

Canada
More UK Casinos Likely to Move into the US in the Near Future
The UK gambling market may be one of the largest in the industry, but it’s also one of the strictest in world. Over the past few years, the Gambling Commission has placed more restrictions on online casino and betting operators. This has prompted several big brands in the United Kingdom to consider expanding their businesses overseas in the growing US gambling market.
That being said, it’s not only tighter regulations that has caused UK betting and online casino site operators to show interest in the evolving American gambling market. Financial gain is another driving force for UK companies. Ever since 2018 when the US Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting in America, several states legalized it and began offering both online casino and online sports betting activities. Currently, online casinos are legal in 6 states and online sports betting is legal in 21 states, and more states are expected to legalize some form of online gambling activity in the future.
As gambling becomes legalized throughout America, its popularity grows, as does its revenue. According to the American Gaming Association, although December revenue has yet to be reported for 2021, the US’ annual gaming revenue for 2021 reached $48.34 billion through the end of November. This number crushed the industry’s 2019 full-year record of $43.65 billion. What’s more, this eleven-month period in 2021 tracked 21.3% ahead of the same eleven-month period in 2019.
Long-time UK Brands Compete Over US Market
Wanting a piece of this profitable pie, a number of UK gambling firms have seized the opportunity to break into the growing lucrative market. The primary goal: either to become a valuable business partner with an American gambling giant or to be a takeover target. Notable examples of UK gambling firms that are making their mark in the USA include:
Entain
Entain PLC, the UK owner of popular casino and betting brands Ladbrokes and Coral, entered into a $200 million deal with American hospitality and entertainment company MGM Resorts back in 2018 to capitalise on the newly liberalized sports betting market in the US.
Fast forward a few years later and the latest projected deals reveal that major American sports betting company, DraftKings, sought to acquire Entain for $22 billion in cash and stock in September 2021. However, this offer, as well as a previous offer of $11 billion from MGM Resorts to acquire Entain back in January 2021, were rejected. According to MGM – Entain’s joint venture partner – a DraftKings acquisition of Entain would require the consent of BetMGM due to DraftKings owning a competing business in the US.
Flutter
Also wanting to bolster its assets in the United States, Flutter Entertainment – owner of PaddyPower and Betfair – acquired FanDuel in 2018, one of the leading daily fantasy sports operators in the US at the time. Later, in 2019, Flutter merged with Canadian company The Stars
Group. With the merger, Flutter expanded further into the US, as media giant Fox corporation – which owned a minority stake in The Stars Group – took a 2.6% minority stake in Flutter Entertainment. Moreover, the merger resulted in the creation of the largest online gambling company in the world based on revenues.
Today, Flutter holds a 95% stake in FanDuel, which offers daily fantasy sports, sportsbook, online casino and horse racing products in several states. FanDuel is also the leader in the US online sports betting industry, with 40% of the market share.
William Hill
William Hill, another huge UK brand well known for its online casino and sportsbook, also made headlines in the industry with a major US gambling deal. Instead of partnering with an American company or acquiring one however, William Hill was purchased by American hotel and entertainment company Caesars Entertainment. William Hill agreed to the £2.9 billion ($3.9 billion) takeover bid by the Nevada-based casino operator in September 2020, after previously turning down two rival bids by another US company, Apollo, a private equity group.
Caesars completed its acquisition of William Hill in April 2021, after which William Hill was delisted from the London Stock Exchange. Later in September of that same year, Caesars sold all of William Hill’s non-US assets to 888 Holdings for £2.2 billion ($2.9 billion). In the US, William Hill sportsbooks were rebranded to Caesars Sports.
What is in Store for 2022
This year, it is likely that more deals will occur between the two nations as the world slowly comes out of the clutches of the pandemic and more US states pass laws to legalize gambling within their borders. Both UK gambling operators and US gambling operators have plenty of benefits to offer the other.
Canada
Northern Super League Partners with Stats Perform

Stats Perform, the global leader in sports AI, data and technology, has announced an official data partnership with the Northern Super League (NSL). The partnership will allow world-leading Opta data to be collected live from every NSL league game for the next three years.
Beginning this month, the Northern Super League (NSL) establishes a new era in Canadian sport as the country’s first professional domestic women’s soccer league — an ambitious and transformative initiative co-founded by former Canadian international and Olympic medallist Diana Matheson. Its inaugural season kicks off on April 16 and will feature six teams who have assembled multinational player rosters with extensive club and international experience, including 100-cap Canadian internationals Desiree Scott and Quinn.
Once the action begins, detailed data from every on-ball event, including advanced AI-powered Opta Analytics metrics such as Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Assists (xA), will be captured and distributed via feeds and Stats Perform products, including OptaAI Studio. This will enable various broadcasters, publishers and rights holders to generate stories and insights throughout the NSL season and provide them straight to the league’s fans in real time.
As part of the agreement, the NSL’s League Office and every NSL club will also have access to Opta Search, part of OptaAI Studio. This will allow their content creators to leverage all Opta data collected during the NSL season in the creation of data-led stories on the stand-out performers, and will help them generate key talking points for publication on official league and club platforms. Opta Search will also empower the NSL’s media team to create a range of data visualizations, including player shot maps and touch maps, to visually illustrate the impact of different players’ on-field performances.
Christina Litz, NSL President, said: “We are thrilled to have Stats Perform on board as our official data partner. When we talk about detailed performance data in soccer, Opta is the gold standard, so we are delighted to have it powering each of our official digital channels. As the season progresses, we want to put the spotlight on all the on-field heroes who emerge and having access to world-class data will help us tell their stories and inspire a new generation of Canadian soccer fans.”
Steve Xeller, Chief Revenue Officer at Stats Perform, said: “Stats Perform has been a huge supporter of expansion leagues around the world, so we are very pleased to be partnering with NSL in the lead-up to their first domestic campaign. Seeing a fully professional women’s soccer league launch in Canada is an incredibly exciting development for the sport in North America and we see considerable potential in working proactively with the League’s Head Office to help the competition grow, using the power of AI and data-led storytelling to build fan communities across the continent.”
The post Northern Super League Partners with Stats Perform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Africa
INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER
Leading B2B games provider, Incentive Games, today announced its new agreement with premium gaming company and content provider Light & Wonder, Inc.
Through this agreement, Incentive Games will distribute its premium pay-to-play games – including new arcade-style titles – to key global regulated markets including the USA, Canada, South Africa, UK, and within Europe via Light & Wonder’s extensive operator network. Additionally, Incentive Games’ popular free-to-play content will be made available to a wider audience through Light & Wonder’s content marketplace.
The agreement brings together two industry leaders in iGaming and the strengths of both companies to deliver exceptional player experiences and elevate customer engagement.
Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games said, “This agreement is a landmark moment in our company’s history. Previously, we’ve worked directly with major operators such as bet365, FanDuel, and Sky Bet. Now, we can distribute our games via Light & Wonder, an exceptional aggregator that we trust will handle our games with care.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partners at Light & Wonder, said: “We are excited to work with Incentive Games, a leader in gamification solutions. We look forward to leveraging their innovative platform and bringing their customisable crash and fast game content to all major regulated markets.”
The post INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Canada
Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner

With the Ottawa Senators securing a playoff spot in the NHL, ToonieBet will be there every step of the way, engaging fans with exclusive giveaways, premium entertainment, and a casino experience that mirrors the team’s energy and excitement.
The Ottawa Senators and Tooniebet, an online casino for players across Ontario, announced a partnership that will make Tooniebet the NHL team’s Official Online Casino Partner.
Tooniebet, which launched in 2024 is part of Soft2Bet – one of the world’s fastest growing iGaming turnkey solutions providers with iGaming brands around the world with a portfolio of 19 global licenses, including Ontario.
Additional highlights of the Ottawa Senators and TonnieBet partnership will include:
- In-Arena & Broadcast Branding: Digitally enhanced dashboards for home and away games
- In-rink board signage for home games
- Virtual slot signage for various games
- Digital inventory throughout the Ottawa Senators site on NHL.com
- Direct Fan Engagement: Social contests and promotions hosted on Senators’ digital platforms
- Television Broadcast Branding: Digitally enhanced rink boards for home and away games
- In-arena rink board signage for home games
Martin Ballard, VP Corporate Partnerships, Ottawa Senators stated: “We are thrilled to welcome ToonieBet as an official partner of the Ottawa Senators. Cooperating with a brand that shares our commitment to providing fans with an exceptional and trusted experience is incredibly exciting. Together, we look forward to delivering memorable moments and engaging our passionate fanbase in new and innovative ways.”
Oksana Tsyhankova, Chief Marketing Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Partnering Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet brand with the Ottawa Senators is a significant milestone that reinforces our strong brand presence in Ontario. In a short period, we have achieved impressive performance and retention results, with a primary focus on localised, engaging experiences for Canadian players, which makes ToonieBet truly set itself apart.”
By tapping into the Senators’ digital platforms and in-arena presence, ToonieBet will stay close to the action and connect with fans in real, engaging ways while continuing to offer a top-quality online casino experience.
ToonieBet offers a fast, localised online casino experience for players in Ottawa and across Ontario. Through this partnership, fans will have the chance to win Senators merchandise and tickets while ToonieBet grows its presence in a competitive Ontario market. With in-arena branding, regional broadcast coverage, and digital promotions, ToonieBet will be highly visible to the team’s loyal supporters.
The post Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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