

Canada
Exclusive Q&A with Sim Harmon, founder of Kutt
- Kutt sounds like a fascinating concept. Tell us more about the business model. How does Kutt differ from a regular P2P betting exchange, for example, and what’s its USP (unique selling point)?
Kutt is a P2P sports and social betting platform that allows friends and strangers to bet real money on the outcome of sports, politics, and pop culture events. Think of it as a much better version of Venmo, with a focus on betting: the ultimate “put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is” platform.
The biggest differentiator between Kutt and a traditional P2P betting exchange is our added focus on the social aspect of betting – so we refer to Kutt as a “social betting exchange.” Betting is an inherently social activity, especially here in America. We have fantasy football leagues, group chats with friends, and watch-parties at bars for our favorite teams. Compared to a traditional sportsbook, a regular P2P betting exchange offers much better odds/pricing for its users, but does not offer any meaningful social experience/benefit for the user. That’s where we come in. Our opinion is that you can offer users better pricing and also give them an engaging platform that they’ll want to enjoy with their friends.
- Why did you think it was important to take a different direction than the big sports betting operators?
There hasn’t been a ton of innovation in the sports betting industry, because it’s been dominated (and gatekept, if we’re calling a spade a spade) by the big operators who all run “traditional” books. Consumers have suffered as a result…bettors have to put up with high-vig odds, unfair lines, betting limits if you win, and poor customer support. Let’s face it – traditional books are all the same. They may have a different front-end, sure, but they all offer roughly the same bets, odds, and features.
Consumers are finally waking up to this realization, and have started to demand a better way of doing business. This demand, coupled with some ambitious operators wanting to test new models, is directly responsible for a lot of the change you’re seeing across the betting industry. We’ve started to see P2P operators, “stock market for sports” operators, micro-betting operators, prediction markets, and other models pop up over the last year.
Our team at Kutt is super bullish on the P2P/exchange space in particular. An exchange eliminates a lot of the issues we listed earlier in this answer because it puts control in the hands of the user, and customer-friendly business models usually win out in the end. We’re just adding our own little twist to it.
- The social element is obviously crucial to Kutt. Do you also think social also has a part to play in mainstream sports betting? There have been recent attempts to “socialize” and gamify sports betting platforms? Will this work?
Social has a major role to play in mainstream sports betting and we believe that “social betting” – with a focus on social P2P/exchange betting – is the future. In our online era, everything has become social, and there’s no reason to think that the sports betting industry will be immune.
For most people, watching sports is already a social activity. You watch the game with a friend, send some thoughts to your group chat, and then go to Twitter to see what everyone else is saying. So now you just add the betting element to it, and we think this will be a pretty seamless transition for most, especially the younger generation. They grew up on social networks so the action of participating in an “online community” is ingrained in their psyche.
Going forward, operators will have to decide how much of their product will be dedicated to “social-first” features. For us, that number will be closer to 100% than 0%, but that doesn’t mean that social is the end-all-be-all.
- Tell us about your roadmap. When do you plan to launch, and then what are your long-term plans, in terms of product development and building the brand?
Kutt just launched on the App Store and we should be on Google in the coming weeks. We will be launching with the four major US leagues (plus CFB+CBB) first, but will be adding new sports in the coming months. Then we will add props, futures, and non-sports markets (politics, eSports, pop culture, etc.).
We’ll continue to focus on a product that truly benefit the end-user. We’ve already incorporated features that allow users to create their own lines and payouts, and are now focused on implementing social features that build community within our app. We’re looking to become the “social network” of choice for fans who not only post about their team on a Kutt-hosted message board, but also back up their trash talk with an actual bet.
To build our brand, we’ll embrace the social bettor and will insert ourselves into places where these people can be found; think bars, tailgates, and sporting events where social betting is already happening. Look for Kutt at a sporting event near you soon!
- Which specific markets do you plan on targeting?
The beauty of social betting is that everyone does it, since everyone has an opinion. Even people who have never placed an “official” bet in their life have probably uttered the words “I bet that doesn’t happen” to someone at some point during a conversation. These informal “handshake” bets are everywhere, from sporting events to bars to work events to family reunions. Kutt will provide a fun and safe platform for social bettors of all shapes and sizes in the jurisdictions where we can operate.
There are, however, certain markets where ego and trash talk are a bit higher, and where payment for a winning bet is harder to collect on: college campuses. The biggest issue with betting people you know is actually collecting money from a friend or acquaintance, and nowhere is that more true than the younger demographic. Millions of college kids across the US can probably name someone who has flaked on a bet and/or not paid someone they owe on time.
- Is Kutt the future of gambling?
We think so, obviously. Kutt should benefit from the industry’s move towards social gaming as well as the macro tailwinds in the space: greater media exposure, changing consumer demand, less-restrictive regulation, and increased investment. You’ve already seen the media attention that P2P has gotten over the last several months, and it’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle once it’s out. The traditional model has to change, and the companies who get ahead of that change will be the winners in the space.
Kutt has a pretty compelling product. We offer fully customizable odds, better pricing than the traditional books, interactive social features, and a sense of community, among other things. We also have a pulse on what the younger generation wants, which looks very similar to the product we’re building.
We’re aware of the challenges we face within the industry. It’s an uphill battle fighting against the traditional books, who have basically written a lot of the legislation that you see in different states today. Overly burdensome regulations choke out a lot of startups as well. It’s time for the political class to wake up, and start creating a more balanced playing field that encourages new ideas and innovation. The consumer hurts when innovation is stifled.
With all that said, we’re confident that social betting is the future of this industry. And we’re positioning ourselves to capitalize on this shift when it does come. Now go check us out at www.kutt.com or by searching for “Kutt” on the App Store. Thanks!
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.
Canada
IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement

International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions ULC (hereinafter “IGT”), signed an eight-year agreement with Atlantic Lottery to supply its IntelligenEVO video lottery central system technology across Atlantic Canada. The agreement includes the option for multiple extensions and positions the Atlantic Lottery to become the first World Lottery Association (WLA)-affiliated lottery operator to deploy IGT’s next-generation central management system in a game-to-system (G2S) distributed market.
“By leveraging IGT’s IntelligenEVO technology, Atlantic Lottery will power its video lottery network with the industry’s best-in-class central system and position itself to maximize future contributions to good causes. As an organization that prioritizes system security and exceptional player experiences, Atlantic Lottery believes that IGT’s IntelliegnEVO solution will help generate high player satisfaction and optimal network performance,” said Michael MacKinnon, Atlantic Lottery VP, Product.
“As a long-time supplier to Atlantic Lottery, IGT looks forward to helping the Lottery achieve its growth and player engagement goals with our leading-edge IntelligenEVO video lottery central system. IGT’s IntelligenEVO is a scalable technology for the WLA market that is backed by decades of experience and operator feedback, and maximizes the benefits of real-time data, cloud-based technologies and in-depth analytics,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, EMEA and LATAM, Gaming Sales.
With peak system security, network availability and responsible gaming functionalities, IntelligenEVO is a reliable, scalable solution that can meet the needs of today and in the future. The solution will accelerate time-to-market and enables the Atlantic Lottery to benefit from the system’s suite of player-focused functionality. The technology’s G2S and open API design optimizes data collection and delivery and will enable Atlantic Lottery to customize their program for evolving player needs.
The post IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BetRivers
NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform

NetGaming, a fast-growing online casino content supplier, is proud to announce its launch in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive, Inc., a leading online casino and sports betting company in the United States, Canada and Latin America. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for NetGaming as it continues to expand its footprint across regulated North American markets.
As part of the launch, Ontario players on BetRivers can now enjoy a diverse portfolio of NetGaming titles, known for their high-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and unique themes. Standout games such as Zeus’s Thunderbolt, Bison Gold, and Fireball Inferno are among the first to go live, with additional titles set to follow soon.
This partnership is just the beginning. NetGaming plans to extend its collaboration with Rush Street Interactive into Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mexico over the coming months.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, commented: “We are thrilled to go live with Rush Street Interactive, a powerhouse operator with a strong presence and loyal player base. This launch marks a significant milestone in our
North American expansion strategy and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences tailored to local player preferences across the region.”
Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, commented: “We are pleased to partner with NetGaming to bring innovative, premium games to our players in Ontario. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to offer world-class
entertainment through engaging, action-packed online casino games. We look forward to expanding this partnership into additional regulated markets in the months ahead.”
This strategic partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to providing high- quality, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players in regulated markets.
The post NetGaming Goes Live in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive via BetRivers Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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