

Canada
2021 World Series of Poker® Hall of Fame Finalists Announced
With the 52nd annual World Series of Poker® (WSOP) in full swing, the list of ten nominees into the Poker Hall of Fame were announced. Traditionally electing one new member annually, the finalists will be considered by 32 living members who will cast votes to determine this year’s Hall-of-Famer. The 2021 finalists are as follows:
Eli Elezra
Antonio Esfandiari
Chris Ferguson
Layne Flack
Ted Forrest
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier
Mike Matusow
Michael Mizrachi
Matt Savage
Isai Scheinberg
There are three new finalists in the 2021 class including six-time WSOP bracelet winner, Layne Flack, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier and five-time champion legend, Michael Mizrachi.
The Poker Hall of Fame criteria remain the same as previous years:
A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
Be a minimum of 40-years-old at time of nomination
Played for highstakes
Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
Stood the test of time
Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results
The enshrinement ceremony is now held on Wednesday, Nov. 17 in concert with the final table of the Main Event and the Hall of Fame Bounty tournament at Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. All living Poker Hall of Fame members are invited to freeroll into the $1,979 No-Limit Hold’em tournament, with the buy-in priced in honor of the Hall of Fame’s founding year. This event will be open to all players. Each participating Hall of Famer will have a bounty corresponding to the year they were inducted into poker’s most exclusive club. The 2021 inductee will be announced during the event.
Alex Malchenko Head of Sales at Evoplay
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment

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.”
The post Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO

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.
The post iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Blanka Homor Sales Director at Playson
Playson strengthens Ontario foothold with Casino Time integration

Partnership accelerates supplier’s continued expansion across North America
Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has bolstered its presence in Canada after securing a new partnership with Casino Time, one of Ontario’s fastest growing regulated operators.
Casino Time will benefit from Playson’s comprehensive Hold and Win portfolio, which consistently features among the supplier’s top-performing titles released to market.
Coin Strike: Hold and Win, Thunder Coins: Hold and Win, and Diamonds Power: Hold and Win are among the releases now available to the Casino Time player base, courtesy of a seamless integration via Light & Wonder’s aggregation platform.
Renowned for its retail presence across Ontario, Casino Time has successfully bridged the gap between physical and digital gaming since entering the province’s regulated iGaming market in 2024. Its online offering is set to reach new heights with the addition of Playson’s titles, which offer immersive gameplay and captivating visuals that are proven to increase player retention and satisfaction.
The latest agreement coincides with a significant period of growth in North America for Playson, underlining its long-term vision of expanding its market share in regulated territories with key operators.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “Ontario is a market of major significance for us in North America and so it is great to join ties with such a household name.
“Casino Time’s online expansion continues to soar and we are confident our Hold and Win collection will resonate with local players, offering them alternative ways of engaging in captivating slot experiences.”
Jeffrey Holmes, Chief Operating Officer at Casino Time, said: “Partnering with Playson is an exciting step in our mission to deliver the very best in online casino entertainment. Their Hold and Win titles are a proven hit in multiple markets, and we are certain these will add a unique dynamic to our slot library.
“This collaboration strengthens our ability to bridge the gap between retail and digital gaming, while giving our players fresh, immersive experiences.”
The post Playson strengthens Ontario foothold with Casino Time integration 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 Directory8 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News7 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