Canada
Zynga to Celebrate Pride Month With LGBTQIA2S+ Inclusive In-Game Events, Social Spotlights and More
Throughout Pride Month in June, Zynga Inc., a global leader in interactive entertainment, will kick off a celebratory lineup of in-game features, employee spotlights and social integrations across several titles to promote LGBTQIA2S+ inclusivity, diversity and belonging. LGBTQIA2S+ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two Spirit and countless ways in which people self identify.
To support LGBTQIA2S+ causes, zPride, a Zynga employee resource group, is donating a total of $50,000 to several non-profits. Gifts of $20,000 each will support Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center, and the LGBT Foundation, a U.K.-based charity that delivers services, advice and support for the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, zPride is joining Gay Gaming Professionals as a corporate sponsor with a $10,000 donation for its scholarship program that helps marginalized and LGBTQ2SA+ students interested in gaming careers.
“I am honored to support zPride’s thoughtful approach to raising awareness through sponsorships that are intersectional, global and upstream,” said Vijay Pendakur, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of Zynga and the Executive Sponsor for zPride. “At Zynga, we are committed to equity and inclusivity while supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community throughout gaming and beyond.”
As part of the commemoration, Zynga welcomes all players to join in on the inclusive fun with the following in-game events and social features:
FarmVille 3
Month of June
During Pride Month, FarmVille 3 will spotlight four lovable characters who identify as LGBTQIA2S+: Bobbi Stitch, Ginny Glaze, Chad Wood and Carlos Cardova. As FarmVille 3’s iconic stylist, Bobbi says the best accessories in life are inclusivity, togetherness and acceptance. An award-winning grill master, Ginny is firing up Pride Month with her message that love is love regardless of our differences. Chad, the farm’s resident lumberjack, invites everyone to join him in chopping down biases and planting seeds of love. Carlos is a brilliant and creative ice-cream maker who hopes we can melt our differences and create the perfect scoop of diversity and equality.
Game of Thrones Slots Casino
June 4 – 6 // June 25 – 26
To celebrate Pride Month, Game of Thrones
High Heels! // Pride 2022
Month of June
Throughout the month of June, Rollic invites High Heels! players to #PlayWithPride as they strut down the festive runway with brand new characters, new themed accessories and an exclusive Pride heel design! The special in-game event also includes limited-time gift boxes to collect, a new friendly pet to adopt and an exclusive new bonus level full of Pride.
Hit It Rich! Casino Slots // Elvira’s Pride Parade
June 8 – 13
A special guest is coming to Hit It Rich! Casino Slots – Elvira! For a limited time in honor of Pride Month, players can join Elvira’s Pride Parade in-game, spinning their way through different challenges and earning rewards along the way. Those players who complete the SlotVenture challenge will earn a huge jackpot at the end!
Wizard of Oz Slots
Month of June
Pride month is hitting the Emerald City! To celebrate, Wizard of Oz Slots is treating players to special bonus #PlayWithPride challenges and rewards, including a raffle for a RARE Rainbow Pack at the end of June.
WWF 2 // Rainbow Challenge
June 6 – 12 // June 15 – 19
In celebration of Pride Month, Words With Friends 2 invites players to complete special in-game events and earn unique rewards to show their pride. From June 6 to 12, players can engage with a special Solo Challenge where they can advance along the Pride Parade Route against community members to earn unique badges. From June 15 to 19, players can match wits with the couple Gia & Fia to earn a specially themed profile frame. In addition, Words of the Day throughout Pride Month will highlight diverse words.
Zynga Poker
Month of June
Zynga Poker is inviting players to show their pride with a special celebration in-game for the month of June. Kicking off on June 1, players can send high value, pride-themed table gifts to their poker buddies, ranging from Pride cocktails to chips and flags. Players can also express themselves while at the virtual tables with a special Pride emote that will be available for a limited time.
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Canada
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
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.
“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 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
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.
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