- Two more Internet Gaming Operators have registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
- The AGCO along with iGaming Ontario provide oversight for the online betting industry in Canada’s largest province.
- Ontario launched their regulated and competitive iGaming market on April 4.
When it comes to creating a vibrant and competitive market for iGaming and sports betting in North America there’s Ontario and everyone else. Canada’s largest province is simply in a class by itself at the moment due to low taxes, no license limit, no ‘tethering requirement’ and a loose touch on regulating what sports and bets can be offered. 14 companies have gone live in Ontario with sports betting, iGaming and a few are offering poker. There’s plenty more on the way and today we got wind of two more companies that will be joining the Ontario market in the near future.
Both of the new additions to the iGaming roster are well known US based companies. First up, we’ve got DraftKings which will be launching a sportsbook and casino platform. No surprise here and when FanDuel launched in the ‘Great White North‘ it was inevitable that DraftKings wouldn’t be far behind. We reported that DraftKings was in the process of obtaining licensing through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) on April 4 and their license ‘effective’ date is listed as 5/13/22. The iGaming Ontario website indicates that the minimum timeframe for completing licensing from start to finish is 90 days. Since that includes the part of the process that DraftKings has already completed that would put a launch date somewhere in the 45 to 60 day range. At this point, much of the remaining tasks are setting up reporting interfaces with the AGCO, providing evidence of technology compliance, compelting Anti-Money Laundering (AML) information, etc. Ultimately, DraftKings will execute an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario and they’ll be ready to go live. My guess is that they’ll sail through this part of the process so you could see DraftKings up and running by mid-June.
At one point, DraftKings used Kambi technology for their sportsbook platform but the two companies dissolved their partnership in July 2020. This was shortly after DraftKings acquired SBTech to provide all the technology resources they need ‘in house’. Based on their data registered with the AGCO, DraftKings will use the same URLs that they use in the US (casino.draftkings.com and sportsbook.draftkings.com).
Also heading to Canada is another well known US gaming brand–Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) will launch a mobile sportsbook and casino platform in Ontario under the name ‘playfallsview.com’. The name is a homage to the Fallsview Casino Resort on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment launched a division dedicated to their online gaming operations called Mohegan Digital in July 2021.
The PlayFallsview sportsbook platform will use Kambi technology. MGE and Kambi announced a partnership deal for Ontario on May 3, 2022:
Kambi Group plc, the world’s trusted sports betting supplier, has entered into an agreement with Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) to provide its market-leading online mobile sportsbook to the operator’s Fallsview Casino brand in Ontario, Canada.
The multi-year deal will see MGE leverage Kambi’s award-winning technology and mobile sports betting offering, which includes its unparalleled ice hockey product and expansive Bet Builder capability, for its PlayFallsview online mobile sportsbook brand.
Operated by MGE, Fallsview Casino is the largest gaming resort facility in Canada, and one of the most recognisable gaming brands in the country, with its online brand to launch following the opening of the newly regulated Ontario market last month.
Here’s what Kristian Nylén, Kambi Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, had to say about their partnership with MGE and the Ontario market:
“The Canadian market, and Ontario in particular, is full of potential for Kambi and our partners so I am pleased to have agreed this partnership with Mohegan and its Fallsview online mobile brand.”
“I look forward to the combination of our industry-leading mobile sportsbook and the prominent Fallsview name as together we bring players in Ontario all the excitement of single and in-game wagering along with the unrivalled bet combinability our sportsbook offers.”
Rich Roberts, President of Mohegan Digital gave the quote on behalf of MGE. He’s also looking forward to their partnership with Kambi and pointed out that the Ontario launch will represent MGE’s first online gaming platform outside of the US:
“It’s an exciting time for the mobile gaming industry as sports betting continues to grow, and we’re thrilled to be entering into another partnership with Kambi Group plc with the launch of PlayFallsview online mobile sportsbook.”
“Once launched, this will mark MGE’s first online mobile gaming product outside of the United States and we’re really looking forward to our partnership with Kambi Group on this new venture.”
Kambi already has a sizable presence in Ontario’s regulated gaming market. Their technology powers the sportsbook for NorthStar Bets, BetRivers, LeoVegas, Unibet and 888. 888’s sportsbook project in conjunction with Maxim Publishing aka MaximBet is planning an Ontario launch and they’ll also be powered by Kambi technology. Not sure about the casino gaming platform–since they just announced the partnership deal with Kambi it could be that the casino technology platform that they’ll use in Canada is ‘TBA’.
