Canada
Great Canadian Gaming Announces the Temporary Suspension of Operations at Casino Nova Scotia Halifax

Further to the announcement on November 24, 2020 from the Nova Scotia provincial government that certain businesses in certain regions, such as casinos, will be required to close as part of the effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation will be suspending operations at Casino Nova Scotia Halifax as of Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 11:59pm AST. Casino Nova Scotia Sydney will remain open.
Great Canadian is committed to providing a safe environment for both its guests and team members and introduced significant health and safety protocols as part of the reopening of the Company’s properties in Ontario and New Brunswick on September 28, 2020, followed by its properties in Nova Scotia on October 5, 2020.
Great Canadian will continue to support the efforts of provincial governments, public health authorities, regulators and Crown partners in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Details regarding the reopening of Casino Nova Scotia Halifax will be announced at a later date.
Below is an overview of the operational status of the Company’s properties:
Current Status of Operations
Ontario |
Current Status |
Ontario |
Current Status |
|
Casino Woodbine |
Reopened September 28 with guest capacity of 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities; Closed October 9 |
Elements Casino Grand River |
Reopened September 28; Guest capacity 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
|
Elements Casino Mohawk |
Reopened September 28 with guest capacity of 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities; Closed November 15 |
Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands |
Reopened September 28; Guest capacity 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
|
Elements Casino Flamboro |
Reopened September 28 with guest capacity of 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities; Closed November 15 |
Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs |
Reopened September 28; Guest capacity 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
|
Casino Ajax |
Reopened September 28 with guest capacity of 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities; Closed November 22 |
Shorelines Casino Belleville |
Reopened September 28; Guest capacity 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
|
Great Blue Heron Casino |
Reopened September 28 with guest capacity of 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities; Closed November 22 |
Shorelines Casino Peterborough |
Reopened September 28; Guest capacity 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
|
Elements Casino Brantford |
Reopened September 28; Guest capacity 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
New Brunswick |
Current Status |
Nova Scotia |
Current Status |
|
Casino New Brunswick |
Reopened September 28; Closed October 9; Reopened October 23; Guest capacity of 50, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
Casino Nova Scotia Halifax |
Reopened October 5 with guest capacity of approximately 20% pre closure; limited table games and food and beverage amenities introduced November 12; Closed beginning November 26 |
|
British Columbia |
Current Status |
Casino Nova Scotia Sydney |
Reopened October 5; Guest capacity approximately 20% of pre closure capacity, no table games or food & beverage amenities |
|
All properties in British Columbia |
All properties in British Columbia closed since March 16 |
Canada
absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“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,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “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.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
Canada
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.
Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.
The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.
“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”
Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”
Canada
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.
Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.
The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.
-
Latest News5 days ago
Spintec Strengthens its Partnership with Merkur in Colombia and Peru
-
Canada4 days ago
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO
-
Canada4 days ago
Playson strengthens Ontario foothold with Casino Time integration
-
Gambling in the USA3 days ago
$50 MILLION GUARANTEED IN ACR POKER’S BIGGEST-EVER TOURNAMENT SERIES: THE ONLINE SUPER SERIES XL, LAUNCHING THIS WEEKEND
-
Gambling in the USA3 days ago
Georgia Lottery Takes Retail Experience to Next Level with Scientific Games’ SCiQ Technology
-
Latest News5 days ago
ACR POKER CONCLUDES MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS, DELIVERING OVER $10 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS AND EPIC FINAL TABLE BATTLES
-
Latest News5 days ago
Betting on the Super Bowl LX Winner: Events Contracts vs Sports Betting
-
Fantasy Sports4 days ago
FanDuel Debuts New Peer to Peer Fantasy Product “FanDuel Picks” in Select States