Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/09/13
Canadian Doctors Warn of Gambling Advertisement Impacts on Children and Adolescents
Doctors in Canada have warned about the impact of sports betting advertising for children, after studies have found that those facing gambling addictions face a higher risk of suicide, substance use disorder, theft, weapons use, and assault.
In an editorial, co-authored with Dr Shannon Charlebois, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Kelly discussed the potential harms to children that stem from sports betting ads, despite the age restriction placed on gambling.
They have called for the Senate Bill S-211to be expedited, which was created to develop a national framework for the regulation and set national standards to regulate and prevent negative risks from sports betting advertising.
This is due to Kelly describing adolescents as being increasingly prone to risk-taking behaviours, as a survey in 2019 (before single-game sports betting was legalized) of students in grades 7-12 found that four percent expressed having an urge to gamble, and two percent exhibited symptoms of gambling addiction.
Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, iGaming in Ontario saw over $63 billion bet by residents, and while underage gambling is uncommon, as it is age-restricted to either 18 or 19, depending on the province, there is still evidence that gambling addiction can begin at the age of 10.
Thunderkick Partners with Betty to Expand Ontario Presence
Slot developer Thunderkick has partnered with online casino operator, Betty, to supply casino game titles to the site.
A selection of Thunderkicks titles will be introduced to the platform, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3.
“It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible. Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players,” said Svante Sahlström, the Chief Commercial Officer at Thunderkick.
Betty was established in 2022 and has since developed a portfolio of over 2,800 games after building the platform with the consultation of 300 casino players.
“Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.
Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience,” continued Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty.
Absolute Bet Granted Ontario Operator License
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has awarded Absolutebet an internet gaming operator license to offer iGaming services. As an Ontario-based company, the achievement of obtaining a license where it is based is a boost for the company.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of Absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world. We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion,” said Chen Truman, the Founder of Absolutebet.
It joins the regulated gaming market, which generated over $300 million in revenue in June of this year, between its iGaming, poker, and online sports betting sectors.
“I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the Absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way,” added Krisztina Kalla, the legal and regulatory compliance advisor of Absolutebet.
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/
