Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2026/04/25
Amusnet Secures Ontario License
Bulgarian casino game developer Amusnet has secured a license from Ontario’s gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which will allow the company to enter the regulated online gaming market in the province.
The approval means that Amusnet can supply its online gaming content to licensed operators in Ontario, marking its first expansion into North America. According to the company, it will begin by offering its online content before expanding into land-based games over the coming months.
Ontario is one of the largest regulated gambling markets in North America, having launched in 2022. It has a strict framework of rules on compliance, security, and player protection, and gaining an Ontario license is a significant development for the company.
In a statement announcing the license, Amusnet said this was part of a broader strategy to expand its presence in regulated markets and that it is considering further opportunities across Canada.
Alberta Receives 33 Online Gambling Applications
Alberta has received 33 licence applications from operators hoping to enter its online gambling market ahead of the planned launch on July 13, according to the Service Alberta Minister Dave Nally.
Currently, online gambling in Alberta is offered through the government-run Play Alberta platform, and officials have estimated that approximately 70% of online gambling revenue in the province is generated by unregulated offshore operators.
The province will become the second in Canada to open its online casino and sports betting market to private companies, following Ontario.
The provincial government has set a tax rate of 20% for licensed operators in the new market, but Nally stated that while tax revenue is a significant factor behind the launch, the main focus is on regulating the market and addressing unlicensed gambling activity.
The Alberta market is expected to mirror aspects of Ontario’s regulated system, and several companies have publicly begun preparing for the launch, including DraftKings, which recently opened preregistration for Alberta customers. Penn Entertainment has also indicated plans to invest between $15 million and $20 million in marketing and customer acquisition in the province.
RubyPlay Partners with Caesars to Expand Distribution in Ontario
Game developer RubyPlay has entered into an agreement with casino operator Caesars Entertainment to deliver a selection of its online casino games to players in Ontario.
Under the deal, several well-known RubyPlay titles will be made available to Ontario customers of Caesars Entertainment’s digital platforms, including Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, and Horseshoe Online Casino.
The partnership follows RubyPlay’s initial entry into the Ontario market in early 2025. The company said additional content from its portfolio, including titles developed by Koala Games, may be introduced as part of the rollout, and the partnership may also expand to other jurisdictions.
Speaking about the significance of the partnership, the Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay, Dima Reiderman, described Caesars as a respected name in gambling.
He said, “Launching with Caesars in Ontario allows us to further scale our content offering within a highly competitive regulated market. Our approach is to deliver high-performing titles that align with each operator’s needs, combining the flexibility required for local markets with the consistency needed to scale, while ensuring efficient rollout and strong market relevance.”
MPs Advance Sports Betting Advertising Bill S-211
On Wednesday, Bill S-211 passed a House of Commons vote by 291-28, and it will now proceed to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for further review.
The bill would task the federal Minister of Canadian Heritage with developing a national framework for sports betting advertising. This would include potential restrictions on the number, location, and content of ads, as well as tighter rules around the use of athletes and celebrities. It also calls for improved research efforts and stronger measures to address problem gambling, particularly among minors.
Ontario’s gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, already enforces similar restrictions, only permitting athletes in adverts when promoting responsible gambling.
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney backed the measure, with the majority of the “no” votes coming from Bloc Québécois MPs. Ontario is also reviewing separate legislation, in the form of the new provincial Bill 107, which could further restrict online gambling advertising.
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/
