Ontario’s regulated online gambling and sports betting sector grows even larger, as most recently Octoplay announced its entry into the market. In a press release, the company revealed it has received a supplier permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, allowing it to deliver its exciting slot machine games to licensed operators in the jurisdiction.
At the moment, Ontario is the only Canadian province allowing private operators and suppliers to enter its regulated iGaming space. The market officially kicked off on April 4, 2022, and its purpose was to take away the monopoly from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and prevent players from pouring billions of dollars into offshore betting sites.
Octoplay Makes its Way into Ontario
Octoplay is operated by Gameshop Limited and is a rapidly growing industry disruptor and quickly turning into a prominent brand. Its entry into Canada’s most populous province is another example of its expansion into regulated markets and arrives after its licenses from the Gambling Commission of Great Britain, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the Swedish Gaming Authority.
With the provider live in the province, locally licensed operators will gain access to the supplier’s innovative game server, allowing them to diversify their gaming offering with a selection of slot titles from the company’s quickly growing gaming portfolio. Its catalogue features hit titles such as Pearly Shores, Lolicat and Bullet Bonanza.
Martina Borg Stevens, Legal Director at the supplier commented the company is pleased to enter the province, which is its fourth license in 2023. The firm has a goal of acquiring a license for every regulated sector. Ms. Stevens said the Ontario license is a prestigious one as it bolsters the supplier’s position in North America, which the company aims to build on.
Meanwhile, Commercial Director, Nick Vuchev, said the provider’s slots are in high demand among players worldwide. He said it is no surprise that operators want to get their hands on the content and that is why the supplier is putting all these efforts into entering new regulated markets. He added that the Ontario license is a major milestone for the iGaming distributor.
Most Recent on Ontario’s iGaming Scene
In December, PointsBet Canada, which is a licensed entity in Ontario, announced a partnership with Strive Gaming. The collaboration will help the internet gambling operator to bolster its internal offerings, complementing its existing technology stack, and as a result, provide an even better online casino experience for its users in the province.
However, at the end of November 2023, the province saw Unibet suspend its North American operators and exit Ontario. The company underwent some heavy cost reductions thus cutting over 300 employees. As one of the first operators to go online in the province, Unibet is set to suspend all iGaming activities in the region by the end of Q2 of 2024.
Source: “Octoplay secures Ontario licence” Octoplay, December 27, 2023
