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DraftKings adds Relax Gaming content in Ontario

Gaming supplier Relax Gaming has begun offering its portfolio of online casino content on DraftKings‘ platform in Ontario.

The deal also extends to the core U.S. iGaming states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Relax said the partnership marks a new step in its expansion into North America by strengthening its presence in regulated markets.

Relax Gaming was an early entrant to the Ontario regulated market when the province opened its doors in April 2022. It works with other renowned online casino operators in the province including PointsBet, with whom it struck a deal last October. As of late 2024, it supplies over 120 games to a range of operators in Ontario.

“Since we launched in Ontario we have enjoyed tremendous success, with our content hitting the sweet spot for the broad range of players in the Canadian province,” said CEO Martin Stålros last fall. Stålros replaced Simon Hammon as the company’s CEO last April.

Relax Gaming launched in the American market in December 2023 with BetMGM in New Jersey under the brand name RLX Gaming and extended that collaboration to Pennsylvania last year. It also works with operators including PlayStar in the Garden State.

Now, it has added its offerings to DraftKings’ extensive online casino portfolio in both of those states, as well as Ontario.

Across all markets, it has a portfolio of more than 700 operator brands, 70 partner studios and over 4,000 game titles and supplies games to operators in other jurisdictions including UK, Malta, Spain and Mexico.

It continues to expand its partnerships and markets under Chief Growth Officer Enrico Bradamante, who began in the role in October.

Betty Canada renews payments partnership with Wyzia

Online casino brand Betty has renewed its ongoing partnership with Canadian payments provider Wyzia.

The two companies have been working together in Canada since 2023. As they each look to expand further across North America, the renewed deal will focus purely on the newly spun-off Betty Canada business.

Wyzia offers what it calls seamless and secure online payment solutions for regulated gaming markets. Its platform connects merchants directly to all Canadian financial institutions, simplifying transactions and empowering businesses with reliable, efficient financial tools.

Via Wyzia, Betty automatically processes 99% of withdrawals, allowing players to quickly receive their funds, something which Ontario players say is a crucial factor in choosing an online operator.

“Our partnership with Wyzia has been instrumental in providing our players with a seamless, fast, and secure payment experience,” said Betty Canada CEO Chavdar Dimitrov. “We are excited about the growth we’ve achieved together and are committed to delivering even better services to our community in the future.”

“We’re thrilled to celebrate a year of working with Betty with the renewal of our agreement,” added Wyzia Group CEO Guy Fietz. “Our collaboration has not only expanded our reach but enhanced the payment experience for Betty’s growing community of players. We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration and driving further innovation in the online gaming industry.”

Betty looking beyond Ontario’s borders via McDonald’s model

Betty has positioned itself as an online slot gamification platform that caters to Ontario players, with a particular emphasis on catering to the female demographic by fostering a fun, safe and supportive environment. It says that this focused model allows it to retain female players at a rate three times higher than male players.

Currently, Betty operates exclusively in Ontario, although it has offices in New York, London and the Bulgarian capital of Sofia as well as Toronto. That Ontario-only approach is about to change.

In an update last month, when Betty reported a tenfold increase in net revenue since January and over 1000% growth in active players across Ontario, co-founder and Group CEO Justin Park detailed plans to transition to a decentralized franchise model which it labelled “the McDonald’s of Casino.”

Noting that the company’s ambitions “have expanded tremendously,” Park said Betty Canada will be the company’s first owned-and-operated franchise, led by co-founder Dimitrov as CEO under a new business model. Park added that Dimitrov has outlined a plan to double revenue through several key initiatives, including launching a fully native mobile app and beginning to develop original games.

The parent company will expand into other markets, with Park namechecking Betty USA and Betty LATAM as “exciting opportunities for future growth.” Another important step is expansion into Alberta whenever that province opens its doors to commercial online casinos.

BCLC latest Canadian operator to sound alarm over fake ads

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is the latest Canadian gaming stakeholder to warn the public about fraudulent advertising using the names and likenesses of licensed casinos.

In a statement to the public on Feb. 24, BCLC warned that “predatory” and “sophisticated” social media scams are imitating BCLC’s casinos in the province and tricking people into providing financial details on fake websites.

The lottery corporation said the “highly deceptive” schemes post on social media platforms using logos, names and photographs of B.C. casinos. In some cases, the ads purport to offer players exclusive bonuses and promotions when someone registers with their website or mobile app.

“BCLC warns that none of these sites are associated with casinos in B.C. or BCLC,” said the provincial operator’s notice.

BCLC’s PlayNow is the only recognized and regulated online gaming and betting platform in the province. BCLC has a range of official apps, including PlayNow Sportsbook BC, BCLC Lotto! and PlayNow Poker BC. All BCLC-operated social media accounts are verified with a checkmark.

The crown corporation said that it is working with its casino partners to get the posts removed, and urged the public to stay vigilant and verify the legitimacy of an advert, social media post or website before signing up or offering any personal or financial information.

Saskatchewan regulator, casino operators also send warnings

BCLC are far from alone in this.

Just two weeks ago, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS), that province’s gambling regulator, warned provincial residents not to click on social media adverts for online casinos, citing fears of scammers using fake ads to steal people’s credit card numbers and other financial information.

Similarly to what BCLC is reporting, LGS reported those ads are masquerading as casinos including Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw and casinos operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).

“The scammers illegally use the logos, images, and branding of these casinos, stolen from the casinos’ websites, to create the fake ads,” said LGS VP of Gaming Steve Tunison.

In Alberta, River Cree Resort & Casino is one venue that has been targeted. Last year, both Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) and Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) warned players about social media ads implying that land-based venues are offering iGaming.

The issue is so bad that Canadian casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment keeps a dedicated scam alert list on its website. Since the start of 2025, GCE retail venues in Ontario, B.C., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have been used for this kind of fraud.

Kambi taking over as OLG’s sportsbook supplier

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is getting a new omnichannel sportsbook provider.

Kambi announced on Monday that it is taking over the contract currently held by France’s La Française des Jeux (FDJ). FDJ identified Kambi as its preferred assignee and Kambi expects the multi-channel migration to be completed in the second half of 2025.

The Swedish-founded, Malta-based B2B provider will take over from FDJ for the final seven years of a contract which runs until 2032.

Per the terms of the agreement, Kambi must make “a material initial investment” in order to assume its status as the contract holder.

It’s not quite a done deal. In Kambi’s quarterly earnings update this week, CEO Werner Becher said that “there remains some work to do to get this over the line.”

However, he added that he has “no reason to doubt” that the deal will be completed.

Kambi will add OLG to list of sportsbook partners

OLG offers retail and online sports betting through its PROLINE brand. Previously the monopolist on regulated sports betting before the province welcomed commercial operators into the mix, the lottery’s platform is estimated to hold around 20% of Ontario’s regulated online casino and sports betting market.

“OLG has a fantastic reputation in the Canadian province of Ontario where, until recently, it held the monopoly for sports betting,” added Becher in the earnings update. “OLG has a large existing retail business with an exciting growth opportunity in its online business where OLG has faced increased competition since re-regulation in 2022.

“I believe with a sportsbook of Kambi’s quality, combined with OLG’s local market knowledge and reputation, OLG can grow its online market share.”

Kambi already provides sportsbook solutions to commercial operators including Bally’s Corporation, MGM Resorts International subsidiary LeoVegas and Rush Street Interactive. In Ontario, it also powers retail sports betting for numerous Great Canadian Entertainment casinos, as well as Mohegan’s Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara.

FDJ badly hit by French tax changes

FDJ stated earlier this month that its 2025 outlook has been “significantly” curtailed by France’s 2025 Social Security Financing Act, which is increasing levies on betting and gaming in the European nation from July 1.

The company estimates that the hike will automatically reduce its revenue and recurring EBITDA by nearly $67 million CAD in FY 2025, equating to a full-year impact of nearly $134 million.

While a reason for FDJ relinquishing its sportsbook contract with OLG was not given, Kambi added in its release that FDJ is stepping aside “in line with its strategic refocus on international activities on B2C operations in the lottery, sports betting and online gaming market.”

A FDJ spokesperson told Canadian Gaming Business that yielding the OLG contract was a planned move that is “not related in any ways to our recent announcements.”

Ex-CGA chair Ilkim Hincer named GeoComply chief legal officer

Ilkim Hincer, the former chair of the board at the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), has been named chief legal officer of geolocation specialists GeoComply.

Hincer was formerly a partner and the chair of the gaming division at law firm Fogler, Rubinoff LLP.

A longtime lawyer, he previously worked in Canadian gaming as general counsel and corporate secretary at the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), VP and general counsel at Ontario’s Casino Rama and he has also been a partner and head of gaming, lottery and esports at McCarthy Tétrault.

His previous roles also include nearly four years spent as EVP and chief legal officer of Hard Rock International.

At Vancouver-headquartered GeoComply, he will lead the company’s legal and regulatory operations in its various jurisdictions.

GeoComply said that Hincer brings deep experience in regulatory affairs, ethics, compliance and governance across all areas of gaming.

“Ilkim brings a nuanced understanding of global gaming, legislative and regulatory frameworks and the impact of technology and innovation, enabling us to assist our customers amidst increasing complexity,” added the statement.

“Ilkim’s extensive background includes gaming law, commercial, tribal, and First Nations gaming, iGaming, land-based casino operations, hospitality, technology, and entertainment. He also possesses a deep understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape, ensuring we continue to provide best-in-class solutions and drive value for our customers.”

Hincer’s term as CGA board chair ended in January 2025.

Games developer RubyPlay looks to shine in Ontario

Ontario’s regulated iGaming market is one of the busiest around for suppliers, and another development studio, RubyPlay, is setting up stall in the province.

RubyPlay has been granted a license by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and can now offer its portfolio of games to licensed operators in Canada’s only regulated online gaming market.

“Our goal at RubyPlay is to bring our expansive portfolio of unique and innovative games to as many players as possible around the world,” said Chief Product Officer Dr. Eyal Loz. “We’re therefore thrilled to have obtained our Ontario license and build our reach in Canada.

“RubyPlay has an outstanding track record empowering our partner’s brands through our innovative and time relevant product offering. We believe that North America will be a strong growth engine for us, where building and maintaining a strong brand is key.”

The company will be announcing a deal with a renowned operator in the market in March.

RubyPlay only just entered U.S. market

Ontario entry is the latest step in RubyPlay’s North American expansion.

The Malta-based supplier launched in the U.S. last month with Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers and FanDuel in New Jersey, which it said would be “launchpad” for the company on this side of the Atlantic. BetRivers will also take the supplier’s content live in Pennsylvania and Delaware and RubyPlay is exploring opportunities in Michigan, West Virginia and beyond.

RubyPlay now gets to supply its games in Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar online casino market. iGaming Ontario’s (iGO) numbers for January 2025 show that there are at least 1.1 million active player accounts on regulated online gaming platforms in the province.

More than four-fifths (83%) of total online gaming handle and 70% of total gross gaming revenue in Ontario’s regulated market in January came from online casino. Since the market opened up to commercial operators in April 2022, that vertical has produced GGR of more than $4.5 billion.

Greentube’s Michael Bauer talks keys to Canadian success

Greentube has established a strong foothold in the Canadian online gaming market, and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Games Officer Michael Bauer shed some light on the company’s approach across the country.

Speaking with SBC Media at ICE in Barcelona in January, Bauer noted how the Canadian market differs from the U.S., where Greentube is live with a range of operator partners in key iGaming states such as Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In Ontario’s regulated market, Greentube content is live with numerous major commercial online casinos such as Entain brands BetMGM and Party Casino as well as Caesars Digital and Betway.

“Ontario is  a very interesting market for us, and because it’s kind of a mixture of Europe and U.S. we see a mix of games working there that are Europe and U.S. style,” Bauer explained. “This is good for us because we have both.”

Greentube also works with provincial lotteries such as the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and Loto-Quebec and Bauer said the firm wants “to achieve the same thing in Ontario” with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

“Canada in general works really well for us,” he added. “Whatever new province comes next, we want to get a licence. Alberta is on the top of our list.”

Personalized offerings for specific brands and players

Greentube has a mix of experience from its work as a games supplier in both Europe and the U.S.

That extensive experience has taught the company a lot about how to manage partnerships from operator-to-operator, Bauer explained.

“It’s a really interesting aspect, forming long-term partnerships especially with the big operators in the U.S. What we try to do first is understand what the player base is of the operator, from operator to operator.

“It differs a bit from operator to operator, some are more higher roller focused some are not, some are more casino first some are sportsbook first – it makes a difference in the player base, that’s step one to understand what players they have.

“Secondly when we look at our portfolio of games and what we have in the pipeline, we select them for the player base we have. What we try to do is have marketing campaigns together to try and formulate a marketing campaign so it hits the nerve with the player base.”

You can watch the full chat with SBC via the video above.

4 Nations takes hockey betting to new levels in Canada

Canada loves hockey. That’s not a new conclusion, but it was illustrated in both the viewing numbers and the sports betting figures that have emerged since Connor McDavid’s overtime goal gave Team Canada the win over Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game last Thursday.

Sportsnet, which aired the NHL-organized tournament, reported that 10.7 million people across Canada watched the final at Boston’s TD Garden, around  a quarter of the nation’s population.

On the wagering front, even in a market that loves hockey betting like Canada does, it set new hockey betting benchmarks.

10 times as busy as NBA All-Star Game

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) told Canadian Gaming Business that, overall, the 4-Nations brought in over 10 times the betting activity that was seen around the NBA All-Star Game. When Canada faced the USA, that rose to a 20-fold increase.

Next door to Ontario, Loto-Québec told CGB that the 4 Nations final generated “unprecedented interest,” surpassing last year’s Stanley Cup Final. That echoes what commercial sportsbooks have reported south of the border in the U.S.

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ (AGLC) Play Alberta saw 10 times the volume of a typical NHL regular season game night. Some 84% of bets and 86% of total handle for the championship game was wagered on the Canadians to win. In B.C., the final was not only the most bet-on hockey game of the year on BCLC’s PlayNow online sportsbook, it was the third most popular hockey game ever on the platform.

Commercial sportsbooks also saw huge surges in hockey betting.

FanDuel Canada told CGB that the 4 Nations final game was the most-bet hockey game in Ontario ever on FanDuel Sportsbook, with Ontario bettors laying money on same-game parlays, live betting options and  novelty markets such as the official time of puck drop and the jersey number of the first goalscorer.

On PointsBet Canada, both Canada vs. USA matchups garnered about five times the activity of a typical NHL game, while a Betway spokesperson added to CGB that the tournament exceeded all expectations for the Super Group-owned sportsbook, “proving far more popular than the NHL All-Star Week it replaced.”

4 Nations games accounted for the four highest-handle hockey games so far this NHL season on both the U.S.-facing ESPN Bet and the Canadian theScore Bet. On the former, the top four betting games were Team USA’s tilts; on the latter, the quartet were all Team Canada clashes.

Sportsbooks cash in down south, pay up north of border

How commercial sportsbooks fared depends on location.

BetMGM reported that in the U.S., 64% of the bets and 58% of the money were on the USA. As trading manager Halvor Egeland noted, “Canada winning was a good outcome for the sportsbook.”

In Ontario, the outcome was starkly different, as illustrated by PENN Entertainment’s dual-sportsbook model.

For the final showdown, on ESPN BET, 79% of moneyline bets and 77% of moneyline handle were on Team USA. In Ontario on theScore Bet, as many as 84% of moneyline wagers and 87% of moneyline handle was laid down on Team Canada. ESPN Bet’s Director of North American Sports Trading, Adrian Horton, noted that total handle for the 4 Nations final surpassed last year’s World Series games and was on par with Sunday NFL games.

Ontario sportsbooks enjoy most profitable betting month ever

Ontario set its latest monthly record for gaming activity to kick off 2025, including the most profitable month of regulated sports betting in the province’s history.

iGaming Ontario’s (iGO) numbers for January 2025 show that Ontarians bet $7.84 billion on sports, online casino games and online poker last month. That is a tiny uptick of 0.24% from the record that had been set last month, and a handsome 31% year-over-year increase.

Gross gaming revenue, meanwhile, smashed the previous ceiling of $291 million taken in November 2024 by climbing to $328 million. Operators’ collective gross revenue has grown by 36% in one year and the January total was nearly 13% higher than the previous record high mark.

 

iGO reported there were 1.1 million active player accounts last month, the most ever and up from approximately 877,0000 this time last year.  Those players yielded an average revenue of almost $300, the highest since September 2024.

Ontario sports betting has never been so lucrative

Ontario’s market is heavily dominated by online casino in terms of both wagering activity and revenue, but January was the biggest month ever for licensed sportsbooks in the province.

After December’s results saw sports wagering handle climb 9% to $1.1 billion but sports betting GGR fall 28% to $39 million, betting platforms made a combined $91.9 million in sports betting GGR in January. That was up 133.8% month over month and 32.2% year over year and is 17.1% higher than the previous all time record for sports wagering revenue, set in November 2024.

That $91.9 in sports betting GGR came from just less than $1.2 billion in handle, up 20.7% year over year and just 3.6% month over month.

It will be interesting to see how Super Bowl LIX, which seems to have been highly profitable for sportsbooks compared to years past, will be reflected in Ontario’s February numbers.

Online casino still rules the roost, with 83% of total online gaming handle and 70% of total GGR, but sports betting’s revenue share grew from just 15% in December to 28% in January.

All-time, Ontario regulated online gaming has produced total GGR of more than $6.5 billion, around $4.7 billion of which has come from online casinos.

iGO now shares market performance reports every month, rather than just once a quarter, as well as historical data for every month back to when the market opened in April 2022. It told Canadian Gaming Business that the change “is the result of our decision to be more transparent by sharing aggregate revenue and market insight figures more frequently, and in a format that is easier to ingest and analyze.”

Bragg Gaming expands into second province with Loto-Québec deal

Bragg Gaming Group is expanding into a second Canadian province.

The Toronto-based gaming supplier has been operational in Ontario’s regulated market since that province opened its doors in April 2022.

On Thursday, it announced that it has struck an online casino content agreement with Loto-Québec, giving it access to the province via Québec’s only recognized regulated online casino site. The lottery’s CEO Jean-Francois Bergeron estimates that it currently holds 60% of the province’s total iGaming and online sports betting market, although H2 Gambling Capital data suggests its share is more like 44%.

Through the Bragg deal, Loto-Québec will benefit from access to exclusive titles from Bragg’s in-house content studios such as Atomic Slot Lab,Wild Streak Gaming and Indigo Magic. Players will also be able to access titles from multiple content partners under the Powered By Bragg program, including King Show Games, Bluberi, Incredible Technologies and Sega Sammy Creation.

“Loto-Québec is a strategic partner, and we are excited to see our proprietary games as well as exclusive content from our partners live and available to Loto-Québec players,” said Bragg Gaming SVP of Commercial for the U.S. and Canada, Garrick Morris. “We look forward to developing our relationship as a key supplier to Loto-Québec as we continue the roll-out with regular new game releases planned.”

“We’ve enjoyed strong growth in North America over the past 12 months and I am pleased to further support this momentum with this successful launch in Québec. I would like to thank the Loto-Québec and Bragg teams for making this happen.”

“At Loto-Québec, we are always looking for new and exciting ways to entertain our players,” added Loto-Québec Senior Director of Product and Innovation, François Hardy. “Bragg perfectly aligns with this vision, enabling us to provide a refreshing and dynamic experience to our players.”

Bragg continues to take strides in Americas

Bragg said the deal with Loto-Québec supports its strategic goals by adding another market for its exclusive and proprietary content, and the diversification of revenue through expansion into North American markets.

The company is licensed, certified or otherwise approved and operational as a supplier in over 30 regulated online casino markets around the world.

In Ontario, Bragg Gaming can boast of major operator partners including Caesars Digital’s various digital casino brands and bet365, and it also works with the likes of BetMGM, FanDuel and Golden Nugget Online Gaming in multiple U.S. markets. It entered Delaware with that state’s sole iGaming provider BetRivers in November and will add West Virginia to its U.S. reach this year.

It also holds an international distribution deal with Light & Wonder that it signed last spring.

Bragg has also established a firm footprint in Brazil’s new regulated online gaming market. As of mid-January, it was providing its services to roughly one-third of the licensed iGaming operators in the country and the company said it expects that Latin American market to make up approximately 10% of its total revenue in 2025.

In an update in December, CEO Matevž Mazij said the company expects double-digit revenue growth in 2025 and remains committed to exploring strategic M&A moves to fuel its progress.