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White paper from PlayCanada.com projects Canada could mature into $2 billion-a-year sports betting market

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4 years ago

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The Canadian legal sports betting market could eventually generate $25 billion in retail and online wagering annually in a best-case scenario that would include legalization of single-game wagering in every province and territory, according to a white paper authored by PlayCanada, a leading source for news and analysis of the fledgling Canadian gaming market.

Co-authored by Eric Ramsey, Dustin Gouker, and Robyn McNeil for the Play Network of sites, which includes PlayCanada, “Legal Sports Betting in Canada: A preliminary analysis of the prospects of single-game wagering” explores the nuances of a market that could begin to launch before the end of 2021. Once mature, the Canadian market “could generate billions of dollars of gross proceeds and hundreds of millions in taxes and fees annually,” Ramsey wrote.

“Like the U.S., the Canadian market will be decentralized, leaving each province and territory to adopt legal sports betting and then create their own regulatory frameworks,” said Gouker, lead analyst for the Play Network and PlayCanada.com. “Because of that decentralization, many questions remain about what the Canadian market will look like once it has been built out. It is safe to say that at the moment sportsbooks view Canada as one of the largest single remaining opportunities in North America.”

Earlier this year, parliament voted to lift the federal ban on single-game wagering, which dated back to the 1960s. Like in the U.S., where a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 paved the way for states to legalize sports betting individually, the Canadian Parliament opened the door for territories and provinces to regulate single-event sports betting on their own.

But because the majority of U.S. states have since legalized and regulated sports betting, and Canada had already long been home to a thriving “gray market” of offshore sportsbooks, it is possible to project where the Canadian market is headed, Ramsey argues.

Some of what can be expected by the third full year:

  • The entire Canadian market could generate as much as $25 billion in wagering annually, more than 80% of which would come through online sportsbook operators.
  • Those bets would mean more than $2 billion operator revenue, and depending on regulatory structures, between $200 million and $400 million in annual tax revenue.
  • Ontario would be the most prized Canadian market, with a potential to generate $11.1 billion in wagering and more than $800 million in operator revenue annually. That would make it one of the largest markets in North America.

Even if every province adopts single-game wagering, the regulators in each will have to answer important questions about how to structure the market. That includes whether to create an open market, where numerous sportsbooks can openly compete with one another, similar to Nevada and New Jersey. Or regulators could adopt a closed model, where the province limits the number of operators in return for a revenue sharing agreement that more directly benefits the government.

As the U.S. has shown, the decision can have far-reaching effects on how an individual market performs.

“Canada will be home to both open and closed markets, but in the U.S., open markets offer broader benefits for the state and its consumers,” said Robyn McNeil, expert on the Canadian market for PlayCanada.com. “The tradeoff is that closed markets tend to return a larger percentage of revenue to the government. That makes closed markets appealing for policymakers, even if it slows the development of the industry.”

For more on the Canadian sports betting market or to download the executive summary and full white paper, visit PlayCanada.com.

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absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

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2 days ago

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September 5, 2025

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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 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.

 

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Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay

Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment

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4 days ago

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September 3, 2025

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.

Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.

The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.

Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.

“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”

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iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

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5 days ago

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September 2, 2025

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The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.

Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.

The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.

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