Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/05/10
Octoplay Expands into Ontario with BetMGM
Online casino developer Octoplay has announced that it has expanded into the Ontario-regulated market with online operator BetMGM.
Octoplay, in collaboration with BetMGM, will launch its opt-in jackpot solution, Jackpot Blitz, to operators throughout the province. The group revealed that its jackpot service has garnered an 88% player opt-in since its launch and provides a strong foundation for Octoplay’s North American expansion plans.
Octoplay CEO Carl Ejlertsson expressed his delight with the launch and revealed that Ontario is a key accelerator for the company’s growth.
“Our strong partnership with BetMGM has enabled us to bring this innovative product to their Ontario players. With our proven track record of collaboration with top-tier gaming operators like BetMGM, we’re ideally positioned to drive significant growth together in regulated markets across North America,” Ejlertsson said.
Ontario’s entry follows recent launches in Italy, Slovakia, and Sweden. Octoplay is planning a Michigan launch later in 2025.
ToonieBet Launches Sportsbook in Ontario
Soft2Bet’s online casino and sportsbook, ToonieBet, has officially launched in Ontario, offering a personalized experience to Ontario residents.
The sportsbook, which will be available to download on the Apple and Google Play stores, includes accurate data feeds as well as real-time match analytics and a responsible gambling environment for players.
ToonieBet has also launched a sportsbook section on its website, offering more than 85,000 live events and 70,000 pre-match events available from various sports each month.
“As Soft2Bet continues our rapid growth, we are excited to provide Ontario players with access to ToonieBet’s sportsbook which is now available on the Apple App and Google Play Store, offering seamless access to a customised experience tailored for the province’s passionate gaming community,” said Yoel Zuckerberg, Soft2Bet’s Chief Product Officer.
AGCO Issues CA$151,000 Against Great Canadian for Age Verification Negligence
The Ontario gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), has announced that it will be issuing a CA$151,000 penalty to Great Canadian Entertainment for failing to prevent minors from entering its Toronto casinos.
An investigation probed by AGCO revealed that minors had gained access to casino floors and were participating in gambling at Canadian Entertainment properties. Two cases happened at Great Canadian Casino Resort, with one more reported at Casino Ajax and another at Pickering Casino Resort.
“Ontario casino operators have an obligation to ensure minors are not able to access casino floors or activities such as slot machines or table games. The AGCO will continue to monitor and hold all casino operators accountable for fulfilling this important role,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
iGaming Alberta Act Passes Third Reading
Bill 48, otherwise known as the iGaming Alberta Act, introduced by Minister Dale Nally, passed its third reading on Wednesday and now needs Royal Assent to become law.
The bill passed its third reading with no amendments and will create Canada’s second regulated iGaming market after Ontario’s regulated market went live in 2022. The bill will also create a new governing body to oversee iGaming in the province, the Alberta iGaming Corporation. At the same time, Alberta’s current regulator, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), will continue to regulate the market.
In a LinkedIn post, the Canadian Gaming Association congratulated Minister Nally and Alberta’s government on advancing iGaming in the province.
“The Canadian Gaming Association and its members extend their congratulations to Minister Dale Nally and the Government of Alberta for reaching this significant milestone and advancing towards the provision of regulated iGaming and enhanced consumer protections for its citizens,” the post read.
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/
