The business world has made considerable adjustments to living in the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 was a year that wielded an energy all of its own, delivering plenty of lows and highs for the online casino industry in Canada.
The legalization of Ontario dominated the events of this year, with Saskatchewan’s launch of Playnow.com following close behind.
2022 will also be remembered as the year that saw many historic partnerships, amongst which LeoVegas’s partnership with Premier League and Playson’s deal with SkillOnNet.
We have to mention the ban on gambling live streams imposed by Twitch that caused quite a ripple during the third quarter of this year.
Some events which saw their beginning this year are headed toward 2023, sure to make next year eventful. We can’t help but think about the reform in regulation planned by Curaçao and the Malta Gaming Authority’s amendment of its player protection rules.
These are only some of the events that so colourfully shaped this year. Keep reading for a quick brief of the highlights from 2022!
The major highlights
Ontario’s legalization of igaming was one of the major highlights. Planned for years, it finally came to head, catapulting the North American market into one of the fastest growing in the world.
The license attracted popular casino operators like LeoVegas, Slots Magic, bet365, betMGM, BetRivers, PlayOJO, and ComeON, just to name a few!
More are in the process of obtaining a license, among which an unnamed Ontario land-based casino that just signed a deal with GiG.
Another highlight is Saskatchewan’s deal with British Colombia, for the launch of Playnow.com in the province.
While this is nothing new amongst the Canadian provinces, the historic agreement between the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Saskatchewan government is. You can learn more by reading our cover story here!
Twitch bans gambling live streams
Twitch’s ban on gambling live streams caused quite a controversy, changing the future of this popular live-streaming platform and its creators permanently.
The ban is relegated to websites featuring online slots, Roulette, and dice games licensed by questionable jurisdictions.
Riding on a similar wave, Facebook just recently strengthened its gambling advertising rules, making sure publicity reached only those that ticked certain criteria.
Partnerships throughout the year
2022 saw plenty of interesting partnerships taking place. The first that comes to mind is the LeoVegas deal with Premier League. The partnership has made LeoVegas its sole betting partner, expanding its horizons extensively.
Another one that is noteworthy is the Pragmatic Solutions – Sportsradar deal. While Pragmatic Solutions provides the interface, Sportsradar brings to the table an extensive sportsbook, making these two giant companies a force to be reckoned with.
To close the year spectacularly, we have leading gamesdeveloper Playson in a deal with SkillOnNet, the parent of popular casinos like PlayOJO, Slots Magic, and Lucky Niki.
New games of note launched this year
We certainly need to talk casino games! Hundreds of games were released this year: Money Train 3, Book of Golden Sands, Temple Tumble 2, Muertos Multiplier Megaways, Wolf Gold Power Jackpot, and many more!
Two that particularly stood out were Jekyllz Wild Ultranudge by Yggdrasil and Bang Bang Games, and the live dealer casino PowerUP Roulette by Pragmatic Play.
What does 2023 look like from the threshold?
Without a doubt, 2023 will be as exciting. With some significant events already being planned out, and more and more projects spinning the wheels, next year is certainly set to deliver a few surprises.
The constitutional challenge of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake against iGaming Ontario will very likely shake things up, as would the reform planned by Curaçao.
But as they say, tomorrow is the past, today is the present and tomorrow is a mystery! And as mysteries go, they always unfold one wrinkle at a time!