As the North American gaming industry expands, operators are working under a mentality of expand-or-die. And the first operators into new markets are the ones that are poised to see success in those markets over the long haul. 888 is in exactly that position as it recently secured an igaming license for the Ontario gaming market, which is set to open on April 4.
Ontario is a sweet prize for any operator as Canada’s largest province, its population of 14.2 million people accounts for nearly 40 percent of Canada’s total population. When launched, 888 will be offering those residents its full slate of poker, casino and sports products.
The Ontario market is expected to see fast, early growth and 888 will be (as of this writing) competing with PointsBet, The Score, and several other established operators. All the operators will be bound by an advertising code that both prevents them from marketing to children, and from using the terms “free” and “risk free” in their advertising.
Itai Pazner, CEO of 888 Holdings commented on the Ontario expansion in a recent press release saying, “We are delighted to have been awarded a licence by the AGCO and look forward to launching in the market when it officially opens. As a Group, our focus is on strengthening our presence and offer to customers across key regulated markets. To that end, Ontario represents an attractive long-term growth opportunity for 888 and this is an extremely strategically important milestone for us.”
As we prepare for launch in the coming weeks, we are excited to bring all of 888’s leading products and games to new audiences across the province, providing our unique and differentiated experiences to players.”
888 is currently operating in 19 markets as a licensed gaming provider.