBL Solutions N.V. and operates under a Curacao licence, according to the companies. The platform is operated by the Slota Partners affiliate program and lists more than 12,000 online casino games from 130 providers, including Play’n GO, Endorphina and Games Global.
A representative of Slota Casino said: “We’re genuinely excited about teaming up with CasinoCanada. This is a major step forward for us. The Canadian market has enormous potential, and partnering with a portal as respected as CasinoCanada gives our brand the visibility and credibility it deserves in this region.”
The post CasinoCanada partners with Slota Casino for content and traffic growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AGCO
AGCO Takes Enforcement Action Against Two Companies for Allowing Their Games on Unregulated Gaming Websites
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has served Relax Gaming Limited and Arrise Solutions Limited with Orders of Monetary Penalties of $40,000 each. The penalties follow an AGCO investigation that found games created by these companies were available on unregulated gambling websites accessible to Ontario players. Operators of gaming websites that are accessible within Ontario must be registered with the AGCO.
Ontario’s regulated iGaming market is built on clear, enforceable standards that require operators to include strong consumer protections, such as game integrity and responsible gaming safeguards. Unregulated gaming sites do not guarantee player protections or information security and increase the potential risk of harm to players and criminal activity, such as money-laundering and match-fixing. That is why the AGCO actively works to combat unlawful gaming in Ontario.
Relax Gaming and Arrise Solutions are both registered by the AGCO to create and supply slot and casino-style games for play on Ontario’s regulated gaming sites. The AGCO prohibits companies operating in the regulated iGaming market from offering their products to unregulated gaming websites available to Ontario players. Supplying games to such sites helps to sustain unregulated gaming operations.
The AGCO aims to disrupt unregulated gaming and its supply chains to safeguard Ontarians and maintain gaming integrity in the province. The agency monitors the market for regulated entities supplying the unregulated sector.
Following notification from AGCO investigators, both companies cooperated fully with the investigation and took prompt action to restrict access to their games by Ontario players on unregulated sites.
“Ontario’s regulated iGaming market is built on clear rules designed to protect players and hold companies accountable. Unregulated gaming sites operate outside that framework, meaning players have no assurance of fair games, timely withdrawals, or access to meaningful dispute resolution. When regulated games appear on unregulated sites, it risks enabling a market that exposes players to real harm,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO.
The post AGCO Takes Enforcement Action Against Two Companies for Allowing Their Games on Unregulated Gaming Websites appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Acquisitions/Merger
Petroglyph Development Group Completes Acquisition of Great Canadian Casino Vancouver
Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), a wholly owned corporation of Snuneymuxw First Nation, and Great Canadian Entertainment (Great Canadian) confirmed the successful closing of PDG’s acquisition of Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam, B.C. This transaction follows PDG’s recent acquisition of Chances Maple Ridge, marking another significant milestone in the Nation’s expanding portfolio of gaming and hospitality assets in British Columbia.
Snuneymuxw respectfully acknowledges the Kwikwetlem First Nation, on whose territory Great Canadian Casino Vancouver operates. The Nation looks forward to establishing a meaningful and lasting relationship with the Kwikwetlem people as PDG assumes stewardship of the property.
“The completion of this acquisition reflects the sustained effort and vision of Snuneymuxw people across generations. We are building an economy that is ours, one that funds our priorities, honours our responsibilities to neighbouring communities and creates opportunity for our people long into the future,” said Chief Michael Wyse, Xum’silum, Snuneymuxw First Nation.
Great Canadian Casino Vancouver is one of Metro Vancouver’s most established entertainment destinations, offering gaming, dining and live entertainment, including The Show Theatre.
“Building the Snuneymuxw economic portfolio is grounded in a vision of sustainable, self-determined growth and in the belief that meaningful economic development is built on strong Nation-to-Nation relationships. Operating on Kwikwetlem territory is a responsibility we take seriously, and we look forward to building a partnership that reflects that,” said Erralyn Joseph, President of PDG.
First announced on December 19, 2025, this is the fourth transaction completed between the two companies. With the addition of Great Canadian Casino Vancouver, PDG’s gaming portfolio now includes Casino Nanaimo, Elements Casino Victoria, and Chances Maple Ridge, establishing its position as the largest Indigenous-owned gaming operator by revenue in Canada.
“This transaction is another milestone in our ongoing collaboration with Petroglyph Development Group and the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and we’re grateful for another successful closing. With this representing our fourth completed transaction with PDG, it speaks to the trust and confidence we have built together. I’d like to thank everyone from our respective teams for their hard work, and I look forward to seeing the properties thrive under PDG’s leadership,” said Matt Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Canadian.
For PDG, the closing marks the latest step in a period of sustained and strategic growth.
“We are building a diversified, sustainable portfolio, while continuing to deliver real benefits for the communities where we operate. Great Canadian Casino Vancouver has long been an important part of the Coquitlam community, and that will not change,” said Ian Simpson, Yaatqumtun, Chief Executive Officer of PDG.
McMillan LLP acted as legal counsel to Great Canadian. McCarthy Tétrault LLP served as legal counsel, and KPMG Corporate Finance Inc. acted as financial advisor to PDG. The transaction has received all required regulatory approvals and all closing conditions have been satisfied.
The post Petroglyph Development Group Completes Acquisition of Great Canadian Casino Vancouver appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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