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Canada still lags in online gambling front
With US Supreme Court’s recent order paving the way for legalising sports betting in the country, many observers are curiously watching Canada’s gambling scene. But the indications from the country suggest that it may be going in the opposite direction. Canada’s gambling industry has created an income of $17.3 billion CAD last year. It is expected to be higher this year.
The legislation is such that it is legal to bet online, provided the online casino or poker site does not have a physical facility in Canada. Obviously, the provincial casinos, like PlayNow.com, Espacejeux, and PlayOLG, have been finding this hard to accept.
The lawmakers are also concerned with this as online gambling results in revenue loss for the state. In 2016, the Quebec legislature passed Bill 74 which, among other things, included a provision to force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block international online casino operators.
Loto-Quebec, the provincial gambling body in Quebec, operates EspaceJeux.com, an online casino that requires all players to be residents of Quebec. More importantly, EspaceJeux’s profits are passed on to the provincial government just the same as lotteries and land-based casino profits, which are also regulated. As Simon Stern from toponlinecasinos.ca explains, up until 2016, Loto-Quebec has stated on the record that they were taking too much of a cut, meaning their Return to Player (RTP) was much lower than competing internationally based casinos. They were unable to grow rapidly enough to be sustainable due to players having easy options to play online where they had a better chance of winning. Since then, Espace Jeux has increased their RTP but are subsequently not meeting their profit goals as the margins tighten. Competition is fierce internationally and the largest online casinos have huge revenues to offer huge welcome bonuses and excellent RTPs. The answer for Quebec was to simply introduce legislation to eliminate the competition by forcing ISPs to block these websites. Bill 74 was passed with exactly that provision in 2016.
How is Quebec Bill 74 supposed to work? Loto-Quebec is to give a list of over 2000 gambling websites that ISPs in the province should block. They are also supposed to offer a tender to international online casinos to become partners with EspaceJeux where they will redirect registered players to these casinos through EspaceJeux but Loto-Quebec will maintain the customer information and take a cut of revenues. Some of the most visited sites from Quebec include PokerStars, Casino.com and LeoVegas and these parties may be candidates for approval. The law was given many months to set up the appropriate framework to accomplish this goal. All other online casinos will be blocked in the province and the responsibility to block them will be with the ISPs. The ISPs, which include some of the largest corporations in Canada, do not want to take on this burden and civil rights activists are concerned that this action leads the country down a slippery slope of allowing the government to restrict free speech and an open internet.
The consortium of ISPs, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), formally filed complaint to the national body governing telecommunications, the CRTC, who is formally the only organisation who legally have jurisdiction in this case. The CRTC came back with a recommendation that the law was unconstitutional and that they alone, along with the Government of Canada, have jurisdiction but they will await the court’s decision. Thus, the law introduced by the provincial Government of Quebec should not be implemented. The CWTA immediately filed suit in Quebec Superior Court to block the law from being implemented, where it stands today. The court case was delayed until March 2018 where a ruling still awaits. The general consensus among legal scholars is that the law will be rejected on constitutional grounds but will likely head all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.
What if the law is able to stand? A ruling in favour of Bill 74 would be the first such case that would allow provincial governments to restrict what their residents can view on the internet. The immediate result would be that Quebec residents would be unable to play at international online casinos and poker sites that are not licenced through EspaceJeux and Loto-Quebec. The implications are far-reaching in that it opens the door for similar laws to restrict other facets of a free internet and for other provinces to do the same. Canada will go from one of the most popular markets for online gambling to one of the most restrictive. More importantly, Canada could go from one of the most open societies in the world to one that restricts free speech and freedom of internet.
Source: cardplayer.com
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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CASINO FILIPINO LAUNCHES LUXURY CAR RAFFLE PROMO
Casino Filipino (CF) is revving up the excitement for its patrons with the launch of its Luxury Car Raffle Promo (LCRP) wherein ten brand-new luxury cars will be raffled off across 18 Casino Filipino branches and satellites nationwide.
Qualified players can earn raffle tickets every month starting April 1, 2025 up to June 20, 2026 based on their gaming activity specifically their Total Bets (TB) in table games or Turnover (TO) in slot machines and electronic table games (ETG). The grand draw will be held on June 30, 2026.
Raffle eligibility is based solely on gaming activity of each player within each calendar month. TB or TO from previous months do not carry over.
To participate, a player must be a bona fide holder of a Casino Filipino Membership Card and must not be disqualified under any applicable laws, regulations, or issuances governing casino play.
Each month, table games players will earn one raffle ticket for every Php1 million in TBs. Regular slot machine players will earn one ticket for every Php500,000 in TO, while ETG players will receive a ticket for every Php1 million in TO.
The monthly earning period gives players 15 exciting chances to qualify for the big draw. Raffle tickets will be generated and released on a monthly basis starting April 2025 until June 2026, keeping the momentum high throughout the promo duration.
With a spectacular lineup of 10 luxury cars waiting to be claimed, the LCRP promises to be one of CF’s most exciting and rewarding promos yet.
Whether you’re spinning the slots or going all-in at the tables, every play brings you one step closer to your dream ride.
The post CASINO FILIPINO LAUNCHES LUXURY CAR RAFFLE PROMO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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iGB Startup Summit will connect igaming entrepreneurs with top-tier investors
July’s iGB L!VE is helping to fuel the future of iGaming innovation courtesy of the new iGB Startup Summit which will be launched July 1st at ExCeL London – the new home of the world’s fastest growing iGaming exhibition.
The influential Summit represents a must attend for start-up businesses and will facilitate invaluable introductions to top-tier venture capital, private equity and institutional investors.
Curated in partnership with Defy the Odds, a specialist start-up accelerator founded by Kelly Kehn, Paris Smith, and Sue Schneider, it will feature private networking, roundtable discussions, panels and fireside chats providing the leaders of early-stage businesses with the insights and connections to help take their enterprises from concept to execution.
Expanding on the role of the Summit, Naomi Barton, Clarion Gaming’s Global Portfolio Director responsible for iGB L!VE said: “We know from working with the start-up community that new businesses struggle with securing funding, meeting mentors and entering the industry. Equally, investors lack a centralised, professional and sympathetic environment where they can connect with talented entrepreneurs and in the process gain early access to iGaming’s cutting-edge start-ups.
“In order to bring these two important communities together we are creating an exclusive Chatham House style high-value networking environment where start-up enterprises can meet with iGaming founders, spark new partnerships and potentially attract long-term investment. The Start-Up Summit reflects iGB L!VE’s status as the go to platform for new entrepreneurial businesses which are the future of iGaming.”
Aimed at a broad audience of Investors and VCs, looking for the next big idea in iGaming, entrepreneurs and start-ups seeking insights and funding, industry leaders wanting to connect with the next wave of innovators and business development professionals exploring strategic partnerships, the invite-only stream, which will take place above the show floor in the South Gallery Rooms at ExCeL London, will include practical workshops led by investors and successful founders providing real-world strategies for scaling a start-up.
To register interest in participating visit: igblive.com/igb-startup-summit
iGB L!VE (2nd– 3rd July, ExCeL London) will welcome a projected 15,000 igaming and affiliate pioneers, helping businesses throughout the online gaming ecosystem to navigate an ever-changing landscape via networking opportunities, cutting-edge innovations and crucial market knowledge-sharing. To register for the first edition of the show to be held in London visit: igblive.com
The post iGB Startup Summit will connect igaming entrepreneurs with top-tier investors appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Altenar Steps in as General Sponsor of EEGS 2025
The prestigious Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) is set to welcome Altenar, a prominent sports betting software provider, as a General Sponsor for its 2025 edition. Scheduled for 26th and 27th November at the IEC in Sofia, Bulgaria, this partnership exemplifies Altenar’s unwavering commitment to driving innovation and growth within the gaming and entertainment sectors. This long-standing collaboration has consistently generated mutual benefits and opportunities for both Altenar and the event, as well as for all participants involved.
Altenar continues to deliver top-tier solutions for licensed operators across the globe. From standalone sportsbook offerings to comprehensive turnkey solutions, Altenar combines proven reliability with tailored services to meet diverse client needs.
Since its inception in 2011, Altenar has powered hundreds of online sports betting platforms, while their self-service betting terminals and mobile applications adapt to the evolving demands of operators, leading to a rapidly expanding client portfolio in over 30 countries.
Altenar’s involvement as a sponsor underscores their essential contribution to the overall success of the EEGS, emphasizing a collective dedication to excellence and advancement in the industry. This year’s event promises to be a critical platform for industry leaders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs to discover and discuss the latest trends in gaming, entertainment, and hospitality.
As the foremost conference in the region, the Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) offers an engaging setting for industry pioneers to network, collaborate, and delve into the opportunities shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.
Align your company with this esteemed conference and take advantage of the insights and expertise shared at the event.
Check the available sponsorship options here.
The post Altenar Steps in as General Sponsor of EEGS 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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