Toonie Bet appeared to be a success story emerging from Ontario’s newly established online betting scene.
In just a year after its launch in 2024, the site offered thousands of games and experienced consistent growth, securing high-profile partnerships with the Canadian Football League and the Ottawa Senators to boost its visibility among sports bettors. More agreements with various sports teams and leagues followed as the company set its sights on expanding into Alberta.
However, while Toonie Bet has established itself in Ontario’s regulated market, its parent company Soft2Bet is associated with unlicensed platforms also aimed at Canadians. Some of these sites have already faced scrutiny from European regulators.
A probe by the Star, in collaboration with Investigate Europe and media outlets from 14 other countries, discovered that Soft2Bet and related companies have amassed nearly $1 billion through a global network of casino websites, many registered offshore, which have been fined or banned in other regions for operating without proper licenses.
The unlicensed casinos tied to an Ontario licensee
Gambling sites typically need permission from local authorities to operate legally. In the challenging realm of online gambling regulation, many choose to disregard this requirement. Only Spins, a betting platform linked to Soft2Bet, displays sexualized images of women and does not confirm users’ ages. Only Spins. com On Only Spins. com – an unlicensed gambling site connected to Soft2Bet that doesn’t verify user age and is blacklisted by regulators in Poland, Italy, and Greece – a reporter from the Star easily created an account using a false name and Toronto address. At that site and two others where bets were placed by the Star team, customer support representatives informed a reporter pretending to be an addicted gambler that they would lose their winnings if they chose to close their accounts-this seems to go against Ontario regulations meant to protect vulnerable players. The websites allowed users to select Canadian English as their language and make transactions in Canadian dollars but did not authenticate the reporter’s identity as required by Ontario rules. This loophole makes them accessible to underage users as well as gamblers who had previously self-excluded from both online and physical casinos across the province. When Ontario launched its online gambling market in 2022, licensing was essential for safeguarding players, according to government sources. Unlicensed grey market betting platforms often expose consumers to increased risks of harm due to practices that can worsen addiction or enable criminal activities like money laundering or match-fixing. The licensed market has seen tremendous growth. In 2024-25 alone, 2.6 million accounts placed bets totaling $82.7 billion, contributing $2.9 billion in revenue for government funds. So far, over 80 gambling sites have received licenses in Ontario. As Ontario’s gambling regulator renewed Toonie Bet’s license in March 2026, it had already been reported by Investigate Europe about Soft2Bet’s affiliated unlicensed sites facing issues with international regulators-raising new concerns about whether the Ford government adequately vetted entrants into the province’s online gambling landscape. On Aug. 1, the province announced it has chosen a vendor for creating a centralized self-exclusion system. On Aug. 1, the province announced it has chosen a vendor for creating a centralized self-exclusion system.Reasons behind renewing Ontario’s license despite concerns
In response to inquiries made by the Star along with its reporting partners regarding this issue, Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission stated it has initiated an investigation. “At registration time,” said the commission via statement “the operator along with related entities held licenses deemed valid within other regulated jurisdictions.” They added: “We take these raised matters seriously. The AGCO’s Financial Investigations Unit alongside Licensing and Registration Branch are reviewing all issues outlined during our reporting.” >>>The Star alongside its collaborators linked Soft2Bet together with associated companies on blacklisted gambling sites through leaked internal documentation which reporters validated using corporate records trademarks IP address data among other public information such as industry press releases issued over previous years. The journalists also confirmed some details surrounding Soft2Bet’s corporate structure upon examining leaked messages shared via internal communication tools while interviewing six former employees. These findings including lists featuring blacklisted websites were shared directly with Soft2Bet prompting them respond briefly denying any allegations without addressing specific claims stating “Information within your request reflects an incorrect interpretation concerning our business structure.” “Our aim focuses on responsible operations compliant within applicable legal requirements while maintaining robust governance protocols engaging constructively wherever necessary.” A former customer agent employed at one of Soft2bet firms claimed certain practices utilized within casinos were predatory. “If someone approached me citing they experienced problems due problem gambling I’d instruct them simply send us email explaining situation; should they want close account I’d offer bonus instead,” noted this individual who requested anonymity fearing reprisal after leaving employment here.”The goal remained trying retain them onboard rather than allow closure.” Since Investigate Europe their report highlighting issues surrounding softbet back spring ’25 new betting websites have since launched across several countries alongside fresh sponsorship deals obtained too. > The Alcohol Gaming Commission hasn’t replied when queried why even amidst heightened attention given international regulatory bodies it’d renew Toonie Bet subsidiaries license earlier ’26.’ > This past year Alberta approved launch plans for Tonnie Bet coinciding opening month provincial casino sector begins operation this month thus eliminating immediate questions posed regarding approvals based information available pertaining operators setting up shop there. > An additional note mentions Tonei Bett secured partnership agreements involving Rock League curling , Hamilton Tiger Cats , Ottawa Red Blacks professional franchises plus Oshawa Firewolves lacrosse team overall. All text copied verbatim below “ #/ @l &| || * * ^& * # //______.8S / | ooo OO : @@@@) N ~~ ~~ _|/__| | ~__ _____/ __/ )} }{{ }} }} ^ -x+y-+y-x^^^||| ——————— _ ( ( ~ ~) | ) ___\ ( / -/ __–_____ | ________–________— ========- ________/-___/=====-_______| #######/_-_ |_/#####. ## ##### #####/#//############ ###.##### ##////#///////////#/// ###..## ##//////########## /// ###..## #######//###### //..##.##### ^——-^^—–__ __ ________________________ _____ |___/______________________________ |_|_/__/____/__/_/|__/_/\__) || |||| ___||||___ _ / –_.-“””””—.__/–…. _______ _______–“””””””””—_______– —-“” ———–” ——— ————- __________ ____________ _____________ _______________ ___——–_____. ———-___– ——-_______——_ ____—–_ “””””””” ””‘”‘.”””””””… _____–””” ”” ”….. ‘ ‘ ”” ” ‘. } ‘.’ L””” __.-” _.-“” “/, “{.) “),.-{) ‘ “}- , _.’._} {.’ } } _.’ -=`= _}C._ ‘. Y.’ : X{ `*’~~.__] panel/panel row =>append row div panel/team update/update log rows post/post content log/log entry section/loading/logs. @assign(‘user’, User:: find Or Fail(651041)) @section(‘content’) @yield (‘content’)nn**********} © _________________ -.____.—-..——.—-…—-.Source link
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