

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.
Canada
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened its doors with a signature guitar smash, marking the arrival of Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, a bold new destination where entertainment, hospitality, and music take center stage.
The $350 million resort brings the brand’s unmistakable energy to Canada’s capital, offering locals and visitors an immersive Hard Rock experience blending iconic music history with world-class entertainment, hospitality, dining, and gaming.
In true Hard Rock fashion, the opening festivities kicked off with the Canadian Tenors’ electrifying rendition of O Canada followed by the brand’s signature Guitar Smash, a modern take on the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. Executives, dignitaries, and community leaders took the stage to ceremoniously smash guitars, signaling the official opening of the state-of-the-art entertainment destination.
A special moment included the presentation of a $100,000 donation to Ottawa Food Bank, reinforcing Hard Rock’s commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.
“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand. We’re proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place,” said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Hard Rock International.
“Our government is thrilled that Hard Rock chose Ontario for its first fully integrated hotel and casino venue in Canada. This new entertainment and hospitality destination will draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
The post Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opens with Legendary Guitar Smash and Star-Studded Celebration appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
AGCO
MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition

PointsBet Holdings Limited announced that MIXI has received written confirmation that AGCO has no concerns with the proposed acquisition by MIXI of the shares in PointsBet Holdings Limited.
PointsBet has also received written confirmation from iGaming Ontario (iGO) in relation to MIXI’s proposed acquisition of shares in PointsBet.
Accordingly, the condition precedent to MIXI’s proposed PointsBet-Board recommended Takeover Bid relating to Ontario approvals in paragraph 4.5 of Schedule 1 of the Bid Implementation Deed dated 16 June 2025 (BID) has been satisfied.
MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid remains subject to the satisfaction of certain other limited conditions as previously announced, including a 50.1% minimum acceptance of the proposed MIXI Offer (as defined in the BID).
The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission provided its approval on 24 March 2025 for MIXI to acquire PointsBet. PointsBet confirmed that MIXI’s proposed Takeover Bid is no longer subject to any gaming regulatory approvals.
The post MIXI Receives AGCO Approval for PointsBet Acquisition appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
AGCO
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.
On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.
In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.
As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.
Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.
A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.
The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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