Fantastic news for PokerStars fans and gambling fans in general in Canada, as the gambling leader has just announced that local players will have even more access to the operator’s gaming services. Last week, the casino giant began sending out promotional emails to its Canadian customers, announcing the launch of both PokerStars Casino and PokerStars Sports betting verticals.
Since the company’s poker room opened in 2001, local gamblers have been major fans of the PokerStars brand. The only time the player level and interest dropped was on Black Friday in 2011, when the platform was shut down by the US Department of Justice. However, services were quickly restored, and the incident is ancient history.
Exploring New Verticals
The poker giant has been starting its promotional campaign by sending out emails with several casino bonuses, each worth CA$5, to existing players for the past few days. Newly registered players are also eligible for a welcome bonus, which includes 100 free spins and an extra CA$10 on their first deposit on the platform.
The well-known casino brand launched sports wagering under the BetStars brand in 2015, but Canadians have been unable to access the vertical after it was blocked in the country. The company’s sports betting seems to have launched at the right time, as the country is about to make changes to its gambling laws that will allow single-event wagering.
While a company spokesperson declined to comment on the mobile Casino and Sportsbook launch date, it is clear that the operator intends to control the new markets if Bill C-218 advances. Casinos are operated on a provincial level in the country, and the provinces’ Crown corporations have the only online controlled platforms. However, Ontario has already begun the process of privatizing the iGaming sector.
So far, a number of European countries have successfully transitioned from a gray or offshore market to a regulated one. When this happens, the new regulatory organ sets a deadline for offshore platforms to leave the market in question. Operators would have the option to apply for licenses or re-enter once they have received approval. And this is what the company expects to happen in Canada as well.
Introduced of the Senate
The entire North American gambling industry is keeping a close eye on the situation of single-event wagering in Canada. Bill C-218, if approved, would change the industry and open up new market opportunities. The bill was recently introduced in the Senate by Conservative Senator David Wells, who is the bill’s sponsor. The Senate is the final legal body that must review and approve the bill before it can be officially introduced.
Spanish Agreement
Returning to PokerStars, the famous casino brand has previously agreed to a deal with Stakelogic to supply the latter’s slot games content to Spanish audiences. Black Gold MegawaysTM will be one of the developer’s premium games to launch, followed by other hit titles like Mayan RushTM, Wonderland WildsTM, and Hot 7 Hold and Spin.
