

Canada
Socure to Provide DraftKings with Additional Compliance Tools
Socure’s Intelligent KYC will enhance DraftKings’ customer verification process for its Daily Fantasy Sports, Sportsbook, and iGaming Products
Socure, the leader in 100% digital identity trust, today announced that it signed a multi-year agreement with DraftKings Inc., a leader in the digital sports entertainment and gaming industry. Using Socure’s Socure ID+ identity verification suite, DraftKings furthers its robust compliance measures and will now be able to more seamlessly engage its customers across its product suite.
DraftKings selected Socure after a lengthy evaluation process, which included a robust proof-of-concept test showing a frictionless auto-approval rate increase of 4.5% for new users and a 14% decrease in manual reviews. The company plans to leverage Socure’s Intelligent KYC (Know-Your-Customer) and Global Watchlist with Monitoring products to assist in its customer verification processes across its Daily Fantasy Sports, Sportsbook, and iGaming products.
“Working with DraftKings is a privilege and underscores a significant milestone for us as we continue to expand our presence in the online gaming industry,” said Johnny Ayers, CEO of Socure. “It’s an exciting time to be working with an industry that is growing at such a tremendous pace across the country, while helping online gaming operators meet compliance requirements to ensure continued, unimpeded responsible growth.”
With an automated digital approach, Socure unlocks scale and speed in customer acquisition with industry-leading auto-approval rates. As a result, online gaming operators can grow their customer bases with confidence using Socure decisioning systems that leverage advanced logic, best-in-class depth of data, and provide actionable insights, resulting in the broadest identity data coverage available.
Ayers explained, “Socure’s Intelligent KYC passively verifies the identities of qualified players online quickly and accurately, while increasing new player conversions and reducing drop-off rates. Our Global Watchlist solution works alongside our Intelligent KYC product to deliver true continuous monitoring of player eligibility, resulting in uninterrupted compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and KYC regulations for online gaming providers.”
Socure ID+ streamlines online identity verification to minimize friction and drop off rates, and maximize new player conversions through its Intelligent KYC and Global Watchlist offerings. The platform uses numerous data sources, including proprietary data with over 290 million good identities, as well as over 7 billion records from credit, utility, telecom, and other authoritative sources to deliver market-leading matching accuracy.
Socure’s methodology includes using diverse data sources, advanced clustering, and intelligent-rank decision outputs, all with simple, actionable reason codes. This methodology allows online gaming operators to increase auto-enrollment rates, reduce manual reviews, and maintain compliance, including around age verification and OFAC.
Socure is approved to provide services to online gaming operators in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Additionally, Socure has filed for vendor status in New Jersey and Virginia.
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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