Hard Rock could enter Ontario market with acquisition of PointsBet Canada
The deal would be part of Betr buying PointsBet, keeping the Australian branch of the company and selling off the Ontario operation.
Hard Rock is one of the larger U.S. operators that has been strangely absent from Ontario’s lucrative online gambling market. That could be changing.
In a story published last Friday, Mark Keast, writing for Casino.org, said Hard Rock could be looking to purchase the assets of PointsBet Canada.
Also, Keast said a “senior industry source” told him that Hard Rock Digital has applied for an iGaming license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The AGCO denied to Keast that Hard Rock has made such an application.
How Hard Rock would land in Ontario is based on a potential sale of PointsBet to Betr, which is in a bidding war with Japanese company MIXI. Betr currently owns about 20% of PointsBet’s shares.
As Keast wrote, “Part of that new bid from Betr involves selling off PointsBet Canada, with Hard Rock to be the buyer. A Betr news release on April 29 confirmed this: ‘We have received a non-binding proposal from Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC to acquire certain assets which relate to PointsBet’s Canadian operations, subject to various conditions precedent.’ Hard Rock would pay Betr US $29.6 million for PointsBet Canada if this were to all go through.”
If that happens, Betr would then keep PointsBet’s Australian operations.
Hard Rock will soon open a new hotel and casino in Ottawa on the Rideau-Carleton Casino and Racetrack grounds.
In the U.S., Hard Rock Bet has an online casino in New Jersey and online sportsbooks in New Jersey, Arizona, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and is the exclusive legal sportsbook in Florida in partnership with the Seminole Tribe.
Gauthier: Québec “zealously” regulates bingo while doing nothing about online gambling
Ariane Gauthier, the spokesperson for the Québec Online Gaming Coalition, has penned another opinion piece for Le Journal de Montréal.
We previously covered Gauthier’s first op-ed where she made the case for an open, regulated online gambling sector in Québec.
On Monday, the paper published another Gauthier op-ed, this one focused on the province’s heavily bureaucratic process to receive a license to operate bingo. Gauthier pointed out that same province does nothing to regulate the thousands of illegal gambling sites accessible to Québecers.
An English translation of Gauthier’s piece included this:
“While it zealously monitors community halls and church basements to ensure bingo nights run smoothly, the government imposes no rules on the approximately 2,000 online gambling websites, accessible to young adults from any computer or phone… In short, Québec has all the tools in hand to regularize the situation of private casino and sports betting websites and improve protection for all players.”
OLG’s Maxine Chapman on GNC Show
On the latest Gaming News Canada Show, host Steve McAllister spoke to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) Maxine Chapman about gaming, sports and strategy. Chapman is the OLG’s vice president, brand and marketing officer. She was making her debut on the show.
Chapman was recently honoured by Strategy Magazine as one of its Marketers of the Year. She has deftly juggled OLG’s many brands and partnerships with advertising/marketing/PR agencies and organizations such as Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment around its Bring Home The Win masterbrand.
She has also worked with Coca-Cola, the Vancouver and London Olympics, Cineplex and Manulife.
She spoke to McAllister about all those stops and her work across sports, entertainment and gaming. Chapman also addressed the efforts to put OLG on the radar with Gen Z and millennials.
You can listen to the show here, via your favourite podcasting app or watch it here:
Ontario’s online operators could not report suspicious financial activity for over a year
Tom Nightingale reporting for Canadian Gaming Business recently wrote that Ontario’s licensed gambling operators couldn’t file reports to the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada’s (FINTRAC) portal for an entire year between March 2024 and March 2025.
Nightingale wrote “Business and technology publication The Logic reported that the {FINTRAC] portal, which is how Ontario operators submit their reports, was taken down by FINTRAC following a cyberattack in March 2024. The report notes that the portal is mainly used by small businesses; banks and most other large organizations use a secure data feed for filing reports, but iGaming Ontario (iGO) has allegedly not set up that avenue.
“Consequently, operators were left unable to report suspected money laundering or other suspected fraudulent activity, a state of play that extended for a year until iGO gave operators access again in March 2025 after FINTRAC completed an update of its tech systems and restored access.”
FINTRAC said the cyberattack did not gain access to any sensitive data.
There have been concerns that organized crime uses online gambling sites to launder money.
A spokesperson for iGO told Nightingale the organization is building its own improved and automated system for filing reports of suspicious financial transactions.
Shelley White to be honoured at SBC Summit Americas
Sticking with Nightingale’s reporting for one more today, he also reported recently for Canadian Gaming Business that former Responsible Gambling Council CEO Shelley White will be inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 at the SBC Summit Americas on May 14 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Congratulations Shelley.
Deadline extended for applications re: Tibor Barsony Bursary
The Responsible Gambling Council let it be known this week that the deadline to apply for a Tibor Barsony Bursary has been extended until Monday (May 12).
The bursary, named in honour of the RBC’s founder, provides a $5,000 award to a Canadian university or college student conducting research on the prevention of gambling harm. Mental health, public health, addictions or health promotions are among the research categories which fit the bill for the bursary.
The recipient will be announced during the May 20-22 RGC Discovery conference in the city below Beaverton.
People on the Move
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 being inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, announced yesterday by SBC: retired Responsible Gambling Council CEO Shelley White, The Action Network co-founder Chad Millman, former Stardust Director of Race and Sports Scotty Schelttler, and Costa Rica Junta de Proteccion Social President Esmeralda Britton.
Holly Gagnon is the new Chair of the Board of Directors at Bragg Gaming.
Leah Mayo is the new Vice President of Operations at Are You Watching This?! and MetaBet.
Bruce Parson is appointed Chief Financial Officer at PA Media.
Michelle Dunham is named Vice President, Legal Affairs and General Counsel at Four Winds Casino.
Relax Gaming introduces Angela van den Berg as General Counsel.
Nick Brown, formerly of Square in the Air, and ex-BetGames Chief Operating Officer Aiste Garneviciene have launched marketing agency PRace.
Pinnacle promotes Justin Parhar to Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Manager.
Matt Hockenjos bids adieu to SBC as Senior Relationship Manager (Operators – North America) for a new gig with Relax Gaming.
Charul Sharma joins Fanatics as Sourcing Technical Recruiter.
Former Amazon executive Jeff Blackburn is named Chair and Chief Executive Officer at the Tennis Channel.
Global technology leader Sukhinder Singh Cassidy joins the ownership group of WNBA Toronto Tempo.
Former CFL senior executive Tyler Mazereeuw is the new President of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
The National Hockey League Players’ Association names former former NFL Players Inc. President Steve Scebelo as Chief Commercial Officer, recently retired NHLer Kyle Okposo as Business Development and Player Relations Advisor, and Stephanie Maniago as Manager, Communications and Media Relations.
Frank Seravelli is saying goodbye to The Nation Network and his President of Hockey Content role at the Better Collective-owned enterprise.
Meadowlark Media co-founder John Skipper is leaving the company.
Kevin O’Connor, formerly of Nike and Apple, is the new Chief Marketing Officer at X Games.
Kim Gurtler is named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Sport Information Resource Centre, succeeding Debra Gassewitz who is retiring.
The Canadian Olympic Committee promotes Mark Nadolny to Senior Manager, Digital Marketing & Data.
Nick Dotto has a new title at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment – Manager, Integrated Brand Marketing – Toronto FC, Toronto Argos and Esports.
Hannah Carver departs Bell Media as Communications Officer – News, Radio, and Sports, and joins AFC Toronto as a Communications Consultant.
Andrew Rocha joins the CEBL Brampton Honey Badgers as Director of Partnerships & Development.
Arnaldo Mirabal Jr. is named Marketing Assistant at BV Marketing Agency.
Classified (Jobs) Information
GeoComply has a gaggle of job openings, including a Strategic Commuications Consultant at its Toronto offices.
BCLC is on the lookout to fill a trio of openings.
iGaming Ontario has an opportunity for a Financial Analyst/Accountant, and for a Senior Business Process Analyst.
Among a trifecta of employment opportunities at Rush Street Interactive is a remote Engineering Director for Canada/U.S.
Sportradar wants to bring into its Minneapolis offices a Sports Tech Analyst – Associate, Futures Hub.
PointsBet is hiring at its Melbourne, Australia offices a Human Resources Business Partner.
Hard Rock Digital has an opportunity for a Quality Assurance Specialist – Salesforce & Systems Integration, and is also searching for a Pricing Analyst: Sportsbook Research & Development. And, there’s an opening in Valletta for a Product Manager – Regulatory Reporting. Finally, a remote position for an Associate Legal Counsel south of the border.
Acquire.bet is in the market for a Head of Strategic Operations & Automation.
FanDuel is hiring a Senior Technology Risk Analyst.
For DraftKings’ Boston offices, there’s an opportunity for a Senior Analyst, Account Platform.
ALT Sports Data has an opening for a Graphic Designer.
The American Gaming Association is searching for an Executive Assistant.
SCCG Management wants to onboard a Global Brand & Content Strategist.
Snap Inc., the owners of Snapchat have a number of gaming-related openings.
Niagara Casinos has an opening for a Quality Assurance Analyst.
Fanatics has a bunch of engineering positions up for grabs at its location in Ireland, and is looking for a Senior Data Engineer at its New York location. And, there’s also an opening for an Investigations and Integrity Analyst.
Pentasia is searching for a Head of Marketing and Acquisition – Sweepstakes.
Vancouver-based Maximizer is in the market for an AI Product Manager.
Major League Content boss Steve Chen has sounded the alarm for igaming writers.
STN Digital have openings for a Social Media Manager and an Account Manager.
The folks organizing FIFA World Cup 2026 need a Volunteer Manager for the city below Terra Cotta.
True North Sports & Entertainment is in the market for an Account Executive, Premium Sales.
Skate Canada is looking for a Director, Event Execution.
The Canadian Football League is hiring Live Content Creators, and is also searching for a Game Night Administrator.
Wanted by the Canadian Paralympic Committee: a Manager, Finance and Operations.
The proprietors of your Toronto Maple Leafs are hiring an Account Executive, Membership.
The Canadian Olympic Committee is seeking a Coordinator, People and Culture.
Live Nation Entertainment has posted an opportunity for an Account Director, Brand Management.
The NFL Arizona Cardinals are seeking a Senior Director, Influencer Marketing and Social Media.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s expansion franchise in Seattle has a quartet of job openings, including a General Manager. And the PWHL expansion team in Vancouver is hiring a Social Media Manager.
Red Bull is hiring an Owned Media Manager, Red Bull TV for its Munich offices.
The WTA wants to bring on board a Creative Content Producer.
Speed Skating Canada is on a recruiting mission for its Board of Directors.
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