Forget hot girl summer. These days everyone’s falling for Ontario. At least when it comes to Canadian gambling.
When Bill C-218 came into effect in late August, it allowed Canadian provinces to introduce single-event sports betting to existing lottery options.
While the legal change provided new opportunities across the country, only one province has the most to gain. Ontario.
The largest and most populated province, Ontario is on everyone’s radar after deciding to establish an open gambling market. So far it’s the only province to make that commitment.
And prospective operators and suppliers like Rivalry and FansUnite aren’t wasting any time. In fact, the two operators were among the first ones to have taken the plunge and applied for the license.
Obviously, ambitions to be among the first licensed operators in the province are high.
Rivalry’s big plans
Admittedly, Rivalry is eager to become a fully registered sports betting and internet gaming operator in Ontario. To that end, the company has submitted its application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
“As a Toronto-based company, and long-standing member of the tech ecosystem here, we could not be more excited for the opportunity to finally offer our incredible product and brand experiences at home in our own backyard,” said Steven Salz, Rivalry’s co-founder and CEO.
“We applaud the government of Ontario for its leadership in developing a robust licensing regime for iGaming.”
Rivalry is also excited about rolling out its one-of-a-kind casino game, Rushlane, for Ontario customers.
FansUnite won’t be left behind
Likewise, FansUnite officially filed its application to become a registered gaming supplier. As a license holder, FansUnite could offer its full esports and casino white label gaming platform, Chameleon, to other registered operators.
“As a Canadian-grown company, we’ve been looking forward to the day where we can operate in our home country,” said Scott Burton, FansUnite CEO.
“Ontario’s success will set the framework and serve as the blueprint for how the rest of the provinces could approach regulated gaming. That said, we are eager to be a part of that success.”
FansUnite currently holds B2B and B2C licenses. The company’s most renowned licenses include notable jurisdictions like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
iGaming Ontario takes control
Earlier this year Ontario established iGaming Ontario. The AGCO subsidiary is responsible for managing and conducting online gaming operations offered by private companies.
Once an operator’s application for the license is approved, it’s up to iGaming Ontario to issue the registration.
As soon as it happens, it will permit Rivalry and FansUnite to offer their casino games and sports betting products in the province.
