Canada
FTN Network Leverages Strong Q1 2023 Growth to Close $500k Bridge Round from Techstars Sports Accelerator
FTN Network, a data company specializing in delivering affordable, customizable, extraordinarily detailed and accurate data for betting, season-long fantasy and daily fantasy announced the closing of its $500,000 Bridge Round, which oversubscribed; with the help of Techstars, a global accelerator for technology startups. FTN was selected to participate in the Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy program in Indianapolis in April 2022. FTN is now actively raising a $3–5 million seed round to help expedite and scale the company, building on its robust early growth in traffic, subscription revenues and social media engagement.
More specifically:
- Q1 2023 traffic was up 54% (year-over-year) across the FTN network of sites.
- Q1 2023 subscription revenue was up 34% (year-over-year) across the FTN network of sites.
- FTN YouTube views are up 32% (year-over-year) and overall subscribers are up 31% (year-over-year).
- FTN Podcast Network downloads are up 25% (year-over-year).
“Our goal and mission with FTN was to create a fantasy and sports betting data company that allowed any user — from those with a limited budget to a top-of-the-line sportsbook — the flexibility to use our data and tools in ways that fit their specific needs. We never wanted to box our customers into a rigid system. Our exemplary year-over-year results are proof that our vision is filling a great need in the market,” said Kevin Adams, CEO of FTN Network.
“The closing of our bridge round from the Techstars Accelerator is going to help us invest in areas of our business where we’re seeing strong engagement, create new strategic partnerships with providers, tech companies and sportsbooks, and expand our talent pool with new developers and advisors to continue scaling and building one of the most innovative sites in the industry,” Kevin Adams added.
In recent months, FTN has signed strategic partnerships with companies such as Sorare, Bettle and Prediction Strike, and rolled out two significant new tools which are gaining popularity with users and achieving significant traction in Google search results. First, its Same Game Parlay Tool on FTNBets.com takes APIs from the six largest US sportsbooks and compares a user’s same game parlay line with FTN Data projections to create “True Odds.” This allows the user to stay away from bad payouts and shop for the best odds. Second is their Player Prop Tool, which shows the best player prop bets available using their FTN Data projections to calculate win%, edge and expected value while offering the best line on the market to place that bet. This allows users to leverage FTN Data to make the most educated player prop bets as possible.
“As we look toward our next round of funding, our sights are focused on scaling our existing products and services, and integrating the NBA and PGA into FTN Data, all while expanding into the business-to-business (B2B) market with FTN Data. By investing in more charters (people watching games and collecting data in real time) we’ll have the ability to push our data to clients quicker, creating an opportunity for our users to make smarter and faster decisions. We at FTN are relentless in our approach to innovation and our goal of providing the most customizable data sets and products for each customer or corporation,” said Stefano Vaccarino, FTN’s Chief Marketing Officer.
Betty
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.
BCLC
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.
Canada
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 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.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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