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Canadian Gaming Association supports stronger AML laws amid US pressure

Could pressure from inside and outside Canada lead to stronger anti-money laundering laws in Canadian gaming in 2025?

The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has lent its voice to the conversation already by advising the federal government to take a firmer hand.

The CGA noted in its 2024 Advocacy Policies that one of its goals for last year was to “actively participate” in the parliamentary review of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTF Act) to ensure Canada’s AML laws and regulations better reflect the evolution of the gaming industry.

The PCMLTF Act came into effect in December 2001 as an amendment of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) Act and lays out Canada’s legislative framework around AML.

We may now be into 2025, but changes both north and south of the border could force the issue.

Canada has been facing pressure in recent years to upgrade its AML regulations and incoming U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies have been vocal about the supposed need for the country to do so. As part of wider conversations, including the notorious idea of introducing tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian imports, Trump has posited that Canada’s AML regulations need improvement as they are currently less stringent than the U.S.

Trump advisor and criminal finance expert David Asher told the CBC in December that Canada needs stronger AML legislation because, as he put it, “the money laundering that makes [U.S.] drug trafficking work is largely run out of Canada.”

It’s wort noting that the CGA has not commented on the U.S. stance. However, with an open regulated online gaming market in Alberta seemingly an inevitability and still targeted by the end of 2025, ensuring robust AML regulations will likely remain a priority for industry stakeholders.

Meanwhile, at home, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party are the runaway favourites to be the next leaders of Canada. As noted by Gaming News Canada, the Conservatives have vowed to pursue tougher AML rules, and a section of their policy on crime backs up Asher’s cross-border assertions and includes a list of proposed changes to tighten legislation.

It could all add up to action on the issue this year. It’s certainly a space worth watching.

Light & Wonder promotes Simon Johnson to iGaming CEO

Light & Wonder has promoted Simon Johnson to the role of CEO of iGaming.

Johnson will fill the position that was vacated by Dylan Slaney in November when he stepped down for personal reasons after roughly four years in the job. Johnson will report directly to Light & Wonder President and CEO Matt Wilson.

Light & Wonder told SBC Americas at the time of Slaney’s departure that the company’s leadership had “unwavering faith in our current team’s ability to unlock even greater opportunity moving forward.”

Now, its iGaming division will move forward under Johnson, who served as the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Division before transitioning in September 2022 into the position of SVP and International Managing Director.

In a post on LinkedIn, the company said that Johnson “has been instrumental in driving the international commercial efforts of the Gaming business.”

“As we embark on a new year, I am energized by the opportunities ahead and eager to work with our incredibly talented iGaming team across the world,” Johnson wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

Light & Wonder looks to build on 2024 progress

Under Slaney’s oversight, Light & Wonder’s iGaming division revenue grew 5.7% in Q3 2024 to exceed $74 million, which the company said reflected continued momentum and new launches in North America and beyond.

EVP and CFO Oliver Chow said on an earnings call in November that gross gaming revenue on its OGS aggregation platform continues to expand across the board. In Canada, such revenue was up 29% year over year.

Wilson added on the call that Light & Wonder iGaming is the U.S. market leader in GGR share.

The company’s recent expansion in Canada has included an international distribution deal with Bragg Gaming Group to roll out games from the Toronto-based company’s various studios. It also partnered with Loto-Québec to launch the lottery corporation’s first cross-platform mystery jackpot.

A recent report from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming found that Light & Wonder has grown its Canadian online casino GGR share from 11% to 15% in the last 18 months.

Great Canadian Casino Toronto becomes WSOP’s exclusive home in Ontario

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto can now boast of being the exclusive destination for World Series of Poker (WSOP) events in Ontario.

Great Canadian Entertainment and GGPoker, the new owner of WSOP, have announced a new exclusive partnership that makes GGPoker the official sponsor of The Poker Room at Casino Resort Toronto.

The deal means the Great Canadian Casino will be the only host venue for WSOP tournaments, including circuit bracelet and ring events, in Ontario.

The companies added that The Poker Room will soon offer enhanced experiences and amenities, such as upgraded televisions, high-speed wifi and a new players’ lounge.

Great Canadian Entertainment and the Toronto casino hope that the exclusivity deal will help to cement the location as Ontario’s best poker and VIP destination.

“This collaboration ups the ante on Toronto’s poker offerings, giving players access to the top tournaments and rewards, and cements Great Canadian Toronto as the go-to destination for a world-class poker experience in the city,” said Great Canadian Entertainment EVP Michael Kim.

Sarne Lightman, managing director of GGPoker, added that the partnership “combines the best of live and online poker, offering players premier tournaments and rewards and solidifying Ontario as a hub for world-class poker.”

Deal cements WSOP partnership

Great Canadian’s $1 billion Toronto resort opened in June 2023 with 328,000 sq. ft. of gaming space as well as a 400-room hotel, a 5,000-seater events theatre and other amenities. Back in September, it opened new high-limit table games and slots rooms to augment its offerings.

The resort had already struck a deal with GGPoker over WSOP. Last spring, from March 22 to April 1, it hosted Toronto’s first-ever WSOP Circuit event. That was an 11-day tournament with a total a prize pool of $5.5 million, exceeding the initial estimate of $3.9 million in prize money.

Dates for 2025 WSOP events at the Toronto resort will be announced soon.

Nuvei partners with GiG on integrated payments

Canadian fintech company Nuvei has entered a new strategic partnership with B2B iGaming technology provider Gaming Innovation Group (GiG).

The collaboration enables iGaming operators to optimize their payments functionality through their existing integration with GiG’s CoreX solution.

CoreX is an AI-driven player account management (PAM) platform for online casino and sportsbook brands which provides flexibility to localize operations in any regulated jurisdiction, aiding operators’ ability to meet market demands and expand across international markets through a single, integrated platform.

In September, GiG chose a Nuvei competitor, Paysafe, as the preferred payment solution for all of its iGaming and online sports betting brands across North America, Latin America and Europe.

However, integration with Nuvei now provides GiG-supported operators in over 200 countries with connectivity to 720 alternative payment methods.

Nuvei said in a release that the new partnership delivers a comprehensive solution “that addresses the needs of modern online gaming businesses.”

“We’re excited to partner with a proven technology leader and industry expert like GiG,” Nuvei Chair and CEO Philip Fayer said. “This integration showcases our commitment to providing the most relevant and modern payment solutions that drive growth for our customers. By combining Nuvei’s robust modular payment technology with GiG’s innovative CoreX platform, we’re delivering unparalleled value to iGaming operators worldwide.”

James Coxon, COO at GiG, added that the direct integration will enable GiG’s clients to optimize their payment processes, ultimately improving player satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Nuvei goes private, looks to Brazil

Nuvei confirmed in November that it has obtained all necessary regulatory approvals to complete its acquisition by private equity firm Advent International.

First announced in April, the all-cash transaction gave Nuvei an enterprise value of around $8.5 billion CAD. Fayer rolled approximately 95% of his shares in Nuvei, whose investors include Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, and continues as one of the largest shareholders in the company, while also retaining his positions as chair and CEO.

The company has also taken other recent steps in the Americas, notably striking a deal to power payments for Delaware North’s online real-money casino and sports betting brand Betly.

It is also looking towards Brazil’s newly launched gaming market. In August, the Montreal-based firm announced it had agreed to buy licensed Brazilian payments provider Pay2All.

Trudeau to resign, leaving federal gambling legislation in jeopardy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intends to resign once the Liberal Party has chosen a successor.

Trudeau made the announcement outside his official Rideau Cottage residence on Monday morning.

“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it’s become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau told reporters.

His declaration comes in the wake of his Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland — touted by some as a contender to replace him as Liberal leader — resigning just before Christmas, on the day that she was due to present the federal government’s Fall Economic Statement.

Trudeau has been under intensifying pressure to resign. His public opinion polling has plummeted and, per CBC News, at least two dozen individual MPs and several regional caucuses have called for him to step down over the last few weeks.

Prorogation could kill federal betting ads bill

Trudeau also said on Monday that Governor General Mary Simon has granted his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24 to allow his party to hold a leadership contest. The legislature had been scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 27.

As a result, all parliamentary business will stop and, generally speaking, any legislation before the House of Commons and the Senate is dead until the next session begins. That means that Bill S-269, which would require the Minister of Canadian Heritage to develop a national framework for regulating sports betting advertising across the country, would need to be revived in order to have a future.

The National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act was advanced by the Senate in November but hit quicksand before it could be taken up in the House. The chamber is locked in an impasse with the Liberals and the Conservatives at loggerheads over access to unredacted documents and there was little headway before the chamber adjourned on Dec. 17.

Trudeau said his move on Monday was a necessary step in clearing the legislative standstill, noting that “despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for month.”

Canadian federal law dictates that prorogation means bills which have not received Royal Assent are “entirely terminated” and must be reintroduced if they are to be taken up in the new session. However, a provision allows bills to be reinstated at their most recent stage if a motion to do so is agreed upon under certain conditions.

Bill S-269 isn’t necessarily dead. But, with Parliament now not due back for almost three months, betting advertising likely not a top-of-mind issue when it does return, and the political climate this spring uncertain to say the least, the outlook isn’t exactly rosy.

In contrast, prorogation will not affect the discussion on the legality of international liquidity in Ontario gaming, which is awaiting a decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Big Canadian political shift incoming?

Trudeau’s resignation has sportsbooks and observers predicting that a Canadian federal election will now come much sooner than the schedule October date, perhaps as soon as the spring. Prorogation does mean, though, that opposition parties can’t trigger an election with a no-confidence motion before the Liberals have a new leader in place.

Whenever the election does happen, a broad political shift at the federal level is in the cards.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a native Albertan, is the runaway favourite to be Canada’s next Prime Minister and his party have vowed to move a motion of no-confidence against the Liberal government early this year to force the issue. That would require the support of the NDP, whose leader Jagmeet Singh, who ended his agreement to support the Liberals in September and has urged Canadians not to vote for them.

Titanplay and Delasport take iGaming partnership mobile in Ontario

Ontario-focused iGaming operator Titanplay is now available on a new mobile platform provided by its partner Delasport.

Titanplay, operated by Malta-based Shark77 Ltd., has been live in the Ontario regulated iGaming market since June 2024, powered by Delasport’s turnkey iGaming solution.

Now, its mobile users in Ontario will gain access to a full casino and sportsbook experience, including Delasport’s My Sportsbook, My Casino, My Combo and My Event Builder tools. Titanplay’s mobile offering also incorporates Delasport’s proprietary Booster Panel for casino games and Combo of the Day for sports.

The Delasport sports betting solutions provided to Titanplay also include gamification and customization tools including cross-product tournaments, missions, badges and Spin & Win.

Titanplay’s mobile app is currently available in the App Store on iOS devices and will soon be available via the Google Play Store for Android devices.

“Having a mobile-first approach when developing products is a must in today’s iGaming Industry,” said Delasport CEO Oren Cohen Shwartz. “Data shows that mobile users are now more than 70% of the whole player base, so we make sure to be prepared to bring our partners to this thriving market at any point.

“This is the case with Titanplay who’ve had an incredibly successful launch in Ontario last year and are now ready to win even more players.”

Delasport’s footprint in Ontario also includes partnerships with the likes of Canadian platform provider Green Brick Labs (GBL) and operators like Ocean88 and Goldrush Gaming.

Exclusive VIP program launched by Rivalry amid rebrand

Toronto-based sports betting and media company Rivalry is providing its loyal players with an opportunity to win exclusive rewards.

The licensed online sportsbook and casino, which specializes in crypto wagering, has launched a VIP program allowing players to earn points as they wager. Rivalry’s VIP program utilizes a level progression structure to allow its players to earn a variety of rewards.

The rewards include cashback of up to 11% distributed through free spins or bets. Rivalry is also providing VIP players with the opportunity to receive a deposit match of up to $50.

Daily bonuses and access to a VIP manager are also up for grabs to program members.

Rivalry has debuted its new VIP program ahead of the release of its crypto token, NUTZ. The token is expected to hit the market later this year and comes as Rivalry updates its payment systems allowing users to access crypto wallets and currencies from various exchanges. The update is available in licensed Rivalry markets outside of Canada.

Rivalry revamps business operations

The company, which reported a $79.9 million betting handle in Q3 2024, is diversifying its offerings as part of an overhaul that includes product enhancements and a rebrand.

Rivalry is planning to target crypto gamblers and digital-first players as part of its rebrand. The company’s executive team has also reduced their salaries to reach profitability.

“It’s important that the leadership team share in the sacrifices we’ve asked of our team and shareholders in the near term as we complete this top-to-bottom realignment and strategy shift which we can now build off of,” said CEO Steven Salz in the company’s Q3 report.

Aristocrat Interactive brings Betiton online casino to Ontario

Aristocrat Interactive now has two white-labeled online casino brands live in the Ontario market after extending its partnership with Malta-based Betiton into the province.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) lists Betiton as a licensed iGaming operator as of Dec. 13, 2024.

Betiton is the second online casino brand to be launched in Ontario by the Aristocrat Interactive iGaming White-Label division, after MagicRed Casino, which was licensed by the AGCO in late November. Aristocrat already white-labels Betiton in three other markets.

“Betiton’s launch in Ontario reflects our commitment to supporting clients with the technology and services they need to successfully enter and grow in regulated markets,” said Jonathan Chilton, managing director of Aristocrat Interactive iGaming White-Label. “We are excited to help bring Betiton online in Ontario and look forward to seeing them deliver an exceptional gaming experience to players in the region.”

The licenses for both brands were issued to AG Communications Ltd., which does business as Aspire Global. AG Communications was acquired by NeoGames in 2022, before NeoGames was in turn bought by Aristocrat.

Aristocrat Interactive looking towards Canadian expansion

Aristocrat Interactive is a new official business segment that combines its Anaxi, NeoGames, Aspire Global, BtoBet and Pariplay brands under one roof. It is comprised of five businesses, one of which is its iGaming White-Label arm, which delivers solutions for independent casino and sportsbook operators.

The White-Label casino platform features exclusive content from Roxor Gaming, one of Aristocrat Interactive’s three in-house gaming studios. Aristocrat says it plans to add content from Wizard Games and its own Aristocrat Interactive studio in the future.

Through its ownership of the Pariplay and NeoGames brands, in particular, Aristocrat Interactive already has an extensive reach in the Canadian online casino market. Last year, NeoGames struck its first digital content partnership in Canada with Atlantic Lottery Corporation, giving it access to numerous east-coast provinces.

NeoPollard Interactive, a company jointly owned by Pollard Banknote and NeoGames, has long powered lottery corporations’ gaming offerings across Canada.

Last summer, Aristocrat Interactive also struck a deal to offer a range of its gaming titles on Play Alberta’s website and the new app launched by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) in recent months.

Aristocrat Interactive’s Content & Aggregation VP of Sales & Business Development Andrew Maclean spoke to SBC in October about the size of the opportunity in Canada and wider North America. The Ontario launch of Betiton is the latest step on the road.

Blazesoft partners with Revolver Gaming across North America

Toronto-based social casino operator Blazesoft has partnered with online slot games developer Revolver Gaming in Canada and the U.S.

Revolver Gaming’s portfolio of slots, including titles such as Badlands, Irish Coins, and Thor of Asgard, will be hosted on Blazesoft’s online casino brands.

The developer said the partnership will allow Blazesoft to strengthen its position as a prominent group operating the largest online social casinos throughout North America.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Blazesoft, a standout operator in the social sweepstakes sector,” said Revolver Gaming CEO Ryan Lazarus. “This collaboration highlights our commitment to bringing top-quality games to players in innovative and growing markets. The social sweepstakes space is booming, and Blazesoft’s platforms provide the perfect home for our titles to reach and engage new audiences.”

Blazesoft operates the Fortune Coins Casino, Zula Casino, Yay Casino and Sportzino brands. The most recent of those, online crypto social casino Yay Casino, went live in the U.S. in October. The company said the launch continues its focus on growth in the social space as it aims to increase the visibility and size of its existing brands.

Revolver Gaming is the latest game developer to strike a partnership with Blazesoft following other recent deals with suppliers including Spinmatic and RAW Group.

“With Blazesoft’s established reputation and Revolver’s innovative content, this collaboration sets the stage for enhanced player experiences and strong market performance,” added Blazesoft Chief Commercial Officer Yuliya Ivanisova of the new partnership.

Recapping the biggest Canadian gaming storylines in 2024

For the Canadian gaming industry, 2024 brought numerous big-picture developments that could have a significant impact on what comes next in 2025.

From court cases to parliamentary proceedings, advertising to Alberta, here are some of the biggest storylines worth remembering from the year that was.

Alberta clears way for iGaming, delays launch

All the hypothetical talk of Alberta launching regulated commercial iGaming became a firm plan in motion in 2024.

March’s fiscal budget commissioned a review of the province’s Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, before Minister Dale Nally vaunted the plan for an open market at the Canadian Gaming Summit in June and began discussions with stakeholders in the summer. Eager talk of a launch by the end of 2024 proved unrealistic. Nally’s office told us in October that it was taking its time to facilitate further due-diligence talks with stakeholders. A launch is still expected in 2025, although in what quarter or even half of the year remains up for debate.

The most meaningful, iron-clad change came in May when the Alberta legislature passed Bill 16, thereby validating that the provincial government has the authority to conduct and manage gaming separately from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC). In essence, that legally cleared the path for chosen third-party operators to offer gaming alongside the AGLC’s Play Alberta online sportsbook and casino.

Court upholds Ontario iGaming model

Alberta intends to establish a similar model to Ontario, wherein the commercial regulated industry is conducted and managed by a dedicated entity. But even two years into Ontario’s market, questions were raised over the way things were being done.

In a hugely significant court ruling, the Ontario Superior Court determined that iGaming Ontario’s (iGO) online gaming model was legal within the Criminal Code. The Quebec-based Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) had challenged the model, asserting it was “illegal and unconstitutional.” That argument was dismissed and Ontario’s model was upheld. The MCK chose not to appeal and confirmed it had ceased operating its Mohawk Online Ltd. subsidiary in the province as a result, ending its partnership with Entain on the Sports Interaction brand in Canada.

The court decision laid down a marker that Ontario’s open online gaming market, the first in Canada, has full legal standing. Other provinces will have observed with interest.

iGO to go independent in 2025

Until now, iGO has governed the regulated market as a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), but that’s about to change.

When Ontario approved its fall 2024 budget measures, it passed the iGaming Ontario Act, which officially ends the parent-subsidiary relationship. As a result, iGO will become an entirely standalone, fully independent board-governed agency in 2025 when the measure is enacted.

Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General told us that the change addresses a concern of a conflict of interest raised by the Auditor General. The AGCO regulates the offerings of Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG), the government corporation that was previously the only provider of approved Ontario online gaming. OLG’s commercial competitors have been regulated by the AGCO and, unlike OLG, conducted and managed by iGO. Independence from the AGCO is seen by some as a logical next step in the evolution of Ontario’s market. Under a to-be-named new leader, iGO will move forward with operational freedom in 2025.

National advertising debate moves through Senate

Betting advertising was a topic du jour in 2024 as the proposed National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act went through hours of federal discussion.

Bill S-269 sponsor Sen. Marty Deacon noted at the initial committee hearing in June that federal lawmakers have “the privilege of sober second thought” as they reflect on whether Canadian sports betting advertising needs to be federally regulated, and if so, how.

Bill S-269 would require the Minister of Canadian Heritage to develop a national framework for sports betting advertising based around “reasonable limits” that could include restrictions on the timing, frequency and placement of ads, as well as what marketing can entail. After hours of committee debate, the bill progressed through the Senate in November and will be read in the House of Commons in 2025. When exactly is uncertain. The advertising issue is far from over.

Jontay Porter first post-PASPA NBAer banned for betting

Jontay Porter’s status as a Toronto Raptor made his lifetime ban from the NBA headline Canadian news in the spring.

When he was handed a permanent ban by the league in April, the two-way forward became the first active NBA player or coach to be expelled for gambling since Jack Molinas in 1954. Porter was found to have conspired to leave games early so that his co-conspirators could win ‘under’ prop bets on his performance.

Porter pleaded guilty to the U.S. federal crime of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and will be sentenced in May 2025. He could also face criminal charges in Canada, as he is being investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The scandal prompted betting numerous sportsbooks to stop offering certain ‘under’ prop bets on NBA players on two-way or 10-day contracts.

Is regulated international P2P play on the horizon?

One more legal issue to keep an eye on is the question of international liquidity. In the spring, Ontario filed a reference question with the Court of Appeal to clarify the legality of allowing in-province online poker and DFS players to compete against players outside Canada.

The matter was discussed formally in November with witnesses from the likes of FanDuel owner Flutter, the Canadian Gaming Association, the Canadian Lottery Coalition and more providing testimony. A decision will come sometime in 2025; in the meantime, we broke down what was discussed.

If international P2P play is determined to be legal, it could prompt the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings and FanDuel to re-fire the DFS operations they shut down due to a lack of cross-jurisdictional liquidity since Ontario’s iGaming market opened in 2022. And, on a larger scale, validating international P2P play could have seismic ramifications for how online gambling is conducted across Canada down the line.