Canada
Canadian Gaming Summit Gets a New Addition with SBC First Pitch Competition for Startups
SBC is thrilled to announce the inclusion of SBC First Pitch in the 26th edition of the Canadian Gaming Summit, scheduled to take place from June 13-15 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.
This startup competition for sports betting and iGaming firms has been successfully conducted at SBC Summit North America in New Jersey and the global flagship SBC Summit Barcelona event. With SBC now managing the Canadian Gaming Summit, the First Pitch competition will be a vital component of the Growth and Leadership track on the second full day of the event (June 15).
The inclusion of SBC First Pitch in this prestigious summit underscores SBC’s commitment to supporting the brightest entrepreneurs and most innovative startups in the sports betting and iGaming space.
The SBC First Pitch application period is officially open and will remain so until April 30th. A panel of esteemed judges will meticulously evaluate each submission to assess their alignment with the application criteria, and ultimately select the five most promising startups with the strongest pitch decks.
The selected companies will receive the opportunity to present their groundbreaking products in front of industry leaders and investors, as well as compete for a chance to secure an exclusive prize package already valued at CA$30,000, designed to support their future development and growth plans.
The competition will be judged by a group of highly respected professionals, including Benjie Cherniak (Principal at Avenue H Capital, LLC), a distinguished investor and advisor in the sports betting industry, and Dani Lipkin (Managing Director of Global Innovation Sector TMX Group), an expert in guiding private companies and their shareholders through the process of raising equity capital in Canada. Before the application deadline expires, SBC will be including additional judges to the list.
The winner of the competition will receive an exceptional package, already valued at $30,000, which will be further enriched by the time of the event. The prize package includes:
- A six-month subscription to Eilers & Krejcik Gaming’s Sports & Emerging Verticals, a boutique research firm that specializes in providing comprehensive services to the gaming equipment, sports, and interactive gaming sectors within the global gaming industry. This subscription alone is worth $25,000.
- An exclusive brand or web design package, valued at $2,800, from Vegas Kings, the premier iGaming design and development agency that has been trusted by leading brands such as Ladbrokes, Betfred, Spinomenal, BetConstruct, and more.
- A comprehensive promotional package from SBC Media, including six months of advertising on either SBC Americas or Canadian Gaming Business, newsletter advertising, as well as two featured editorials promoting the winning business. This package alone is valued at $12,000.
Sue Schneider, VP of Growth and Strategy at SBC, said, “One of our previous winners, Parleh Media Group, is a Canada-based company, and the country itself is a well-established tech hub and a centre for global investment. So, this inaugural edition is sure to attract exciting entries, and we can’t wait to see what innovative products and ideas the Canadian startup scene has in store.
“It’s SBC’s first involvement in the Canadian Gaming Summit as an organizer, and adding the First Pitch competition to the event schedule was a no-brainer. We are committed to supporting young companies in their growth journey by providing them with a platform to showcase their breakthrough products and innovations – and the First Pitch competition is one of our most powerful cards in doing just that.”
The start-ups that apply have to fulfil certain eligibility criteria:
- Must have been founded no earlier than 2020
- Must be focused on the sports betting and iGaming industry
- Must have raised no more than CA$5 million on outside financing
- Must have an MVP product to discuss and showcase
- Must be seeking investment of a minimum of CA$250,000
- Have at least one representative from the company present at the competition on June 15
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.
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.”
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.
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