Canada
i3 Interactive Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Controlling Interest of India-Based Online Poker Operation
i3 Interactive Inc. is pleased to announce that it has entered into a business combination agreement dated August 6, 2020 with an arm’s length, private British Columbia corporation (the “B.C. Corp.”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of B.C. Corp. (the “Target Shares”). Upon completion of the Proposed Acquisition (as defined below), the Resulting i3 Subsidiary (as defined below) will hold an indirect, 65% controlling interest in an entity which owns an active Indian poker brand (the “India Poker Operation”). The brand is part of a poker network in India with over a million registrations and over 75,000 active users as of the month of July, 2020. Following completion of the Proposed Acquisition, the Company intends to relaunch the Indian Poker Operation under the brand name “Blitzpoker”, with Blitzpoker expected to offer, among other things, a variety of game modes in Texas Hold’em and Omaha for players of all skill levels.
The Proposed Acquisition
The acquisition contemplated by the Definitive Agreement (the “Proposed Acquisition”) will be carried out by way of a three-cornered amalgamation to be completed under the Business Corporations Act (British Colombia), among the Company, B.C. Corp., and 1260039 B.C. Ltd. (“Subco”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated for the purposes of completing the three-cornered amalgamation. The Proposed Acquisition is expected to result in B.C. Corp. combining its corporate existence with Subco, and the entity resulting from the amalgamation (the “Resulting i3 Subsidiary”) continuing as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company under the name “i3 India Holdings Corp.”
As part of the Proposed Acquisition, the former shareholders of B.C. Corp. will receive one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (“Common Share”) in exchange for each Target Share held by them (the “Exchange Ratio“). There are currently 5,159,600 Target Shares issued and outstanding, and upon closing of the Proposed Acquisition, the former shareholders of B.C. Corp are expected to hold an aggregate of 5,159,600 Common Shares. B.C. Corp. does not have any issued and outstanding convertible securities.
The Proposed Acquisition is an arm’s length transaction subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, applicable shareholder and regulatory approvals, and B.C. Corp. having successfully completed the acquisition, through its wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, of an entity which owns a 65% controlling interest in the Indian Poker Operation. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Acquisition will be completed as proposed or at all.
ABOUT I3 INTERACTIVE INC.
The Company is in the business of developing an online and mobile gaming platform in order to provide sports fans worldwide with a unique and highly-engaging social gaming product, and sports betting and casino product offering. In an effort to break into the various emerging global markets, the Company has secured partnerships with key industry contacts, including Dan Bilzerian, an internationally renowned and widely respected social media celebrity with over 50 million social media followers.
High Roller Technologies and Playtech announced a strategic partnership for Ontario, Canada, that will see Playtech provide its industry-leading technology to power High Roller’s platform and premium brand, ensuring a seamless, high-quality experience for players in the region.
Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller, said: “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.”
Sergey Harutyunyan, Chief Revenue Officer at Playtech, said: “We are delighted to partner with High Roller as they expand into Ontario. Playtech’s technology is designed to support operators in regulated markets, and we look forward to working together to provide High Roller’s players with safe, innovative, and engaging gaming experiences.”
Ontario represents a key market for both companies, featuring a robust regulatory framework and fast-growing player base. Recently, High Roller announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application for Ontario, and subject to licensing and regulatory approval, High Roller anticipates launching live operations in H2 2025.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is supporting accessibility in the iGaming industry with the launch of Red Panda Tails of Wealth – the first digital slot game designed with built-in accessible features to support players with disabilities.
In the popular digital casino landscape, people with disabilities often face barriers to participation. Instead of waiting for change, OLG is driving it by introducing the industry’s first inclusive gaming experience that provides the same fun and excitement to all players.
“We are excited to launch Red Panda Tails of Wealth on olg.ca, which is the result of a focused effort to put accessibility at the forefront of game design. The game is a proof of concept that shows how removing barriers to play can move us towards a more inclusive future in the gaming industry,” said Dave Pridmore, OLG’s Chief Gaming Officer.
With nearly one-third (28%; StatCan 2022) of Ontarians reporting a disability, the launch of Red Panda Tails of Wealth breaks barriers and provides more equitable access to play for an often-overlooked audience.
While Red Panda Tails of Wealth mirrors the appearance and gameplay of other iCasino slot games in market, it is built with universal design principles to deliver a fun, inclusive and user-friendly experience for all players.
Key accessibility features include:
• Compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers and keyboard navigation
• A high-contrast colour palette for enhanced visibility
• An accessible heads-up display engineered to integrate seamlessly into future games.
To develop this first-of-its-kind game, OLG collaborated with Pixiu Gaming and Light & Wonder Spark. To ensure the game was accessible and inclusive OLG partnered with Fable – a Toronto-based company that connects organizations with people with disabilities for digital accessibility insights.
The insights from people with disabilities collected via remote user testing sessions played a key role in helping OLG create a game that meets real-world accessibility needs.
“Our mission at Fable is to empower people with disabilities to participate, contribute, and shape society – and this is how true accessibility is achieved. We’re thrilled to partner with OLG, who recognize the importance of embedding the voices and experiences of people with disabilities throughout the development of their new game,” said Kate Kalcevich, Head of Innovation at Fable.
High Roller Technologies, operator of the premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced the submission of its Internet Gaming Operator license application in Ontario, Canada, targeting the launch of its flagship brand HighRoller.com in the second half of 2025.
“The submission of our licensing application to access Ontario’s regulated online gambling market is an important milestone in our Company’s journey. Once our application is approved, we anticipate that we will have the opportunity to launch our online casino product into the market later this year,” said Ben Clemes, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.
Ontario is one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in the world as measured by gross gaming revenue. In 2024, regulated online gambling operators within the province generated approximately $2.3B in gross gaming revenue, and growth continues to be recorded in the first half of 2025. Recently, the province of Alberta passed enabling legislation to establish a regulatory framework for online gambling. Once available, the Company also intends to pursue licensure in Alberta to expand its regulated market footprint in Canada.
“Ontario is missing an elegant brand like High Roller. We’re excited to roll out the red carpet for our new customers, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our tremendous product,” said Clemes.
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