

Canada
Vigtory Names Steven Astrachan as Vice President of Marketing
Vigtory, an innovative new sportsbook operator, is pleased to announce that Steven Astrachan has joined the Chicago-based team as Vice President of Marketing. Astrachan will focus on building integrated, consumer-driven campaigns that seamlessly connect sports bettors with engaging content and establish Vigtory as a brand sports bettors can rally behind.
“Steven is an incredibly talented marketing executive. In my extensive career in gaming, few individuals have such deep domain expertise in sports betting and iGaming; knowing every metric on every channel and how they correlate to performance focused marketing initiatives,” said Scott Butera, Co-CEO of Vigtory. “He’s joining an already successful, energetic team at the perfect time to spearhead Vigtory’s marketing strategy and operational expansion, and we could not be more excited to have him aboard.”
Astrachan is responsible for leading Vigtory’s brand positioning, customer acquisition and customer retention. Prior to joining Vigtory, he was PointsBet’s first U.S. marketing hire and served as Director of Media & Marketing, where he was instrumental in the development and success of their media department and customer acquisition campaigns that propelled the company to become a top sportsbook in the space.
While at PointsBet, Astrachan focused on digital and social platforms, constructing marketing and media content deals with Bleacher Report, Barstool Sports, The Action Network and VSiN, among other successful affiliate deals. He orchestrated linear distribution strategies on TV and radio and ran the funnel conversion leading to over 50 percent year-over-year increase in overall FTB%.
“Steven understands consumer attention, go-to-market strategy, and customer retention in a way that few executives can hope to, and has a proven track record of maximizing growth potential of digital and social campaigns in the space,” said Sam Rattner, Co-CEO of Vigtory.
Astrachan successfully built, hired out, and facilitated PointsBet’s US marketing strategy from day one. His work earned him a nomination for the 2019 Hashtag Sports Award for Best Integrated Campaign.
“Vigtory is going to come in and disrupt the entire sports gambling landscape,” said Astrachan. “When Sam approached me with the opportunity, I immediately knew it was something I needed to be a part of. Vigtory’s offerings will exceed market expectations. It’s a privilege to be tasked with getting the word out that Vigtory has assembled the most innovative product, competitive price, and superior betting experience in the entire U.S. market.”
Vigtory recently announced a multi-year partnership with The Action Network, one of the most trusted sources for sports betting news and analytics. Through the deal, The Action Network will power an array of sports media content and modernized data & analytics tools for Vigtory. To learn more about Vigtory, or to sign up for an exclusive offer, visit betvigtory.com.
Betty
Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

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

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.
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.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
gaming3 years ago
ODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory9 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News8 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News7 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry8 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News7 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry8 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News7 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018