Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/06/07
High Roller Enters Partnership with Playtech in Ontario
Online casino operator High Roller Technologies partnered with casino software developer Playtech before its expected launch in Ontario.
As part of the partnership, Playtech will provide High Roller with operating technology to help power its online casino brand, which is seeking regulatory approval in the province.
“Collaborating with Playtech in Ontario is an exciting step for High Roller as we continue to grow and evolve. Playtech’s well-established technology will be instrumental to our mission of providing a world-class entertainment experience for our players,” said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.
High Roller announced on May 27 that it had submitted a gaming license application in Ontario, aiming to launch in the second half of 2025. The group cites Ontario’s growing regulated market, which generated $2.3 billion in gaming revenue in 2024, as one of the reasons for its expansion.
“Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller,” added Clemes. “We’re excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product.”
Canadian Lawmaker Renews Push for Regulation on Sports Betting Ads
Senate Public Bill 211, sponsored by Hon. Sen. Marty Deacon, has been approved by the Canadian Senate and awaits the conclusion of its second reading.
S-211 was introduced on May 26 and follows the same legislation as its predecessor bill, S-269, which sought to establish a national framework to regulate sports betting advertisements in Canada.
S-269 initially passed the Canadian Senate, with lawmakers voting in favor of the bill last November. However, its progress came to a halt in the House of Commons, and a discussion never took place before the House adjourned on December 17.
“It is [Deacon’s] hope to get this bill passed through the Senate expeditiously, and back to the floor of the House of Commons, where her former Bill S-269 was awaiting second reading before parliament was prorogued, which killed the bill,” a spokesperson for Deacon told Canadian Gaming Business.
The new bill, like the old one, aims to develop a national framework that would identify measures to limit the use of gambling advertising and promote supportive measures to curb gambling addiction.
Ontario iGaming Revenue Rises 25% Year-on-Year in April
Online gaming revenue in Ontario hit $313.2 million for April, a 25.3% increase from the previous year’s figure of $250 million. In addition, total gaming revenue also increased 5.8% month-on-month, rising from $296 million.
Casino gaming amounted to the majority of total gaming revenue, recording $242.8 million, a 35.6% year-on-year increase. In comparison, sports betting produced $64.5 million in April, the same figure as last year, while poker games grew 3.5% year-on-year, generating $5.9 million in gaming revenue.
Despite total gaming revenue increasing month-on-month, Ontario bettors spent less in April. Total cash wagers reached $7.8 billion, falling short of the $8 billion placed in March 2025, a 2% decline.
Of this total, casino cash wagers declined 1% month-on-month, sports betting decreased by 10%, and poker dropped 2% compared to March figures.
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/
