Enjoying the simplicity of the Canadian iGaming sector
The U.S. market is welcome to keep on its sider of the border the handwringing over prediction markets and sweepstakes operators that confuse consumers and steal from regulated operators.
As we head into the last traditional cottage weekend of the summer, count me among many Canadians who enjoy a simpler life. I appreciate this simplicity when comparing and contrasting the iGaming sector in the Great White North with that of our American friends.
These days, the work of gambling newsletter/reporting stalwarts Dustin Gouker and Steve Ruddock, to name just a few, is filled with much U.S. gambling-sector handwringing over the rise of sweepstakes operators and prediction markets and the impact on more traditional operators.
On Monday, Gouker wrote in his The Closing Line, that the Ohio Casino Control Commission sent a letter warning sportsbook operators not to think about joining the prediction craze which has swept the nation thanks to Kalshi and Polymarket.
On Tuesday, Rucker wrote in his Straight to the Point newsletter that, “VGW Holdings has announced the shutdown of Chumba Casino and Global Poker across Canada, with a full withdrawal scheduled for October 23, 2025.”
Tom Nightingale first reported on VGW’s decision for Canadian Gaming Business, that VGW’s decision to leave Canada had to do with the small size of the market, not regulatory pressure.
But, whatever the reason, VGW’s departure is a win for Canadian gambling consumers and the sector at large, particularly in Ontario which is not absent of choice with more than 50 operators offering more than 80 different regulated gambling sites. Since Alberta appears to be following Ontario’s model, that seems to be the preferable way to do online gambling business in Canada. And there’s a lot to like about that model.
Both prediction markets and sweepstakes, while maybe not “illegal,” certainly are designed to take advantage of a technicality that leaves no protection for consumers and is also bad for the bottom line of regulated operators that play by the government’s rules. That’s why so many states and regulated operators are now fighting back against them.
There’s a better way.
Why even allow sweepstakes and prediction markets when there is a regulated option?
I’m not naïve enough to believe the Canadian market is absent such players in the grey market. But I do think there’s a lot less focus on those fringe operators and that’s another good thing about the Canadian iGaming sector in relation to the U.S. market.
Ontario numbers coming… eventually
We had hoped to bring you the latest Ontario online gambling numbers in this issue. But, as we were going to press, iGaming Ontario was reporting that while July numbers were ready, it was having technical difficulties showing those numbers.
As iGO would tell you: stay tuned.
Golden Nugget online casino now live in Ontario
Meanwhile, Ontario is now home to another new online platform.
As Ziv Chen reported for Covers last week, Golden Nugget, a subsidiary of DraftKings, has launched its online casino in Ontario.
Ontario is the fifth regulated market for Golden Nugget. It joins Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The site launched in the province touting “2,000 online slot titles, classic table games, and exclusive DraftKings-developed content.”
CNN program digs into the “highs and lows” of sports wagering, American style
After a busy day of working on our short game and consuming a smorgasbord of late-August sports – Brooke Henderson’s win at the CPKC Canadian Open, Tommy Fleetwood’s first PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship event, opening day of the U.S. Open singles draws and the Blue Jays’ ongoing pursuit of the AL East pennant – we flopped on the couch Sunday evening for CNN’s Anderson Cooper – The Whole Story. The latest episode featured reporting by Nick Watt into “the highs and lows of sports betting”. It comes as Eric Ramsey wrote for Legal Sports Report that legal sports wagering in the U.S. continues to establish new highs in revenue for operators.
Taylor Galgano also provided reportage of the written sort in a piece with the headline “The hobby that’s costing young men thousands of dollars”. Galgano’s article led with the sad tale of a 27-year-old whose gambling had spiralled out of control to the point of losing $11,000 betting the spread on a Carolina Hurricanes-Calgary Flames game. The piece also referenced a U.S. national survey of registered voters conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University finding a quarter of men under 30 bet on sports online.
In Watt’s piece for the tele-o-vision, YouTube and CNN’s social media channels, Dr. Harry Levant gets a lot of face time (the safer gambling advocate and recovered betting addict was our guest last month on the Gaming News Canada Show). We have a few takeaways from watching the show:
Watt’s reporting includes a compelling interview with Amit Patel, who is doing time in prison for stealing $22 million from the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars.
The same from the time Watt spends with - and the program devotes to following - professional gambler Isaac Rose Berman.
From Levant, after the piece mentions Americans have been wagering for 350 years, “. . . . online gambling is a fundamentally different product. The human brain is not built to absorb an addictive product at light speed.”
To borrow a bit of baseball parlance, American Gaming Association head honcho Bill Miller batted below The Mendoza Line in his appearance, highlighted by this:
We (sigh) see it all the time these days, from politicians to CEOs and other senior executives across all sectors, this sending out boiler-plate messaging while refusing to speak with reporters. So, while we give props to Miller for sitting down with Watt, it’s two thumbs-down to the leadership at FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM for resorting to the statement thing with both Watt and Galgano.
Finally, a touch of irony in seeing a Robinhood ad during the hour-long program, given the current back and forth around predictions markets plunging into the wild world of sports.
We reached out to gambling industry savant Chris Grove for his thoughts on the latest scrutiny around sports betting in the post-PASPA world. He replied via email:
The AGA and the regulated gambling industry are in an unenviable position. There's clearly no great answer to many of the issues raised by the spread of legal sports betting.
But it's equally clear that the current strategy and messaging is simply not working.
Sports betting is taking massive hits at the federal level, including the unfettered advancement of prediction markets and the disastrous reworking of the tax treatment of gambling winnings. And the public narrative around regulated gambling feels more negative than it has been at any other point during my career.
The industry and its advocates need to stop wasting time and resources on temporary flights of fancy that only serve a small number of loud members. The misguided crusades against things like fantasy sports and sweepstakes are looking more and more like a rearranging of deck chairs on the Titanic, and the actual icebergs are drawing closer every day.
High Rollers’ Clemes and Young on the GNC Show
On the most recent episode of the Gaming News Canada Show, High Roller’s Ben Clemes and Seth Young joined host Steve McAllister.
Clemes is the CEO of High Roller, while Young is the online casino company’s chief strategic officer. High Roller is hoping to launch in Ontario before the end of 2025.
Clemes told McAllister the company will be putting additional staff in place here, and the company has already announced partnerships with Playtech and Kinectify for its Ontario business.
Both Clemes and Young spoke about the opportunity for success in a crowded market, and shared their thoughts on the Ontario model. That, of course, led to a conversation on the incoming Alberta market, which Young and Clemes are following.
You can listen to the show via your favourite podcasting app or watch it here:
SBC brings together the entire gaming industry in the beautiful city of Lisbon for the annual SBC Summit, September 16-18.
More than 30,000 delegates will gather to explore a show floor packed with some of the greatest (and newest) products on the market and listen in to what the greatest conference program in tech and gaming has to offer, all set in one of the world’s greatest cities.
Click here to register now and use the code PARLEHPARTNERVIP for a 50% discount.
People on the Move
Former Great Canadian Entertainment igaming head honcho Kresimir Spajic leaves his CEO gig with Betfred to join Allwyn as Chief Executive Officer of Allwyn Digital.
Entain removes the interim tag from Andrew Vouris’s CEO title for the company’s operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Stephanie Barrett leaves her position as Global Vice President, Decision Support COE – Gaming Finance to become IGT’s Vice President, Global Gaming FP&A.
Renuka Rawlins is appointed Head of Policy and Public Affairs at UK fintech company Yaspa.
Catherine Jarmain departs iGaming Ontario as Director, Operator and Player Relations.
Marc Boudreau, ex of Rush Street Interactive, is now a Consultant for G2 Gaming.
Cristian Robalino, whose departure last month from SBC was noted in this corner, is appointed Head of Marketing, Americas for SiGMA World.
Friend of GNC Eric Herd is the new Global Head of Sports & Emerging Products for Yieldmo’s new sports division.
Fanatics appoints Jeremi Gorman as Chief Revenue Officer of its new advertising division.
Raul Cue is the new Head of Integrations at 155.io.
Ronak Shah leaves his Senior Compliance Officer’s position with Kaizen Gaming to become the Legal and Compliance Manager for Easygo and its Stake Canada brand.
Kelli Weaver and her KDW Consulting practice becomes a Strategic Advisor for Native Sportsbook and iGaming.
Kelsey Walsh is named Director, Customer Service at Pavilion Payments.
Luke Campanella says goodbye to MLSE and comes on board at SharpStakes as Director of Sales.
Scott Cooke bids adieu to TD to join The Curling Group as Director, Data and Analytics.
Allison Kiloh is promoted to Senior Graphic Designer at NeoPollard Interactive.
Mark Wacyk departs his President’s post from the CEBL Ottawa BlackJacks.
Chris Zaber, ex of the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates, is appointed Chief Revenue Officer for the Washington Nationals.
Michelle Killins departs the Canadian Paralympic Committee to become the Associate Director, Sport Development at Swimming Canada.
Dr. Michael Naraine is appointed Chair of the Board of Directors for Canadian Snowboard while Patrik Zimmeran comes on board the. . . er. . . board.
Former Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada reporter Ryan Leslie is hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs as its new host.
Dan Wolken, former USA Today’s national college football writer, is the new Columnist at Yahoo Sports.
Next League brings Joe Dupriest into the fold as an AI Consultant.
Classified (Jobs) Information
On the Home Front
Electronic Arts is in full-on hiring mode in Vancouver and other parts of the planet.
There’s a Service Desk Specialist required by The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
SharpStakes is searching for an Account Manager to work out of its Toronto offices.
Red Bull has a 14-month contract for a Brand Specialist – Product Marketing in Toronto.
The organizers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have need for a Venue Technology Manager – Toronto.
Deloitte is on the lookout for an Engagement, Change and Communications Manager.
Canada Soccer wants to onboard a Financial Analyst.
Your Toronto Blue Jays are also looking for a Financial Analyst, although this role is of the senior type.
The Canadian Premier League is searching for a Social Media Marketing Manager.
Wanted by the Ontario Hockey League: a Manager, Culture & Community.
There’s a Manager, Digital Marketing position available with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The University of Calgary has a trio of openings in its Athletics department.
There’s a remote opportunity for a Head of Video at The Athletic.
Lululemon is seeking for its Vancouver offices a Director, North America PR.
Rogers Sports & Media is in the market for an Account Manager – Elevate.
South of the Border
On Monday, predictions markets business Polymarket posted on LinkedIn a Head of Sports position.
In New York, FanDuel has an opportunity for a Media Associate.
Also in the Big Apple, BetMGM is looking for a Gaming Analyst.
In Philly, Penn Interactive is seeking a Lead Product Manager, MarTech and Promotions.
Wanted by DraftKings: an Associate Account Manager, Brand Partnerships, a Sportsbook Ticket Writer and a Sportsbook Operations Manager, Revenue.
GME Consulting is seeking a Senior Analyst in Denver and has the same role to fill in Las Vegas
Hard Rock Digital is in the market for a Senior Manager – Influencer.
There’s a smorgasbord of postings at Betr’s Miami office these days.
Everi Holdings has a remote opportunity out of its Las Vegas HQ for a Project Manager – Loyalty.
Southland Casino Hotel in Memphis, Arizona, is seeking a Senior Director of Marketing.
Underdog is in the market for a Senior Product Designer, Promotions.
ESPN is among the businesses these days looking for a Senior Sports Data Scientist.
The New York Times has a temporary assignment for a Director, Audience & Strategy.
A Vice President, Content Distribution opportunity is up for grabs at National Hockey League HQ.
MLS HQ has an opening for a Senior Director, Data & Analytics Engineering – Fan Genome Platform.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in the market for a Director of Marketing, Culture & Creators.
The gang in charge of the LA28 Olympics & Paralympic Games are looking for a Director, Partnership Marketing.
Wanted by UFC: a Social Media Manager.
T-Mobile is looking for a Senior Sponsorships Manager – Golf.
TikTok is hiring at its New York location a Communications Manager, Global Partnerships.
The Coca-Cola Company has at its Atlanta HQ an opening for a Senior Director, Internal Communications.
The Brooklyn Nets are searching for a Public Relations Manager.
Yahoo Sports is looking for a Production Assistant to join its YouTube team.
The PWHL is hiring a Senior Coordinator, Social Media – West Coast.
The women’s professional tennis tour (WTA) needs a Coordinator, Social Media.
The Orlando City and Orlando Pride soccer clubs are hiring a Strategy & Analytics – Market Intelligence Analyst.
The NWSL Angel City Football Club needs a Senior PR Manager.
Across the Ponds
In the UK, Hard Rock Digital is looking for a Trading Player Profiling Analyst.
Also in the UK, a Head of Media & Digital Communications is sought by the Betting and Gaming Council.
Tebex has a remote opportunity in the UK for a Head of Marketing – Payments & Gaming.
Low6 has a position available in England for a Sales Development Representative.
Boyle Sports is hiring in Gibraltar a Campaigns Planning Executive.
High Roller Technologies has a position available in Malta for a Full Stack Developer.
Everi is hiring in Chennai, India, a Senior Software Engineer.
There’s a six pack of postings at Casumo.
EveryMatrix is hiring an Account Manager in Sliema, Malta.
The Invictus Games Foundation has an opening for a Head of Partnerships.
Six Nations Rugby is looking for a Head of Digital Products & Content to work at its London offices.
Reading and reflection
1. The consternation from folks involved in Canada’s legal gambling industry when it comes to oversight around money laundering at the federal level isn’t going away. Derek Ramm, one of the loudest voices, posted his reaction to the latest national Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks report.
2. DraftKings received the profile treatment from Newsweek as a member of America’s Greatest Companies 2025.
3. Sandra Wong, the founder/CEO of Vancouver-based Lucky Lady Games, is calling on other Canadian provinces to follow Ontario’s lead when it comes to regulated gambling.
4. A tip of ye old Bauer Vapor to Dustin Gouker for breaking the news that FanDuel is set to join the prediction markets business.
5. Speaking of predictions markets, Polymarket appears set to get back into that game.
6. The NFL held a video call Monday with reporters and made public its position on the topics that bother them the most with today’s sports betting environment. And we heartily recommend giving an X thread from the aforementioned Chris Grove a perusing.
7. Howard Stutz and Eric Neugeboren reported for The Daily Indy on a “soft summer” for Las Vegas’s tourism industry.
8. Ben Fawkes of Yahoo Sports cobbled together a little ditty on the five biggest-hitting bets in the U.S. of A. since 2018.
9. Venmo and the NCAA, writes Brant James for InGame, are getting together in the fight against online abuse of student-athletes.
10. Matt Rybaltowski, tinkling the keyboard for iGaming Business, has the details on ESPN Bet’s new FanCenter south of the border.
11. Speaking of iGaming Business, it has (courtesy of Pat Evans) an update on the Missouri sports betting market in advance of its scheduled launch in December.
12. Toronto-based OverActive Media released its Q2 financials, and touted its LEC on the Road and a Call of Duty League Championship Weekend events in Madrid and Kitchener, respectively.
13. The ATP Safe Sport Initiative released its results for the past year in its battle against online abuse.
14. These are busy times for the International Tennis Agency, which has issued sanctions against three players and two umpires for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.
15. Lottery.com announces it’s done the rebranding thing.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter, ensuring you never miss out on breaking updates.
To discuss our coverage of your company's news and announcements and to become a sponsor or advertiser on Gaming News Canada, please contact steve@gamingnewscanada.ca.
