Connect with us

Canada

Former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino Exposes Illegal Gaming In Virginia

Published

on

 

Tom Marino, former U.S. Congressman, U.S. Attorney and counsel to Pace-O-Matic, recently completed a four-city blitz in Virginia exposing sites of illegal, unregulated mini-casinos across the Commonwealth. Marino was flanked by retired law enforcement personnel who performed investigations into these illegal sites. The blitzes will continue across Virginia in the days and weeks ahead.

“Everyone loses when it comes to illegal gaming establishments in Virginia,” said Marino. “The residents of Virginia lose out in excess of $130 million in tax revenue. Business owners lose out on legitimate skill games from reputable companies.  And consumers lose their money playing unregulated machines fixed against them.”

Marino held press conferences at illegal establishments in Richmond and Portsmouth on Tuesday and Roanoke on Wednesday. Below is press coverage of the events.

In 2020, Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation into law enabling skill games in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since the law’s passage, skill games have contributed $132 million in state tax revenue, contributing to education and school funding, COVID-19 relief, and support for small businesses. The law included a sunset provision that went into effect on July 1, 2021. Since then, Virginia has lost out on millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Illegal gaming platforms that pay zero dollars in tax revenue to the state have been filling the void of licensed skill games that have been removed from locations. Additionally, there is no guarantee that these unregulated games are not “fixed” against the consumer.

Pace-O-Matic develops, produces, and licenses legally compliant games in every state where it operates. Since its founding in 2000, the organization has built a talented leadership team and a culture defined by integrity, innovation, and compliance. Learn more at www.paceomatic.com.

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Betty

Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

BCLC

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Canada

absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario

Published

on

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 milestoneit’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.

Continue Reading

Trending