LeoVegas seals Ontario licence approval
Malta-headquartered operator to transition from grey market to regulated market
LeoVegas has been registered as an igaming operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) paving the way for the group to launch on 4 April. The Malta-headquartered operator must now complete “necessary onboarding steps” with iGaming Ontario, the province’s conduct and management entity, a process which is expected to be completed in advance of the market launch date. Once this has been completed, LeoVegas is free to sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. LeoVegas has confirmed it will offer casino, live casino and sports betting under its flagship LeoVegas and Royal Panda brands. LeoVegas has been present in the Canadian market for some time now on a grey market basis and has launched a number of brands there, the latest of which was Pink Casino in December 2020. In January 2022 revenues from Canadian operations accounted for 13% of the LeoVegas total revenue, of which the Ontario market accounted for 35% of this total. LeoVegas CEO Gustaf Hagman has previously suggested this experience together with LeoVegas’s existing Canadian database would give the firm a crucial leg-up on the competition once the market launches. “Over recent years, the LeoVegas brand has become the third most well-known casino brand in the Canadian market and Royal Panda has shown strong growth – a clear sign that the mobile gaming experience we offer is appreciated by North American customers,” Hagman said. “Our full focus now is to complete the process and we look forward to launching in a regulated environment. “Given our track record and knowledge to operate in regulated markets, we continue to have high expectations and ambitions for continued growth in the Ontario market,” he added. Elsewhere, slots supplier Play N’GO has also received a licence from AGCO, joining fellow suppliers Bragg Gaming, Gaming Realms, High5Games and FansUnite.