Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/06/28
SIGA Breaks New Revenue Record for the 2024-2025 FY
The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), a non-profit organization that operates seven casinos in Saskatchewan, has reported record-breaking figures for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Gross revenue topped $378 million, rising from $347 million reported in the previous fiscal year. On top of that, final distribution income reached $146 million, growing from $139 million year-on-year.
SIGA notes that all net income is reinvested into the province, while casino net income is distributed between the First Nations Trust, the Community Development Corporations, and the provincial General Revenue Fund.
“SIGA has successfully built itself back to strength post-pandemic and is making investments into its future with the strong growth of its PlayNow.com platform and enhancements to our land-based casinos, ensuring we remain top entertainment destinations in the province,” said SIGA President & CEO Zane Hansen.
In addition, SIGA donates $2.5 million annually to the First Nations Addictions and Rehabilitation Foundation, supporting responsible gambling initiatives.
PENN Entertainment Announces Layoffs for Canadian Sportsbook
Sports betting and casino operator PENN Entertainment has laid off over 75 employees from its Canadian sportsbook, theScore.
Employees from theScore’s editorial newsroom, sales, and content teams will depart the company. PENN will focus on restructuring its brand to better optimize Ontario’s growing iGaming market.
Talking to SBC, a spokesperson for PENN said, “These changes reflect the ongoing evolution of our digital business. Under the leadership of key recent product and technology hires, we are structured to advance our online strategy and efficiently grow our business.”
theScore initially went live in New Jersey in 2019, with PENN buying the sportsbook in 2021 for $2 billion. The following year, it went live in Ontario, offering both an online sportsbook and casino to Ontario players.
Yet, this isn’t the only time PENN has laid off its workers. In 2024, the sportsbook operator also parted ways with approximately 100 employees, including from its US sportsbook platform, ESPN Bet.
Ontario Reaches New iGaming Revenue Milestone in May
Ontario’s regulated iGaming market has outperformed itself again, reaching its highest monthly non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) since its launch in 2022, at $338 million.
This total was up 8% month-on-month, topping April’s figure of $313.3 million. However, NAGGR rose even more compared to last year’s figure, rising from $240.6 million, a 40.3% year-on-year increase. May’s total also beat the previous record, $328.4 million, set in January 2025 by 2.9%.
Of the $338 million, online casino activity made up the majority, at $259.8 million, recording a 45.3% year-on-year rise and representing 77% of the overall market. Following this, sports betting yielded $71.8 million in NAGGR, a 26.3% yearly increase, and internet poker generated $6.3 million, a year-on-year rise of 18.9%.
Total cash wagers also broke a new record in May, reaching $8.1 billion, surpassing the previous high of $7.9 billion recorded in March. Average revenue per active player account (ARPPA) was also up month-on-month, rising 10%, while active player accounts were down 2% compared to April, only recording 1,068 in May.
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/
