Online gambling market launched in Ontario, Canada.
The regulated online gambling market opened in Ontario on April 4. The province became the first in Canada where they began to legally accept online bets, according to the website of the regulator – iGaming Ontario.
The issuance of licenses for the provision of services in the field of online gambling was handled by iGaming Ontario (a subsidiary of the Ontario Commission on Alcohol and Gambling). The licenses are valid from the day the market opens until April 3, 2024.
As of early April, the regulator issued 25 online licenses. Among those who received gambling licenses were such companies as Coolbet, FanDuel, Bet365, LeoVegas, Unibet, and others.
Ontario is a province in east-central Canada that borders the United States. The province is the first in Canada to launch an online betting market open to private companies.
Earlier, RB Business reported that gambling operators BetMGM and PointsBet also received licenses to operate in the Canadian province.
BetMGM in Ontario
On April 4th, 2022, the digital gaming market in Canada opened its doors to licensed providers and operators. Following the call of the newly regulated gaming market, MGM Resorts, along with many other industry representatives, has launched the BetMGM brand in Ontario. According to the press release, the gaming group’s sub-brand symbolizes an entrepreneurial milestone, as entering the Canadian market represents the company’s first international activity.
To date, MGM has only been active in the domestic gaming market in the United States. Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM explains:
“Today is an important milestone for BetMGM and a significant moment for all sports fans and online players in Ontario. We are very confident that our customers in Canada will enjoy the unique, interactive, and premium gaming experience that we are offering at BetMGM.” – Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM Official Press Release from MGM Resorts,
With BetMGM, a total of 13 different gaming groups are currently active in Ontario, Canada, which had already sought an official license in the run-up to the regulation of the local online market. The competition is correspondingly large in the dewy market in the North American country. In order to prevail against well-known competitors such as Flutter Entertainment or Evolution Gaming, BetMGM has entered into cooperation agreements with famous and popular athletes.
Since ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in Ontario, Canada, the main focus of testimonial acquisition was on personalities and icons from the ice hockey world. Some of the notable stars BetMGM has partnered with include Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. Both are to be included in future advertising and marketing campaigns.
Casino & sports betting in focus
BetMGM’s online gambling offer consists mainly of casino games and sports betting in Ontario, Canada. Accordingly, the Canadian gambling community has the opportunity to place bets on a wide range of sporting events. Meanwhile, in the casino area, players have a potpourri of slot machines, progressive jackpots, slot tournaments, blackjack, and roulette at their disposal.
On the other hand, online poker, which is also included in the BetMGM offer, is considered a big surprise. In the run-up to the launch, there were already signs that the gaming brand would come up with a separate poker area. For example, a welcome freeroll was announced on the website’s landing page.
Poker offer from MGM.
MGM Resorts is considered a jack of all trades in the gaming industry. The group offers almost all popular and common games of chance – including poker. With the online poker offer in Canada, MGM is not breaking new ground but comes with sufficient experience. The company provides online poker rooms in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
competition is brewing
One of BetMGM’s biggest competitors in the Canadian online gambling market in Ontario is undoubtedly Flutter Entertainment. The big player in the industry also tried to get a license early on. It entered the newly regulated market on April 4th. Flutter started with its well-known FanDuel brand, which offers both digital sports betting and casino games. Both segments are accessible to the Canadian gaming community both via browser and app.
Flutter is apparently hoping for a large audience in Canada and has positioned itself accordingly through a multi-year deal with the local sports medium TSN. The partnership enables Flutter to provide its customers with exclusive content and betting odds.
Evolution Gaming has also started its activities in Ontario, Canada with a similar level of commitment. The Maltese gaming group is one of the most sought-after providers in the industry. It will in the future be supplying many of the gaming providers licensed in Canada. For example, LeoVegas, Rush Street Interactive, ScoreBet, and BetMGM use the European live casino portfolio from the renowned software provider. This allows the gaming community to enjoy live table games, game shows, and exclusive slots.
Here are some great Ontario and Canadian online casinos that we recommend.
