Canada
Rivalry Launches Esports and Sports Betting in Ontario
Rivalry Corp., an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, announced that its online esports and traditional sports betting service is now live in Ontario. On the first day of regulated online gaming in the province, Ontario residents can access Rivalry’s full sportsbook at www.rivalry.com.
In a field of new entrants dominated by foreign-based operators, Rivalry is one of the only Canadian companies launching internet gaming services in Ontario. Founded in Toronto in 2016, Rivalry’s headquarters and origin are at the heart of the province, and the Company applauds the regulatory efforts that have led to it being able to now legally operate there. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange and is growing rapidly, with month-over-month betting handle1 growth averaging more than 20% since the start of 2021.
In addition to being a local success story, Rivalry stands out from the pack in several other ways. Rivalry’s largest segment is esports betting, which is especially popular with the younger Millennial and Gen Z demographic. As a proud Toronto start-up, the Company built its brand among younger audiences through compelling content and quality product experiences that inspire loyalty and community. This approach has made Rivalry the most engaged brand in esports betting globally.2 High engagement results in lower customer acquisition cost which helps drive profitable unit economics in comparison to peers who often offer high up-front incentives to attract new users.3
Rivalry’s unique approach will be evident in the way it builds awareness in Ontario. The Company is launching a marketing campaign starting today, built around the theme: “Bet on Canada. Bet on Rivalry.” Local residents will be exposed to the Rivalry brand through a holistic campaign featuring uniquely captivating visuals that play out in a brand video delivered through social media channels, a full wrap (inside and out) enveloping one of Toronto’s most iconic symbols, a TTC streetcar, along with more grassroots wild postings that will be featured prominently in the city’s downtown core.
“We do things differently at Rivalry. We are aiming to be the sportsbook for the next generation through engaging content and innovative experiences that entertain and create loyal fans of Rivalry who come back for more,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “To launch in our home market feels like a dream come true, and a very significant milestone in our creation of a leading global brand.”
Ontario is Canada’s largest province with a population of approximately 14.9 million people. It is the first province to allow regulated internet gaming by private operators since the Canadian government enacted legislation in August 2021 giving provincial and territorial governments discretion to conduct and manage single-event sports betting in their respective jurisdictions. According to the Government of Ontario, the size of the online gaming market in the province is estimated to be $1 billion annually.4
Ontario becomes Rivalry’s second fully regulated market following the approval of its Australian license earlier this year. The Company continues to pursue licenses in additional regulated markets around the world, and will explore opportunities for further expansion within Canada as other provinces develop their respective regulatory frameworks.
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Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.
Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.
The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.
“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”
Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”
The post Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.
Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.
The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.
The post iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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