European-centred game development studio Evoplay has debuted its content in Ontario by launching a selection of its slots games with Canadian sports betting, casino and esports operator Rivalry.
The partnership marks Evoplay’s first launch in Canada’s only regulated commercial iGaming market, five months after it was granted a license to supply to provincial operators by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) in March.
Evoplay’s portfolio of games consists of more than 250 slots, table, crash and e-instant games. Now, 20 of its high-performing titles are available to Ontario players for the first time.
The studio and Rivalry will continue to introduce Evoplay games in the coming months, and the two companies said in a release that the collaboration lays the foundation for the studio to further expand in the province.
“Going live in Ontario is a fantastic achievement for us. Integrating our portfolio with Rivalry is an important step in our commercial trajectory, and we are excited to introduce our content to their customers,” said Evoplay’s Head of Sales Alex Malchenko. “We have high expectations on Ontario and this is the first step into this exciting and fast-moving market. We are confident that our diverse games offering will resonate with local players.”
“Our goal is to deliver the most entertaining and differentiated casino experience in Ontario,” added Rivalry CEO Steven Salz. “Partnering with Evoplay allows us to introduce high-quality, innovative content, that will resonate with our players and keep them coming back. We feel honoured to be the first operator to offer Evoplay’s titles in Ontario and look forward to a successful partnership.”
Rivalry considering next steps after overhaul
Rivalry executives said recently that the company is still actively exploring strategic alternatives aimed at maximizing shareholder value, including evaluating “non-dilutive capital options” as part of broader strategic initiatives to accelerate growth.
In July, the Toronto-headquartered esports and sports betting operator posted net revenue of $13.6 million for FY 2024, a decrease of nearly $3 million (16.0%) year-over-year. However, it trimmed its net loss by 6% from $23.8 million in 2023 to $22.4 million in 2024 and cut operating expenses by 17% to $32.2 million.
In the latter half of 2024 and early 2025, Rivalry overhauled its product, player strategy and operational structure. It expanded its casino output, revamped its sportsbook, implemented a comprehensive VIP rewards program and increased its focus on crypto-native gaming and catering to high-value players.
As it conducted those changes, it implemented several rounds of layoffs and executives took pay cuts.
“We made hard decisions last year — rebuilding the product, cutting costs, and refining our approach to players — and those changes are beginning to show signs of positive impact,” said Salz. “The latter half of 2024 set the stage, and we’re encouraged by the progress seen so far in 2025.
“We’ve rebuilt the foundation of the business around high-efficiency acquisition, high-value users, and a proprietary product – and we’re already seeing the impact. Rivalry today is not just a leaner version of itself – it’s a fundamentally different company built for scalability.”
July also saw the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) revoke the management cease trade order that it granted to the online gaming operator in May.
