Mohegan officially launches as Ontario iGaming market’s first land-based casino operator
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, the first land-based operator to be licensed to operate an online brand in Ontario’s regulated market, has now launched in the province.
Mohegan Gaming was granted a license by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) in May and soft launched in Ontario last week after completing the execution of an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO).
“PlayFallsview Online Casino is now live on desktop web browsers and mobile devices anywhere in Ontario at PlayFallsview.com,” iGO announced on August 8, adding that the PlayFallsview mobile apps will be coming soon to the Apple Store and Google Play.
1/2 Congratulations from iGO to MGE Digital Canada Inc. (Mohegan Gaming) as the first Ontario land-based casino Operator joins the new internet gaming market in the province! pic.twitter.com/GAdDjkS2D7
— iGaming Ontario (@iGamingOntario) August 8, 2022
Mohegan Gaming formed its Mohegan Digital branch last summer. Rich Roberts, who was appointed as president of the iGaming division, will be overseeing PlayFallsview. That name comes from Fallsview Casino Resort, which is one of two casinos owned by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation but managed and run by Connecticut-headquartered Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, along with Casino Niagara.
“We’re taking advantage of our Fallsview name, which is arguably the most recognized casino property in Ontario, and really building a product that reflects what Fallsview is, an extension of the property,” Roberts told Sports Handle around the time of the licensing in May. “Think of this as Fallsview in your pocket. When you leave the casino, you bring the brand with you. And the goal is for the brand to bring you back to the casino.”
Roberts sees the two Niagara properties as ideal locations for sportsbooks and esports events, with both properties having a number of theatres and concert halls. He added that PlayFallsview is initially intended to be a complementary product for its existing retail casino customer base, rather than competing directly with the many online-focused sportsbooks already live in Ontario.
“Our goal is to give our retail customers that digital experience that they’re looking for. Whether it’s casino, table games, sportsbook, we’ll provide them with the content they want to enjoy when they’re off the property,” Roberts said.
Sports Handle adds that there is “cautious optimism” that Ontario could host at least one brick-and-mortar sportsbook in a casino by the end of September. Last week, Niagara Casinos posted jobs on LinkedIn for a sportsbook supervisor and sportsbook ambassador, shortly after Greg Yott was promoted to the company’s director of sportsbook.
“There is a desire to try and have everyone up and running by September, which has always been the agenda that people were shooting for,” Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns, told Sports Handle. “Some are working hard to try and get there. I understand they’re getting closer to getting agreements in place between OLG and casino operators. I can only hope it’s soon. I think everybody would like to be able to have a sportsbook on their property and offer a sportsbook onsite. Unfortunately, it’s taken too long. I hope they make [September].”
PlayFallsview’s licencing follows Mohegan Gaming selecting Kambi as its sports betting provider. The two companies already had an existing relationship through Unibet, which operates a sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Pennsylvania.