Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/05/24
iGaming Ontario Shares Second-Highest Quarterly Performance Since 2022 Debut
Online gaming in Ontario showed an impressive first quarter compared to the previous year, with non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) reaching CA$313.3 million, up from last year’s first quarter result of CA$250.1 million.
In addition to year-on-year revenue increasing, month-on-month NAGGR experienced a 6% rise, increasing from CA$296 million. Not only that, but April’s Q1 was the second-best quarterly performance for Ontario’s iGaming market, only being beaten by January 2025, which reported CA$328.4 million in Q4 revenue.
Total cash wagers yielded CA$7.7 billion, a month-on-month decline of 2%, dropping from the previous month’s total of CA$7.9 billion. Of total cash wagers, casino products had the most significant market share, recording 84% of the total wagers. This was followed by betting (14%) and peer-to-peer poker (2%).
Yet, despite being the second most successful month in terms of NAGGR, all three products reported month-on-month declines, with betting dropping 10% compared to poker and casinos, which recorded declines of 2% and 1%, respectively.
Ontario’s iGaming market launched in 2022 and in its first year of operation, topped CA$2.4 billion in gaming revenue.
First Nations Casino Owners Sue Mohawk Council CA$200 Million
Two First Nation casino owners have filed a lawsuit against the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake for ignoring the pair’s right to due process when the council shut down the Magic Palace Casino in 2024.
The two casino owners, Stanley Myiow and Barry Alfred, are now suing the council up to CA$200 million.
Magic Palace Casino was allegedly closed after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigated the casino for its ties to an Albanian investor who was suspected of laundering money to a Mexican cartel.
According to the lawsuit, the council closed the casino without confirming the claims made against it, stating, “Without prior notice or warning, the plaintiffs’ 15-year-long operations were abruptly forced to a halt within mere hours.
Myiow and Alfred are reportedly seeking CA$220 million in damages, which includes CA$155 million for a failed expansion project.
Random State Secures Ontario iGaming License
The Swedish-based technology provider Random State has revealed that it has secured an iGaming license allowing the group to operate in Ontario. The license marks Random State’s launch in the North American-regulated market.
“Securing the Ontario licence is a milestone our entire team has worked tirelessly toward,” said Random State co-founder and chief operating officer Adam Fonsica. “Ontario not only validates the quality and integrity of our technology; it also gives us a launchpad for the wider North American market.
The license was issued by Ontario’s gaming regulator the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), with Random State expecting to go live in the province in the latter half of 2025, launching its multiplayer bingo games.
“We look forward to delivering our signature eInstant games and multiplayer bingo hub to Ontario players later this year, in partnership with a soon-to-be-announced operator,” Fonsica added.
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/
