The Operator’s Decision
Two iGaming platforms powered by Aristocrat Interactive have ceased operations in Ontario. This move pushes the province’s regulated online gaming market below 50 active operators for the first time in months.
Betiton and MagicRed Casino, both powered by Aristocrat Interactive, have ceased offering online casino and sportsbook services to Ontario players. A spokesperson for iGaming Ontario (iGO) confirmed this, and the organisation no longer lists either site as an active option for players.
iGO offered very little insight into why, providing the same statement in response to these exits as they did in March earlier this year when Fitzdares left the commercial market.
They said: “Operators make individual decisions about their business priorities within the competitive Ontario market.” The two statements continue in an identical fashion to say that market entry and exit are expected elements of the sector’s evolution. They are also keen to point out that more than 50 operators have joined the market, and only a small number have exited.
A Short-Lived Journey
Both brands had only entered the market in mid-2024. MagicRed launched first, followed weeks later by Betiton, a Malta-based operator that also uses Aristocrat Interactive technology in three other markets.
At the time of Betiton’s launch, Aristocrat Interactive’s then-Managing Director of iGaming White-Label, Jonathan Chilton, said that it reflected his company’s commitment to supporting clients that operate in regulated markets. There has been no comment from Arisocract Interactive on the recent shutdown.
Despite discontinuing its brands in Ontario, Aristocrat Interactive continues to maintain a significant footprint across Canada. Through its ownership of Pariplay and NeoGames, the company remains in the Canadian market through multiple provincial lottery operations. NeoPollard Interactive is jointly owned by Pollard Banknote and NeoGames. They have long powered lottery gaming offerings nationwide.
In 2023, Aristocrat Interactive agreed to supply a range of games to Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’s Play Alberta platform. NeoGames also secured its first Canadian digital content partnership with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. This meant more services on offer for several eastern provinces.
Aristocrat Interactive retains the option to operateadditional brands in Ontario. The province’s iGaming rules permit each licensed company to hold up to four sub-brand licenses.
Ontario Still A Strong Market
Although the departures of Betiton and MagicRed come amid a broader contraction in Ontario’s iGaming landscape. The decline follows several exits, including Wildz Group, formerly known as Rootz. This operator left the market after reporting its decision to do so in October. In the process, they took four sites down.
The province now hosts 48 licensed commercial operators in addition to the state-run Ontario Lottery and Gaming platform. These 48 operators run a total of 82 sites. While this is down from 50 operators and 88 sites the previous week, Ontario customers still have access to many leading brands, and it is still one of North America’s strongest markets.
