A wide-ranging offering
Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has entered the Canadian market for the first time with the launch of its CASINO4FUN social gaming platform in Ontario. The free-to-play sportsbook and online casino are now accessible to people in the province who are at least 19 years old through BetRivers.net. RSI plans to launch a real-money sportsbook and online casino in Ontario through the BetRivers brand in the coming months, once it gets the relevant regulatory approvals.
includes more than 350 online slots and table games
CASINO4FUN utilizes the same proprietary technology that RSI’s real money platforms use. Ontarians will be able to play the same large range of games that RSI’s players in Latin America and the United States can currently access. This includes more than 350 online slots and table games. There are also bonus features and a loyalty offering. Through the sportsbook, people can place both single-game and parlay bets on global sporting events.
Establishing itself in Canada
Until it can launch real-money offerings in Canada, CASINO4FUN will be a way that RSI can build its player database and brand in the region. Once the real money platforms launch, the social gaming platform users can then be directed over to the real money offering.
RSI CEO Richard Schwartz spoke about how entering the Canadian market is exciting and is a new frontier for the operator. He said: “CASINO4FUN® offers our community of players the same high level of entertainment and customer service of RSI’s real-money gaming platform, delivered in a casual and free-to-play setting.”
Canada is the third nation where RSI has either social gaming or real money gaming on offer. According to the press release for the Canadian expansion, RSI is the fourth biggest operator of sports betting and online casinos combined in the United States as of July 2021. It is also popular in Colombia where it has been nominated for sports betting and online casino awards.
Massive expansion on the way
Following the example of the United States, the Canadian gambling market is going through significant changes. In August, single-event sports betting officially became legal. It is up to each province to decide if they want to legalize single-event sports betting within their jurisdictions; it appears that most, if not all, will do so. Some provincial operators already have the betting format up and running.
legalizing single-event sports betting could increase the GDP of Canada by $425m
It will likely take until at least next year for independent sports betting operators to enter the market. The likes of DraftKings and PointsBet have been trying to strike numerous partnerships across the country in anticipation of them being able to launch their own platforms. According to PwC, legalizing single-event sports betting could increase the GDP of Canada by $425m and create 2,500 jobs.