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FORMER BOXING WORLD CHAMPIONS SUGAR RAY LEONARD AND SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY AND SPORTS AGENT RAY LEONARD JR. TO FORM KO KINGS SIMWIN SPORTS OWNERSHIP GROUP

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SimWin Sports, the world’s first virtual sports league that provides daily fantasy players and esports fans with the ability to watch, predict, collect, play, and earn, today announced the latest addition to its impressive lineup of celebrity ownership groups. Famed athletes and entrepreneurs “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Ray Leonard Jr., and “Sugar” Shane Mosely have joined forces to form the KO Kings team ownership group in the SimWin Sports Football league to deliver sports to the metaverse.
“Our new ownership group’s outstanding professional accolades in boxing and the sports and entertainment industries and their commitment to our vision speak volumes about SimWin’s long-term vision in the metaverse,” commented SimWin Founder and CEO David J. Ortiz. “We are thrilled to welcome Sugar Ray, Ray Jr., Sugar Shane, and of course, the KO Kings to SimWin. We look forward to seeing the KO Kings’ debut and the remainder of star-studded teams.”
With prestigious sports roots, the trio aims to represent a diverse fanbase that reflects each owner’s background. Sugar Ray, Leonard Jr., and Sugar Shane are aligned with SimWin’s goal of furthering minority ownership in sports. The virtual sports league proudly emboldens the growth and advancement of minority-owned businesses as part of its mission. Two-thirds of SimWin’s football team owners are minority businesspeople, including Magic Johnson (LA Magic), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Rare), Jerry Rice (Mississippi GOATs), Marshall Faulk (San Diego Battleships), Dr. Jen Welter (Hollywood Valkryie), Susanne de Passe (Beverly Hills Revenger) and more.
Sugar Ray Leonard is a retired American professional boxer widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers ever. Leonard won several world titles in different weight classes and had legendary fights against Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, and Wilfred Benitez. After retiring from boxing, Leonard became a successful businessman, forming a long-term partnership with Skechers, boasting philanthropic efforts, and thriving as a boxing analyst for HBO Sports. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997 and has received numerous other honors for his achievements in the sport of boxing.
Ray Leonard Jr. is a former two-sport Division I collegiate athlete and former sports agent for some of the biggest names in sports. Known to light up a room when he walks in, Ray is a top motivational keynote speaker, radio host, actor, and award-winning business executive. Leonard recently started Ovationz, a two-sided marketplace that connects talent with event organizers, party planners, and meeting hosts to create outstanding virtual events.
Sugar Shane Mosley is a retired American professional boxer with world titles in three different weight classes. Shane turned professional in 1993 and quickly established himself as a formidable fighter, winning his first world title in 1997. He went on to have legendary fights against Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao. Mosley retired from boxing in 2020 with a record of 49 wins, ten losses, and one draw, and he is considered one of the greatest boxers of his era.
“The KO Kings are excited to bring that knockout punch and boxing discipline to Sim Win Sports,” said Leonard Jr. “The Leonard Sports and Entertainment team are putting the rest of the virtual sports world on notice that we’ve come to knock out the competition.”
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Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

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Independent slots studio Thunderkick has agreed a deal with Ontario-based operator Betty to supply the rapidly growing online casino with a diverse collection of globally popular titles.

Betty, an official partner of sporting franchises Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, has risen to prominence since its 2022 establishment, when it was built following the consultation of 300 casino players to create the optimal iGaming environment.

Distinguishing itself from North American competitors by catering specifically to slot enthusiasts rather than sports bettors, the operator has curated a portfolio of 2,800 games, hand-picked to deliver customers maximum entertainment value.

Thunderkick’s content is the latest to be integrated into Betty’s online casino, and the agreement will see a selection of its most popular titles, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3, made available to a greater number of Ontarian players.

Thunderkick marked its debut in the Canadian province in Q2 of 2024, and has since partnered with a network of leading operators to improve its market position. The collaboration with Betty will further amplify its visibility in a key jurisdiction as the provider looks to reinforce its reputation as a global slot developer.

Svante Sahlström, CCO at Thunderkick, said: “It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible.

“Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players.”

Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty, added: “Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.

“Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience.”

The post Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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BCLC

Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026

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BCLC is pleased to announce the return of the New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference, taking place November 2–4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.

This global event brings leading voices in research, policy and industry together to explore innovative approaches to safer gambling. Attendees can expect two days of forward-thinking dialogue, evidence-based insights and collaborative solutions to help shape the future of player health.

Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

New to the 2026 conference, BCLC is excited to offer sponsorship opportunities to organizations that share BCLC’s passion for safer gambling. Benefits of sponsoring New Horizons 2026 include industry visibility, leadership recognition and meaningful engagement with a global audience. To learn more about sponsorship, please e-mail [email protected].

Registration and program details will be released later this fall.

The post Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

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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 milestoneit’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.

 

The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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