RSI's BetRivers gets iGaming license for Ontario's new online market

Online casino and sports betting operator Rush Street Interactive (RSI) announced Thursday it has received its iGaming Operator Registration from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

In an official press release, RSI stated it plans to satisfy all remaining regulatory requirements and launch its BetRivers online casino and sportsbook in Ontario on April 4, 2022, the first day online gaming will be authorized in the province. 

RSI is currently live in Ontario with its free-to-play social gaming platform, CASINO4FUN, which is accessible from BetRivers.ca and is powered by the same proprietary technology behind RSI’s real-money platform.

Richard Schwartz, CEO of RSI, spoke about this new milestone and said: “The receipt of our registration in Ontario is an important milestone that demonstrates our commitment to operating only in legalized markets where we pay local taxes, and we are grateful for the trust of the AGCO. We are now one step closer to launching the BetRivers real-money online casino and sportsbook in Ontario and bringing our unique betting options, such as our innovative peer-to-peer slot tournaments or same game parlays, fast payouts, and award-winning customer service to the province’s millions of residents. Our free-to-play social gaming platform has experienced strong traction in Ontario to date, and we look forward to offering those players similarly entertaining and responsible experiences when our real-money offerings come April 4.”

Upon the launch of the BetRivers real-money online casino and sportsbook in Ontario, Canada will join the United States and Colombia to become the third country where RSI operates real-money online gaming. The company also has access to the Mexican online casino and sports betting markets through its partnership with media conglomerate Grupo Multimedios, where it expects to launch online casino and sports betting in the second quarter of 2022.

AGCO first confirmed licensed operators were Penn National Gaming’s subsidiary theScore Bet, Rivalry Corp and PointsBet. FansUnite joined the list this week. Israel-based 888 followed, right before GGPoker was granted a license to launch a WSOP.ca poker site in the province. So far, WSOP/GGPoker and 888 are the first two poker operators to receive such authorization. 

The launch of the new online gaming market in Ontario was announced by iGaming Ontario and AGCO, in a joint effort that seeks to establish a new market that will help protect consumers and provide more choice. 

Private gaming operators registered with the AGCO that have executed an operating agreement with iGO can begin offering their games to players in Ontario as from the launching date. Companies will operate gaming sites in the market on behalf of the province in accordance with these agreements. 

On Monday, the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) also announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), with the purpose of providing a framework for cooperation and coordination between both entities on betting and related integrity issues to protect the Ontario and wider Canadian market, sports, consumers and regulated betting operators from corrupt activities.