Canada
Over 86% of Ontario’s online gamblers play on regulated sites: Study
Two years into Ontario’s open, regulated internet gaming (igaming) market, a new study commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario has found that the vast majority of people participating in igaming in the province are doing so on regulated sites. This represents a significant change from the estimated 70 per cent of online gambling that occurred on unregulated sites before the Government of Ontario established a safer, competitive, and regulated open market for Ontarians in April 2022.
According to an Ipsos study conducted in February 2024, 86.4% of Ontarians who gambled online over the preceding three months gambled on regulated sites. This represents an increase from the 85.3% of igaming participants who reported playing on regulated sites on a similar study conducted in 2023.
In 2022, the Government of Ontario worked with the AGCO and iGaming Ontario to launch an open igaming market that allows eligible private gaming operators, registered with the AGCO and under contract with iGO, to participate in Ontario’s legal gaming market. There are currently 47 registered operators offering 77 regulated sites to Ontarians.
However, despite this significant choice, the study found that a notable portion of Ontario’s igaming participants continue to wager on unregulated sites. The study found that 20.1% of those who had gambled online over the prior three months wagered on a combination of regulated and unregulated sites, while 13.6% did all their betting on unregulated sites. Participants named over 350 unregulated websites they have used, which highlights how many illicit betting options can be accessed by Ontarians and the importance of continued efforts to shift players to Ontario’s safer and legal gaming options.
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“Since its launch in April 2022, Ontario’s igaming model has been recognized internationally for championing work to displace the unregulated online gaming market,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “This made-in-Ontario, regulated market will continue to inspire global innovation, while ensuring a safer landscape for players and businesses alike.” – Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario
“In Ontario, regulated sites are held to high standards of game integrity, data security and player protections, including having significant responsible gaming safeguards. While it’s encouraging to see most participants are choosing regulated gaming options, those who are not are unfortunately risking far more than their wagers.” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO
“iGaming Ontario joins our operators, government, and AGCO in celebrating our success in attracting Ontarians to the safer, regulated igaming market. We will continue to work in lockstep with the AGCO to enable Ontarians to play with confidence.” – Martha Otton, Executive Director, iGaming Ontario
Canada
NorthStar Gaming Announces $43.4 Million Long-Term Debt Financing
NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. announced that the company has, subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) in respect of a senior secured first lien term loan facility providing for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $43.4 million CAD (being the approximate equivalent of $30,000,000 USD) (the “Credit Facility”) to be made available by Beach Point Capital Management LP (“Beach Point”). Playtech plc (“Playtech”) and certain Playtech subsidiaries have agreed to provide credit support for certain obligations under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility represents a significant milestone for NorthStar, strengthening its balance sheet and enabling the Company to continue to accelerate its growth initiatives.
“This is a pivotal moment for NorthStar, marking the largest financing in our history. This Credit Facility strengthens our balance sheet and directly supports our ability to scale operations and drive the business towards profitability with a single-minded focus. We are grateful to Beach Point Capital Management for their trust in our strategy and vision. We are also thankful for Playtech’s steadfast partnership which was instrumental in securing this funding, reinforcing their value both strategically and as a technology provider,” said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar.
“Beach Point has deep experience investing across the gaming sector and is excited to partner with NorthStar to support their strategic initiatives. The online gaming sector has been growing rapidly, and this investment reflects our confidence in the Company’s leadership, market potential, and ability to deliver long-term sustainable growth. Likewise, we value the partnership with Playtech, who are contributing their leading technology, global reach, and strategic vision towards NorthStar’s continued success,” said Gabriel Fineberg, Managing Director at Beach Point.
The purpose of the Credit Facility is to support NorthStar’s continued growth by significantly strengthening the Company’s balance sheet. The Company will use the proceeds of loans made pursuant to the Credit Facility: (i) to repay the aggregate $9.5 million CAD principal amount (plus accrued interest) loaned to the Company by Playtech pursuant to unsecured, interest-bearing promissory notes dated April 25, 2024, September 13, 2024 and December 16, 2024; (ii) to fund an interest reserve account in respect of the Credit Facility in an amount equal to $7,000,000 CAD; (iii) for working capital and general corporate purposes; and (iv) to pay transaction costs in connection with the Credit Facility.
Canada
Playson strengthens Canadian footprint with Titanplay partnership
Playson, the established digital entertainment supplier, has secured its latest partnership in Canada after launching its games portfolio with rising iGaming operator Titanplay.
After obtaining its Ontario licence and going live in June earlier last year, Titanplay has made impressive strides in a short space of time with its online casino offering resonating with players across the province.
The agreement sees Playson support Titanplay’s ongoing expansion across Ontario with the supplier’s industry-renowned Hold and Win portfolio now available on the operator’s website, integrated via Relax Gaming’s aggregation platform.
Titles including Coin Strike: Hold and Win, Diamonds Power: Hold and Win and Pink Joker: Hold and Win will enable players to enjoy a feature-led, captivating gameplay experience and expand Titanplay’s rapidly expanding portfolio.
Playson’s latest tie-up underlines its intent of further establishing its brand within Ontario after successfully entering the Canadian province back in 2022. The provider’s industry-renowned portfolio continues to drive long-term value for operators worldwide.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “We are proud of the footprint we have established in Ontario with local players truly appreciating the Playson experience. Partnering with an exciting name in the region like Titanplay allows us to accelerate our progress and bring our premium offering to an increased pool of players.
“We look forward to gauging the response from Titanplay enthusiasts and watching this partnership grow from strength to strength.”
Titanplay management commented: “At Titanplay, we pride ourselves with working with industry-renowned names and partnering with Playson seamlessly fits into our plans of becoming a household name in Ontario and across Canada.
“Our portfolio will undoubtedly be elevated by Playson’s Hold and Win collection, offering players a dynamic offering of feature-filled, graphically advanced titles.”
Canada
NFL Partners with Responsible Gambling Council to Launch Student-Athlete Training Program in Canada
The National Football League announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) to develop and implement a comprehensive responsible gambling training program specifically designed for university and college student-athletes. The RGC and NFL have identified student athletes as an important audience for targeted responsible gambling and problem gambling prevention initiatives, as previous research has shown their susceptibility to risky gambling behavior.
The program will launch with a pilot phase at eight universities and colleges across Canada in the upcoming 2025 spring semester. Insights and feedback from this phase will be used to refine and improve the program before its broader rollout to 30 university and college institutions in the 2025 – 2026 school year. The initiative will include a robust evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness and impact of the training. The NFL and RGC will explore opportunities to share the results and key learnings from this initiative with broader audiences to maximize its impact.
“Student-athletes face unique pressures from academics, athletics, and the accessibility of sports betting, making them vulnerable to risky gambling behaviours. Our partnership with the NFL is a crucial step in supporting this group by providing the education and tools needed to make informed decisions. Early responsible gambling education helps student-athletes build capacities to succeed both on and off the field,” said Sarah McCarthy, chief executive officer, Responsible Gambling Council.
“We are proud to support the Responsible Gambling Council in this important initiative. Our shared goal is to equip these student-athletes with the tools and knowledge to navigate gambling risks, fostering a safer and more responsible environment. We also hope to gain insights that will be invaluable in shaping future responsible gambling efforts to benefit all those who play and engage with our game as fans,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility.
The program aims to equip student-athletes across Canada with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about gambling. RGC will design and develop a course that is tailored to the specific student-athlete audience, and support in “training the trainer” at participating campuses, which is a key component in ensuring those delivering the training have the right tools and information to support the learning goals of the program.
The training program will include a specialized, interactive session featuring engaging videos, interactive components, and best practices for responsible gambling. After participating in the training, student-athletes will:
• Understand the dangers, risks, and odds of gambling and how players are likely to lose over time.
• Recognize their unique susceptibility to risky gambling behavior.
• Identify the signs of gambling-related harms and their potential impact on players and loved ones.
• Learn about resources available for those experiencing gambling-related harms.
This collaboration with the RGC is part of the NFL’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling practices and addressing the critical need for resources devoted to both responsible and problem gambling initiatives. It builds on the NFL’s existing efforts in the space, including its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling, which focuses on bolstering problem gambling prevention services and promoting responsible gambling initiatives in the US.
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