FSB and Relax Gaming secure approval to launch in Ontario
The two firms have received approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as the Canadian province prepares to launch regulated online betting and igaming on April 4.
Canada.- Sports betting and igaming service provider FSB and content provider Relax Gaming have secured approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to launch in the Canadian province’s legal market when it opens on April 4.
With a supplier licence, FSB will be able to work with approved operators in Ontario. It will be able to provide its omnichannel sportsbook product and online casino aggregation.
FSB chief executive Dave McDowell, said: “This hugely exciting news is a landmark moment for FSB and adds further fuel to our aggressive, forward momentum in the North American region. The pre-market opening approval from the AGCO pays a huge tribute to the quality of our technology, services and people as we push forward in global regulated markets in 2022.”
FSB’s vice president of operations for North America, Bob Akeret, added: “Being licensed as a gaming related supplier as the market opens puts us in a strong position to play a leading role in Ontario and build further and faster on the major growth we have achieved in North America over the last 12 months. This is an opportunity we look forward to embracing.”
Relax Gaming’s supplier licence will enable the firm to work with licensed operators in the Canadian province. It estimates that it will launch an initial 130 games, with almost half of the games coming from 16 of its partner studios.
Relax Gaming chief regulatory officer, Alexia Smilovic Rønde, said: “The opening of the Ontario province marks the long-awaited debuts of regulated operations in Canada and is truly a turning point for the industry in the region.”
“Relax Gaming is delighted to be part of this journey from the very beginning, as well as offer its compliant portfolio and suite of partners under our regulatory umbrella, to make an equally swift and brilliant entry on the local scene.”
Ontario to open legal igaming market
In January, iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (ACGO), announced that Ontario would open its legal igaming market on April 4. Approved operators would need to sign off on an operating agreement with iGO before they would be able to launch.
The AGCO continues to approve igaming operators and suppliers. LeoVegas Group has been registered as an igaming operator and Play’n GO was awarded a supplier licence that will see the company’s portfolio made available for players when the regulated market opens.
Rush Street Interactive has been granted an igaming licence for its online casino and sportsbook brand BetRivers. In the last weeks, Gaming Realms, Bragg Gaming Group, 888 Holdings, Inspired Entertainment, Kambi and Blueprint Gaming have also received igaming licences in the province.
See also: Ontario igaming market launch creates 1,300 new jobs
