The Canadian province of Ontario has officially launched its igaming and online sports betting market, with several firms going live with their online casino and sportsbook operations.
Ontario is expected to be one of the biggest igaming markets in North America as it is Canada’s most populous province.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) subsidiary iGaming Ontario will regulate the market as well as issue operators and suppliers with licenses.
Some operators and suppliers that have licenses in the province include theScore, PointsBet, 888, FanDuel, Caesars, Kindred, Light & Wonder, FSB, Relax Gaming, Pariplay, Quickspin, White Hat Gaming, High 5 Games, Kambi, Rush Street Interactive (RSI), LeoVegas, BetMGM, Bragg Gaming, FansUnite Entertainment, bet365, and many more.
“This is a monumental day that establishes Ontario as an international leader in online gaming,” said Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario.
“After years of anticipation culminating in historic legislation followed by months of hard work by all stakeholders, we have reached today’s launch of a legal internet gaming market out from under its previous grey market standing.”
Jay Snowden, President and CEO of Penn National, commented: “Today’s launch is significant as it expands Penn National’s online gaming business to a jurisdiction that is expected to be one of the largest regulated markets in North America.
“We’re proud to enter this market behind a trusted and authentic Canadian brand that resonates deeply with Ontarians. From the outset, the Levy family and theScore team played a meaningful role in championing the legalization of single-event sports betting and the creation of Ontario’s framework. With its large user base, superior technology, and mobile gaming expertise, theScore Bet is in a strong position and I’m highly encouraged about the opportunity ahead.”
“Today is momentous as we finally are able to participate in a regulated gaming market in our home country,” added John Levy, CEO, theScore. “We applaud the Ontario government for its leadership in creating and implementing a safe, consumer-friendly, and commercially minded market.
“We’ve been actively preparing for this opportunity, including aggressively hiring to further build out our Toronto-based workforce with a focus on investing heavily across technology and engineering. theScore has been part of the fabric of the Canadian sports scene for 25 years and theScore Bet launching in Ontario is the next step in the evolution of how we serve fans.
“We’re excited to officially introduce theScore Bet in our home province and provide our longtime users with an integrated media and betting experience unlike any other. Today is the realization of a huge undertaking by the entire theScore family and we’re proud to be part of this historic moment for Ontario.”
Scott Vanderwel, CEO of PointsBet Canada, remarked: “Today is a great day for Ontario sports fans. On behalf of the entire PointsBet Canada team, I’d like to share how thrilled we are to see the province’s sports wagering market officially open. Just moments after 12:00am local time this morning, PointsBet Canada became one of the first private sportsbooks to take a legal wager.
“Over the past few months, our team has been scaling and focused on building partnerships with the athletes, teams, and organizations that matter to Canadians. We know our customers will appreciate our unmatched in-play betting, great odds, depth of offering, and local Canadian support teams ready to assist when they need it. We will offer an unrivaled experience to sports bettors and gaming enthusiasts.”
Sarah Robertson, SVP of Sales at Kambi, stated: “Kambi is proud to be up and running, along with our partners, on day one of the regulated market opening in Ontario. Today’s launch into Canada marks another significant milestone in the growth of our company and extends our exceptional track record across North America and worldwide.
“As a Canadian native, I am particularly excited Kambi’s world-class sportsbook, including our market-leading hockey offering and Game Parlay product, is now available in Ontario, one of the largest markets in North America, and we look forward to supporting the launch of additional partners over the coming months.”
Charles Gillespie, CEO of Gambling.com Group, which has launched OntarioBets.com in the province, an operator comparison site, said: “The launch of regulated online sports betting and iGaming is a major milestone and achievement for Ontario’s gaming industry.
“The province is taking the right approach by keeping the barriers to entry low and allowing a variety of operators to enter the market. This will foster competition and ultimately benefit consumers as the operators with the best products rise to the top. Gambling.com Group is well-positioned to help operators and customers succeed in this new and exciting market.”
Richard Schwartz, CEO of RSI, noted: “We are thrilled to bring millions of Ontario gaming enthusiasts into the expanding BetRivers community and to deliver the same best-in-class products and trusted services that our players elsewhere in the Americas have come to expect and appreciate.
“By always putting the player experience first – and focusing on earning and retaining player trust, be it through our array of proprietary betting options, fast and easy payouts, or efficient and helpful customer support – we are confident that BetRivers will become Ontario’s preferred online casino and sports betting destination.”
“Today marks a significant milestone for BetMGM and a momentous occasion for sports fans and online players in Ontario,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “We’re confident that customers in Canada will enjoy the unique, interactive, and world-class experience that only BetMGM can provide.”
Gustaf Hagman, CEO of LeoVegas Group commented: “LeoVegas is already one of the strongest brands in Ontario, with a proven track record of operating in regulated markets, so we are thrilled to be going live on day one and to be among the first to have secured an operating agreement!
“We look forward to continuing to bring our safe, world-class gaming experiences to Ontario and have high expectations and growth ambitions in North America.”
“Ontario is our home market, and we are delighted to be in a position to serve operators with our igaming content and solutions as the market opens to customers across the province,” stated Chris Looney, Chief Commercial Officer at Bragg.
“We believe the Ontario online gaming market offers a significant opportunity for our industry-leading content and platform technology and we are excited by the interest shown in our offerings from local, US, and international operators.
“Our team has done a fantastic job securing attractive commercial agreements with operator customers, including with top-tier brands, and we are eagerly anticipating supporting their launch efforts in the coming days, weeks, and months.”
