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INTRALOT announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results
INTRALOT SA (RIC: INLr.AT, Bloomberg: INLOT GA), an international gaming solutions and operations leader, announces its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31st, 2022, prepared in accordance with IFRS.
OVERVIEW
Group Revenue at €97.7m in 1Q22 (+0.1% y-o-y).
EBITDA in 1Q22 at €26.1m (+4.9% y-o-y).
NIATMI (Net Income After Tax and Minority Interest) from continuing operations at €-5.7m, vs.
€-6.9m a year ago.
Greek entities OPEX better by 12.5% y-o-y.
Operating Cash Flow at €17.3m in 1Q22.
Group Net CAPEX in 1Q22 was €4.3m.
Group Cash at the end of 1Q22 at €98.0m.
Net Debt at €500.6m at the end of 1Q22.
Net Debt/ LTM EBITDA at 4.5x in 1Q22.
On April 26, 2022, INTRALOT announced that it will convene a shareholders’ meeting to approve a Share Capital Increase of the Company via a rights issue, up to an amount not exceeding the 150% of the paid-up share capital. The proceeds will be used to purchase the shares in Intralot Inc. currently not controlled by the parent Group. To this end a binding Sale Purchase Agreement has been signed with the minority shareholders controlling 33.2m shares of Intralot Inc. for a price of €3.65 per share, conditional upon successful completion of the Share Capital Increase. INTRALOT announced that it has signed a binding MOU with Standard General Master Fund II L.P., according to which Standard General will purchase all unallocated shares in the Share Capital Increase, up to a number not exceeding one third of the total voting shares of Intralot SA for up to €0.58 per share.
On May 23, 2022, an extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting provided authorization to the Board of Directors of Intralot SA to determine the terms of the Share Capital Increase and undertake all necessary actions.
Note:
Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up precisely to the totals.
Group Headline Figures
| (in € million) | 1Q22 | 1Q21 | % | LTM | ||
| Change | ||||||
| Revenue (Turnover) | 97.7 | 97.6 | 0.1% | 414.1 | ||
| GGR | 79.8 | 78.9 | 1.2% | 336.2 | ||
| OPEX1 | (21.8) | (22.1) | -1.2% | (101.4) | ||
| EBITDA2 | 26.1 | 24.9 | 4.9% | 111.7 | ||
| EBITDA Margin | 26.7% | 25.5% | + 1.2pps | 27.0% | ||
| (% on Revenue) | ||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 32.7% | 31.6% | + 1.1pps | 33.2% | ||
| (% on GGR) | ||||||
| Capital Structure Optimization | (0.3) | (5.0) | -93.9% | (12.4) | ||
| expenses | ||||||
| D&A | (17.1) | (15.9) | 7.3% | (72.2) | ||
| EBT | (2.3) | (2.8) | 17.5% | 37.6 | ||
| EBT Margin (%) | -2.4% | -2.9% | + 0.5pps | 9.1% | ||
| NIATMI from continuing operations | (5.7) | (6.9) | 17.9% | 27.8 | ||
| Total Assets | 580.5 | 612.1 | – | – | ||
| Gross Debt | 598.6 | 734.3 | – | – | ||
| Net Debt | 500.6 | 643.7 | – | – | ||
| Operating Cash Flow from total | 17.3 | 24.5 | -29.6% | 100.4 | ||
| operations | ||||||
| Net CAPEX | (4.3) | (2.9) | 47.3% | (24.3) | ||
INTRALOT Chairman & CEO Sokratis P. Kokkalis noted:
“First quarter results show a consolidation of gains and recovery from the COVID impact and reflect an improved financial profile, with normalized revenues and a reduction in operational expenses and debt servicing costs consistent with the Company’s business plan. On the background of this strongly improved P/L and Balance Sheet, the Company has designed and is about to launch a Share Capital Increase by means of Rights Issue and has secured the commitment of Standard General Master Fund
- P. as cornerstone investor for the unsubscribed rights in a move that will significantly strengthen our prospects to grasp the tremendous opportunities in the US and the global markets.”
- OPEX line presented excludes the capital structure optimization expenses.
- The Group defines “EBITDA” as “Operating Profit/(Loss) before tax” adjusted for the figures “Profit/(loss) from equity method consolidations”, “Profit/(loss) to net monetary position”, “Exchange Differences”, “Interest and related income”, “Interest and similar expenses”, “Income/(expenses) from participations and investments”, “Write-off and impairment loss of assets”, “Gain/(loss) from assets disposal”, “Reorganization costs” and “Assets’ depreciation and amortization”.
OVERVIEW OF RESULTS
REVENUE
Reported consolidated revenue posted a steady performance compared to 1Q21, leading to total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31st, 2022, of €97.7m (+0.1%).
- Lottery Games was the largest contributor to our top line, comprising 61.9% of our revenue, followed by Sports Betting which contributed 18.8% to Group turnover for the three-month period. Technology contracts accounted for 7.7% and VLTs monitoring represented 11.2% of Group turnover, while Racing constituted the 0.5% of total revenue.
- Reported consolidated revenue for the three-month period is higher only by €0.1m year over year. The main factors behind the steady top line performance per Business Activity are:
- €+1.8m (+6.1%) from our Licensed
Operations (B2C) activity line with the variance driven by:
- Higher revenue in Argentina (€+2.5m or +32.0% y-o-y), driven by local market growth. In local currency, current year results posted a +50.4% y-o-y increase, and
- Lower revenue in Malta (€-0.6m or -2.9% y-o-y), driven by market performance.
- €+0.7m (+1.3%) from our Technology and Support Services (B2B/ B2G) activity line, with the variance driven by:
- Higher revenue in Australia (€+1.1m or +30.6% y-o-y), due to lockdown restrictions in 1Q21,
- Higher revenue in Croatia (€+0.9m), following the go-live of the lottery solution developed for Hrvatska Lutrija (national lottery of Croatia),
- Higher revenue from other jurisdictions (€+0.5m) mainly due to services related sales, and
- Lower revenue in US operations (€-1.9m or -5.1% y-o-y), was primarily affected by the nonrecurrence of the jackpot that boosted 1Q21 sales by c. €4.0m. Revenue from services ended lower by -3.4% y-o-y, while revenue from merchandise sales generated a deficit of -55.4% y-o-y due to their less frequent nature. From a currency perspective, there was a positive impact of 6.9% (Euro depreciation versus a year ago — in average terms).
- €-2.4m (-18.3%) from our
Management (B2B/ B2G) contracts activity line with the variance driven by:
- Slightly higher revenue in Morocco (€+0.1m),
- Marginally higher revenue from our US Sports Betting contracts in Montana and Washington, D.C. (€+0.1m), and
- Lower revenue from our Turkish operations (€-2.6m), solely affected by the appreciation of EUR (+75.8% versus a year ago – in average terms). In local currency, current year results posted a +20.4% y-o-y increase. In 1Q22, the local Sports Betting market expanded close to 1.3 times y-o-y, with the online segment representing close to 89% of the market at the end of 1Q22.
- Constant currency basis: In 1Q22, revenue — net of the negative FX impact of €3.8m —reached €101.4m (+4.0% y-o-y).
GROSS GAMING REVENUE & Payout
- Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) from continuing operations concluded at €79.8m in 1Q22, posting an increase of 1.2% (or €+0.9m) year over year, attributable to:
- the decrease in the non-payout related GGR (-1.7% y-o-y or €-1.2m vs. 1Q21), driven mainly by the lower top line contribution of our US operations (jackpot affected), followed by
- the increase in the payout related GGR (+20.2% y-o-y or €+2.1m vs. 1Q21), driven mainly by the lower average payout ratio both in Malta and Argentina (+4.3% y-o-y on wagers from licensed operations3). 1Q22 Average Payout Ratio4 decreased by 5.4pps vs. 1Q21 (58.9% vs. 64.4%), significantly affected by the higher weighted contribution from our operations in Malta.
- Constant currency basis: In 1Q22, GGR — net of the negative FX impact of €3.1m — reached €82.9m (+5.1% y-o-y).
- Licensed Operations Revenue also include a small portion of non-Payout related revenue, i.e., value-added services, which totaled €1.3m and €0.8m for 1Q22 and 1Q21respectively.
- Payout ratio calculation excludes the IFRS 15 impact for payments to customers.
OPERATING EXPENSES5 & EBITDA6
- Total Operating Expenses ended lower by €0.3m (or -1.2%) in 1Q22 (€21.8m vs. €22.1m). After excluding the higher D&A expenses (€0.7m) in USA, Morocco and Croatia, Operating Expenses ended lower by €0.9m supported by cost containments in HQ perimeter.
- Other Operating Income from continuing operations ended at €5.7m presenting an increase of 3.2% y-o-y (or €+0.2m). The bulk of income is driven by the equipment leases in the USA.
- EBITDA from continuing operations amounted to €26.1m in 1Q22, posting an increase of 4.9% (or €+1.2m) compared to 1Q21. Despite the absence of jackpot that boosted significantly 1Q21 performance (US operations), the Group has managed to improve its EBITDA via the combined effect of the lower payout from our licensed operations and the lower Operating Expenses.
- On a yearly basis, EBITDA margin on sales improved to 26.7%, compared to 25.5% in 1Q21 (+1.2pps).
- LTM EBITDA stands at €7m.
- Constant currency basis: In 1Q22, EBITDA, net of the negative FX impact of €1.4m, reached €27.5m (+10.5% y-o-y).
EBT / NIATMI
EBT in 1Q22 totaled €-2.3m, compared to €-2.8m in 1Q21, with the variance driven by:
- the lower reorganization expenses following the succesful conclusion of our capital structure optimization process (€+4.7m vs 1Q21),
- the lower interest expenses, direct effect of debt restructuring (€+1.9m vs 1Q21)
- the positive impact from EBITDA (€+1.2m vs 1Q21)
The major headwinds affecting the improved perfornance can be attributed to:
- the negative impact from FX results (€-4.2m vs 1Q21), as a result of the valuation of cash balances in foreign currency other than the functional currency of each entity, the valuation of commercial and borrowing liabilities of various subsidiaries abroad in EUR, as well as the negative effect from the reclassification of FX reserves to Income Statement applying IFRS 10,
- the recognition of expenses vs income from participations and investments (€-1.5m vs 1Q21),
- the higher D&A (€-1.2m vs 1Q21), mainly due to Turkey (Bilyoner) and Morocco
- the accounting loss identified due to IAS 29 in our Argentinian operations (€-1.1m vs 1Q21).
Constant currency basis: In 1Q22 EBΤ, adjusted for the FX impact, reached €-0.4m, from €-6.5m in 1Q21.
- NIATMI from continuing operations in 1Q22 concluded at €-5.7m compared to €-6.9m in 1Q21. NIATMI from total operations in 1Q22 amounted to €-5.7m (improved by €2.6m vs. a year ago), including the performance of the discontinued operations in Peru and Brazil.
- Constant currency basis: NIATMI (total operations) in 1Q22, on a constant currency basis, reached €-5.3m from €-12.1m in 1Q21.
- Operating Expenses analysis excludes expenditures related to capital structure optimization.
- EBITDA analysis excludes Depreciation & Amortization, and expenditures related to capital structure optimization.
CASH-FLOW
- Operating Cash-flow in 1Q22 amounted to €17.3m, lower by €7.3m, compared to 1Q21. Excluding the operating cash-flow contribution of our discontinued operations in Brazil, the cash-flow from operating activities is lower by €7.0m vs. a year ago and is attributed to Income Tax payments vs returns 1Q21.
- Adjusted Free Cash Flow7 in 1Q22 decreased by €2.9m to €1.7m, compared to €4.6m a year ago. The main negative contributors to this variance were the income tax paid vs return in 1Q21 (€-7.4m y-o-y) and the higher maintenance capex (€-1.8m). On positive ground, dividends paid during the period were lower (€+3.1m y-o-y), net finance charges following the capital restructuring generated savings (€+2.0m y-o-y) and EBITDA performance has been improved (€+1.2m y-o-y).
- Net CAPEX in 1Q22 was €4.3m, higher by €1.4m compared to 1Q21. CAPEX in 1Q22 has been allocated towards R&D and project pipeline delivery (€0.3m), US (€3.0m) and the rest of operations (€1.0m). Maintenance CAPEX accounted for €2.2m, or 52.0% of the overall capital expenditure in 1Q22, from €0.8m or 28.2% in 1Q21.
- Net Debt, as of March 31st, 2022, stood at €500.6m, increased by €3.4m compared to December 31st, 2021 (€497.2m). The Net Debt increase was impacted primarily by the normal course of business following an adverse working capital movement, the exchange rate differences
(€+4.7m) for our USD denominated debt, and investments in growth capex (€+1.4m) for our US operations. The increase was partially offset by the lower interest accrued over 1Q22 vs December 2021.
- Calculated as EBITDA – Maintenance CAPEX – Cash Taxes – Net Cash Finance Charges (excluding refinancing charges) – Net Dividends Paid; all finance metrics exclude the impact of discontinued operations.
OUTLOOK
Although the risks associated with the pandemic of COVID-19 have been downgraded, the geopolitical tension arising from the war in Ukraine coupled with the energy crisis, the supply chain disruptions and the rising inflation are factors that are expected to determine the economic outlook over the coming months.
Our Group does not have direct exposure in terms of operations or dependency on suppliers in Ukraine and Russia. However, the risk of indirect effects on the Group’s business activities from the reduction in the household disposable income and the possible increase in operating expenses due to inflationary pressures cannot be overlooked.
The Management of the Company monitors the geopolitical and economic developments on a constant basis and is ready to take all the necessary measures for protecting its operations.
RECENT/ SIGNIFICANT COMPANY DEVELOPMENTS
- On April 26, 2022, INTRALOT announced that it will convene a shareholders’ meeting to approve a Share Capital Increase of the Company via a rights issue, up to an amount not exceeding the 150% of the paid-up share capital. The proceeds will be used to purchase the shares in Intralot Inc. currently not controlled by the parent Group. To this end a binding Sale Purchase Agreement has been signed with the minority shareholders controlling 33,227,256 ordinary shares of Intralot Inc. for a price of €3.65 per share, conditional upon successful completion of the Share Capital Increase. INTRALOT announced that it has signed a binding MOU with Standard General Master Fund II L.P., according to which Standard General will purchase all unallocated shares in the Share Capital Increase, up to a number not exceeding one third of the total voting shares of Intralot SA for up to €0.58 per share.
- On May 23, 2022, an extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting provided authorization to the Board of Directors of Intralot SA to determine the terms of the Share Capital Increase and undertake all necessary actions.
APPENDIX
Performance per Business Segment8
YTD Performance
Performance per Geography
Revenue Breakdown
| (in € million) | 1Q22 | 1Q21 | % | ||
| Change | |||||
| Europe | 35.8 | 34.4 | 4.0% | ||
| Americas | 52.3 | 50.5 | 3.4% | ||
| Other | 15.3 | 16.8 | -8.9% | ||
| Eliminations | (5.7) | (4.2) | – | ||
| Total Consolidated Sales | 97.7 | 97.6 | 0.1% |
Gross Profit Breakdown
| (in € million) | 1Q22 | 1Q21 | % | ||
| Change | |||||
| Europe | 3.5 | (1.7) | – | ||
| Americas | 11.4 | 13.8 | -17.5% | ||
| Other | 13.0 | 14.2 | -8.4% | ||
| Eliminations | (2.7) | (0.7) | – | ||
| Total Consolidated Gross Profit | 25.2 | 25.6 | -1.6% |
- Part of the US revenue that concerns SB management, has been included under the category “Game Management”. The rest of the US revenue is included under the “Technology” business segment.
| Gross Margin Breakdown | ||||||
| % | ||||||
| 1Q22 | 1Q21 | |||||
| Change | ||||||
| Europe | 9.8% | -5.1% | + 14.8pps | |||
| Americas | 21.8% | 27.4% | – 5.5pps | |||
| Other | 84.8% | 84.4% | + 0.4pps | |||
| Total Consolidated Gross Margin | 25.8% | 26.2% | – 0.4pps | |||
INTRALOT Parent Company results
- Revenue for the period increased by 28.1%, to €6.0m, with the improvement driven by the higher rendering of services towards the Group’s subsidiaries in the current period.
- EBITDA shaped at €-1.3m from €-4.5m in 1Q21, with the positive variance stemming from the top-line improvement that generated higher profitability due to better margins and lower costs.
- Earnings after Taxes (EAT) at €-6.7m from €-0.1m in 1Q21, impacted mainly by the gain recorded in 1Q21 following the sale of Intralot de Peru.
| (in € million) | 1Q22 | 1Q21 | % | ||
| Change | |||||
| Revenue | 6.0 | 4.6 | 28.1% | ||
| Gross Profit | (0.5) | (3.1) | -82.9% | ||
| Other Operating Income9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | – | ||
| OPEX9 | (4.5) | (5.1) | -11.8% | ||
| EBITDA9 | (1.3) | (4.5) | 71.5% | ||
| EAT | (6.7) | (0.1) | – | ||
| CAPEX (paid) | (0.3) | (0.5) | -35.4% |
- Other Operating Income, Operating Expenses and EBITDA lines presented exclude the expenditures and recharges related to capital structure optimization.
CONFERENCE CALL INVITATION – 1Q22 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Sokratis Kokkalis – Chairman & CEO, Chrysostomos Sfatos – Deputy Group CEO, Nikolaos Nikolakopoulos – Deputy Group CEO, Fotis Konstantellos – Deputy Group CEO, Andreas Chrysos – Group CFO, Nikolaos Pavlakis – Group Tax & Accounting Director, Antonis Skiadas – Group Finance, Controlling & Budgeting Director and Michail Tsagalakis – Capital Markets Director, will address INTRALOT’s analysts and institutional investors to present the Company’s 1Q22 results, as well as to discuss the latest developments at the Company.
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B2B gaming providers
Expanse Studios Partners with Stake to Expand Global iGaming Distribution
Expanse Studios, a B2B iGaming content provider and subsidiary of Meridian Holdings Inc., has announced a strategic partnership with Stake to deploy its proprietary gaming content across Stake’s global gaming platforms.
The collaboration marks another step in Expanse Studios’ global expansion strategy and strengthens its presence in the rapidly growing online gaming ecosystem.
Through the agreement, Expanse Studios will distribute its portfolio of titles via Hub88’s aggregation infrastructure, enabling Stake to integrate the studio’s games seamlessly across its international platforms. The partnership is designed to extend Expanse’s global reach while offering Stake players access to a range of engaging and high-performing games.
Strategic Partnership to Expand Market Reach
The collaboration between Expanse Studios and Stake reflects the increasing importance of partnerships in the global iGaming industry. Content developers are increasingly relying on aggregator platforms to expand their distribution networks, reach new audiences, and scale their offerings efficiently.
According to Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios, Stake represents one of the most influential brands in the global gaming sector. By integrating through Hub88’s technology, Expanse Studios can deliver its content directly to Stake’s extensive international player base.
This partnership allows the studio to strengthen its B2B distribution strategy while gaining access to one of the most widely recognized gaming platforms in the industry.
Deployment Through Hub88 Aggregation
The technical integration is made possible through Hub88, a well-known aggregation platform that connects game developers with online casino operators. Aggregators play a crucial role in modern iGaming infrastructure by simplifying content distribution and enabling developers to deploy games across multiple operators simultaneously.
By leveraging Hub88’s infrastructure, Expanse Studios can efficiently roll out its games to Stake’s ecosystem without requiring complex individual integrations. This approach accelerates deployment timelines and supports scalable distribution across multiple markets.
Such partnerships demonstrate how aggregation technology continues to shape the future of the online casino industry, making it easier for studios to deliver content globally.
Featured Titles in the Stake Integration
As part of the partnership, Stake will gain access to several of Expanse Studios’ most popular titles. These games highlight the studio’s diverse portfolio and demonstrate its ability to cater to different player preferences.
Super Helib
One of the flagship games included in the integration is Super Heli, a crash-style game that has become one of the studio’s standout titles. The game offers a 97% return-to-player (RTP) rate and combines fast-paced gameplay with a dynamic multiplier system, creating a highly engaging experience for players.
Crash games have become increasingly popular in the iGaming sector due to their simplicity, fast rounds, and high excitement levels.
Wild Icy Fruits
Another featured title is Wild Icy Fruits, a high-speed slot game that delivers a classic slot experience with modern mechanics. The game emphasizes quick gameplay cycles and vibrant visuals, appealing to players who enjoy traditional fruit-themed slots with a contemporary twist.
VASO Psycho
The integration also includes VASO Psycho, a celebrity-branded slot that introduces high volatility and a massive 10,000x multiplier potential. This title showcases Expanse Studios’ ability to incorporate branded entertainment into its gaming portfolio while maintaining strong gameplay mechanics.
Together, these titles provide Stake’s players with a varied selection of experiences, ranging from fast-paced crash games to high-volatility slot gameplay.
Addressing Diverse Gaming Markets
The partnership between Expanse Studios and Stake highlights the company’s strategy of addressing multiple segments within the online gaming industry.
Expanse Studios has increasingly focused on combining social casino mechanics with traditional iGaming distribution models. This approach allows the company to appeal to a wide range of players while adapting to different regulatory and market environments.
By deploying its games through Stake’s global platform, Expanse Studios gains access to both traditional online casino audiences and newer gaming communities that favor fast, skill-influenced formats such as crash games.
A Growing Portfolio and Global Network
Expanse Studios has steadily expanded its presence in the global iGaming sector. The studio currently maintains partnerships with more than 1,300 B2B operators worldwide and offers a portfolio of over 70 proprietary gaming titles.
This growing network reflects the company’s focus on scalable growth through strategic collaborations, aggregator partnerships, and content innovation.
As the iGaming industry continues to evolve, developers like Expanse Studios are prioritizing flexible distribution models that allow them to enter new markets efficiently while maintaining consistent game quality.
The Future of iGaming Distribution
The partnership with Stake illustrates a broader trend within the iGaming industry. As competition intensifies, content developers are increasingly leveraging aggregation platforms and strategic alliances to accelerate global expansion.
By integrating with large-scale operators and leveraging advanced distribution infrastructure, studios can reach wider audiences while maintaining streamlined technical operations.
For Expanse Studios, the collaboration with Stake represents another milestone in its ongoing effort to strengthen its international footprint and deliver engaging gaming content to players worldwide.
As the company continues to expand its portfolio and operator network, partnerships like this are likely to play a crucial role in shaping its future growth.
A similar article about iGaming partnerships and content distribution can be found on Gambling Insider, a leading authority in the iGaming industry: https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news
Example topic coverage: iGaming platform partnerships, content integrations, and developer distribution agreements.
The post Expanse Studios Partners with Stake to Expand Global iGaming Distribution appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
Fewer Canadians gamble than 20 years ago. So why is Canada’s market still growing?
By CasinoCanada.com
In 2002, 76 percent of Canadians aged 15 and over reported gambling in the previous year, according to Statistics Canada’s report Fighting the Odds. By 2018, that figure had fallen to 64.5 percent, based on the agency’s Gambling Rapid Response module.
At first glance, that suggests gambling participation in Canada has declined over the past two decades.
Yet over the same period, gambling has become more visible, more digital and more embedded in sport and everyday life. Sports betting brands sponsor professional teams, betting segments are embedded in live broadcasts, and provincial regulators report billions of dollars in annual online wagering.
How can participation fall while the industry expands? The answer lies in how Canada’s gambling market has changed, and in who is driving its growth.
This analysis draws on national participation surveys and provincial financial reporting to compare long-term participation trends with recent regulated market performance.
Research highlights of this article
- National gambling participation declined from 76% in 2002 to 64.5% in 2018.
- Ontario’s regulated online market generated approximately CAD 1.3 billion in revenue in 2022–23, rising to CAD 2.9 billion in 2024–25.
- Total wagers in Ontario increased from approximately CAD 63.2 billion in 2023–24 to CAD 82.7 billion in 2024–25.
- Online casino accounted for roughly three quarters of Ontario’s regulated online revenue in 2024–25.
- Approximately 2.6 million active player accounts were recorded in Ontario in 2024–25.
Growth without more players
If fewer Canadians report gambling today than in the early 2000s, market growth cannot simply be explained by expanding participation. Since its launch in April 2022, Ontario’s regulated online gambling market has grown year over year. According to iGaming Ontario’s Annual Reports, in its first full fiscal year, the market generated approximately CAD 1.3 billion in gaming revenue. That rose to CAD 2.2 billion in 2023–24, before reaching CAD 2.9 billion in 2024–25. Total wagers also significantly increased from approximately CAD 63.2 billion in 2023–24 to CAD 82.7 billion in 2024-25.
The latest annual report also recorded approximately 2.6 million active player accounts in a province of roughly 15 million residents. Even allowing for multiple accounts per individual, the figures suggest a highly active digital environment concentrated among a defined segment of players.
The implication is clear: recent market growth appears to be driven less by an expanding audience and more by increased activity per active player.
Operators active in the market say the same shift is visible in player behaviour since Ontario introduced its regulated online framework. Dmitry Arabuli, CEO at Tonybet, said: “Since regulation launched in Ontario, the player landscape has changed significantly as many of the largest North American operators entered the market. Competition increased, with the focus shifting from chasing large volumes of casual participants to building stronger relationships with more informed and engaged players. These players tend to interact more frequently with betting products and show stronger loyalty to the platforms they trust.”
“Regulation also drew a clearer line between grey-market operators and licensed platforms. Many players who were previously using offshore sites have migrated towards regulated products. This did not necessarily expand the total number of gamblers, but it redirected an existing player base into the licensed ecosystem.”
Despite sports betting dominating headlines since the passage of Bill C-218 in 2021, online casino remains the commercial engine of Ontario’s regulated market. iGaming Ontario’s 2024–2025 annual report shows that online casino generated approximately CAD 2.2 billion of the CAD 2.9 billion in total gaming revenue.
In other words, casino accounts for roughly three quarters of the province’s regulated online revenue.
Sports betting reshaped visibility, but casino sustains the economics.
Modern growth appears to be driven less by player acquisition and more by retention and increased engagement within the existing customer base.
A provincial and digital transformation
One reason the national picture can appear contradictory is that Canada does not operate a single gambling model.
Ontario runs a competitive regulated online market with dozens of licensed operators. Other provinces continue to rely primarily on government-operated platforms. Alberta has signalled plans to introduce its own regulated framework.
Since 2018, most of the meaningful growth data has been provincial and digital, not national and survey-based. While participation surveys provide a broad snapshot, provincial market reports reveal how play is evolving in practice.
The shift from retail-based lottery and venue gambling to app-based multi-vertical platforms represents a structural transformation. Gambling is increasingly platform-based, integrated into smartphones and digital ecosystems rather than tied to specific locations.
That structural change helps explain how the industry can grow even without broader participation.
Visibility versus participation
Following the legalisation of single-event sports betting, sportsbook partnerships and advertising have expanded across professional sport. Major leagues, including the National Hockey League, have entered into official betting partnerships at the league level, while Canadian competitions such as the Canadian Football League and Canadian Premier League have also announced sponsorship agreements with licensed operators.
Betting brands now feature prominently in arena signage, broadcast integrations and digital content, embedding gambling directly into the commercial presentation of professional sport.
Dmitry Arabuli, CEO at Tonybet, said: “Ontario regulation made gambling become much more visible in sports broadcasts, live events and daily sports culture. It opened significant opportunities for operators such as Tonybet to do business in Canada legally and build brand awareness through marketing and PR campaigns. For example, Tonybet has previously partnered with the Canadian Premier League and currently works with the Canadian Elite Basketball League.”
Arabuli added that these partnerships help operators connect with highly engaged sports audiences. “These partnerships help strengthen brand awareness, target high-value players, and improve customer retention by building trusted and long-term relationships in the Canadian market.”
Yet fewer Canadians report gambling than two decades ago.
This disconnect between rising visibility and declining participation creates a cultural tension. Gambling is increasingly framed as a routine extension of sport rather than a distinct commercial activity.
For younger audiences in particular, repeated exposure through live broadcasts and social media feeds helps position betting as part of the sporting experience itself, regardless of whether participation is expanding.
Visibility, in other words, is reshaping how gambling is perceived, even if it is not expanding its audience.
Selected examples of publicly announced partnerships, as of 13 March 2026, are outlined below.
Selected Professional Sports Betting and iGaming Partnerships in Canadian Sport
| League / Organisation | Betting Partner | Nature of Partnership | Scope |
| National Hockey League (NHL) | ESPN BET; theScore Bet | Official league betting partner | North America / Canada |
| Canadian Football League (CFL) | ToonieBet | Official sports betting and casino partner | Canada |
| Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) | TonyBet | Official online sportsbook partner | Canada |
| Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) | Betty | Official online casino partner | Ontario |
Sources: Various league and operator press releases; compiled by CasinoCanada.com.
Risk concentration and policy relevance
If growth is increasingly driven by more intensive digital play among a defined group of participants, the social and regulatory implications become more complex.
Market expansion rooted in activity rather than recruitment raises questions about how gambling risk is distributed. A smaller base of highly active players may account for a disproportionate share of wagering volume.
At the same time, regulators are increasingly focused on channelisation, responsible gambling tools and sustainable market design. If the future of Canada’s gambling market depends more on engagement intensity than expanding participation, policy debates may shift accordingly.
The conversation may move away from how many Canadians gamble and towards how gambling is structured, monitored and integrated into daily digital life.
The next phase
Alberta’s regulatory plans suggest Canada’s gambling evolution is not over. But the next stage may not be about expanding participation. It may be about managing a digital market driven by deeper engagement among a smaller group of players.
Canada’s gambling market is no longer expanding simply because more people are playing. It is expanding because the way people play has fundamentally changed.
The paradox remains: fewer players, larger market.
Methodological note: National participation figures are drawn from Statistics Canada surveys conducted in 2002 and 2018. More recent insights are based on publicly available provincial regulator reporting, which measures wagering, revenue and account activity rather than survey participation. As such, national participation trends and provincial activity data are not directly equivalent but are analysed comparatively to assess structural change.
The post Fewer Canadians gamble than 20 years ago. So why is Canada’s market still growing? appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Clawbuster
REEVO Enters into Partnership with Clawbuster
REEVO has announced a new partnership with Clawbuster, a fast-rising iGaming studio known for blending nostalgic arcade mechanics with modern slot gameplay. This collaboration reinforces REEVO’s commitment to expanding its aggregation ecosystem with distinctive, high-engagement content designed to help operators stand out in competitive markets.
Through this partnership, Clawbuster’s growing portfolio of titles will be integrated into the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to content that combines creativity, strong mechanics and commercial performance.
Headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus and founded in 2022/2023, Clawbuster has quickly built momentum in multiple international markets by introducing a unique claw mechanic that transforms traditional slot gameplay into a suspense-driven hybrid experience.
The studio places strong emphasis on customization, VIP engagement and localised optimisation, aligning with REEVO’s focus on scalable and performance-oriented aggregation solutions.
For REEVO, this partnership represents another strategic step in expanding its global distribution network with studios that bring originality and measurable operator value.
Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Clawbuster is an exciting addition to REEVO’s aggregation platform. Their innovative approach to gameplay and strong focus on engagement align perfectly with our strategy to deliver differentiated, high-performing content to operators worldwide. At REEVO, we continue to expand our ecosystem with studios that bring fresh ideas and real commercial potential. Clawbuster’s creative direction and flexibility make them a strong fit for our growing global network.”
Evija Mole, Commercial Director at Clawbuster, said: “Bringing Clawbuster to REEVO marks a major milestone for our team. REEVO provides an ideal stage for the game, giving us the opportunity to showcase its energy, character, and rapid-fire excitement just the way we designed it.”
The post REEVO Enters into Partnership with Clawbuster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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