British Columbia-based Playgon announces that it has been approved for an Ontario gaming-related supplier license by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Now, the company popular for its SaaS and live dealer technology will be permitted to offer its proprietary services to gambling operators in the province’s regulated market for iGaming.
In April 2022, Ontario became the first Canadian province to launch a competitive online market for gambling and sports betting. Hence, allowing third-party operators and suppliers who are licensed to legally function in the sector. It is overseen by AGCO which monitors for any discrepancies and ensures that players are protected
Official Entry for its Live Dealer Tech
After acquiring regulatory permissions, the company will be now able to enter the iGaming market and partner up with other provincially-regulated operators. Thus, being able to deliver its mobile-focused live dealer technology VegasLounge™ to local players. The company will make further announcements once partnerships have been struck and finalized.
Darcy Krogh, President and CEO of the B.C. gaming company commented that the supplier license for Ontario is another significant milestone for the provider and that its team is thrilled for the opportunity. He noted that this is the studio’s live dealer technology’s first entry into North America and that they have seen serious interest in their product. But more will be revealed in due time.
Mr. Krogh also noted that the province was swift to become one of the top 5 iGaming jurisdictions in North America. The CEO also remarked that live dealer table games accounted for 32% of the generated revenue in the online casino segment. This makes the jurisdiction quite attractive and appealing for the technology provider of exactly that type of service.
Speaking of the potential of the local online gambling framework, a few months ago, AGCO’s subsidiary iGaming Ontario reported that in its first year, the market delivered just over CA$1.48 billion to the province’s gross domestic product. It also generated CA$238 million in federal government revenue, C$469 million in provincial revenue, as well as CA$54 million in municipal government proceeds.
Current projections point out that in 2024, the iGaming framework is set to deliver CA$2.9 billion to the province’s GDP. Currently, Ontario is the only province with an open iGaming market for private operators, but sportsbooks are calling for more provinces to open their sectors for operators, with Quebec being the latest province in question.
Apollo Entertainment Suffers a Heavy Fine
In the meantime, AGCO is keeping a watchful eye over every licensed operator and supplier in the province. Recently, the gaming watchdog issued fines of CA$100,000 on Apollo Entertainment for violating the province’s responsible play provisions. The company allegedly failed to perform the required interventions with users who may suffer from gambling-related issues.
Source: “Playgon Games – Maker of VegasLounge™ Receives Ontario Gaming-Related Supplier License” Playgon, August 21, 2023