Canada
Pocket Gamer Connects Triumphs with its Third Annual Seattle Event
The leading mobile games industry event achieves remarkable success in Seattle this week
Attendees from 30 countries came together in Seattle to celebrate the thriving games industry and make connections
Pocket Gamer Connects, the premier mobile games event in the industry, recently concluded its highly successful two-day gaming event in Seattle. The event, held on May 16 and 17 brought together over 700 attendees including industry professionals and enthusiasts from around the globe to celebrate the thriving games industry and connect with others.
Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle showcased the true essence of the gaming industry, attracting participants from 30 countries. The event featured game makers, developers, publishers and 110 influential speakers, creating an invaluable platform for networking, growth and recognition within the mobile games and technology community.
Renowned worldwide, Pocket Gamer Connects is recognized for uniting the brightest minds and visionaries in the gaming industry. This year’s Seattle event attracted top-tier investment funds, angel investors, tool providers and platforms. With 390 participating companies, the event introduced exciting new themes including an AI edition, allowing expert speakers such as Tom Pigott, founder and Chief Executive Officer for Ludo AI, and Riyadh Drebika, the DIrector of Volley, the leading developer of voice AI games to address the hottest current topic worldwide, artificial intelligence (AI).
This year marked the introduction of the Pocket Gamer Connects Career Zone, which involved a unique recruitment fair bringing together ten leading local companies from Seattle such as the Pokemon Company, Big Fish and Shrapnel that provided an excellent platform for job seekers and recruitment companies to engage with some of the industry’s most influential players. Additionally, this year’s event included four roundtable sessions that proved to be a massive hit, creating open forums where attendees could engage directly with experts on hot industry topics, fostering insightful discussions and knowledge sharing.
Pocket Gamer Connects Seattle 2023 once again affirmed its position as a resounding success for the Steel Media brand. Dave Bradley, Chief Operating Officer for Steel Media, expressed his excitement about the success of the event, saying: “We are thrilled to have brought Pocket Gamer Connects to Seattle once again. As one of the world’s largest tech hubs, Seattle has always been a favorite destination for our event. This year, we highlighted cutting-edge topics such as AI, Web3 and the metaverse in our panels, shedding light on emerging trends propelling our industry forward.”
Set to make Dubai the epicenter of the gaming world, Pocket Gamer Connects is returning on June 21 and 22 with The Dubai GameExpo Summit, powered by Pocket Gamer Connects. Tickets for the event are now live. After that, in July, the roadshow lands in Toronto for a second year.
Adam Fonsica Co‑Founder & COO at Random State
Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence

Random State (“RS”), the Swedish studio behind next‑generation iLottery and multiplayer bingo content, has been granted a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The approval, effective 14 May 2025, authorises RS to offer its games and platform services to licensed operators across Ontario.
“Securing the Ontario licence is a milestone our entire team has worked tirelessly toward,” said Adam Fonsica, Co‑Founder & COO at Random State. “Ontario not only validates the quality and integrity of our technology; it provides a launchpad for our broader North‑American expansion. We can’t wait to introduce our eInstant titles and multiplayer bingo hub to Ontario players later this year, together with a soon‑to‑be‑announced operator.”
The licence clears the way for RS to roll out its full product portfolio in Ontario:
Interactive eInstants – instant‑win games that re‑imagine traditional lottery mechanics with modern gameplay and rich visuals.
Multiplayer bingo – a complete suite of 90-, 75-, 80/60/40‑ and 30‑ball variants, featuring progressive jackpots, Pot Booster and real‑time chat hosting.
Turn‑key iGaming platform – advanced Player Account Management (PAM), certified RNG, gamification engine and a WYSIWYG game‑configuration tool that lets operators launch new games in minutes.
Random State expects its first Ontario go‑live in Q3 2025, delivering both eInstants and multiplayer bingo on day one.
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BCLC
Surrey Resident Wins Record-Breaking $80-Million Lotto Max Jackpot

Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.
“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’”
The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.
While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”
Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”
As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”
On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?
“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”
Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey.
So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto!
BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits.
The post Surrey Resident Wins Record-Breaking $80-Million Lotto Max Jackpot appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Caesars Entertainment
OLG Selects Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider for Windsor Casino

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has selected Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider in the Windsor Casino procurement process. This is the final procurement process in the OLG’s land-based gaming modernization initiative.
Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to be selected as the service provider for the Windsor Casino by the OLG. Caesars has a long history of managing Windsor and looks forward to continuing to deliver exceptional guest service and experiences at the property.”
Caesars and its predecessor companies have partnered with the OLG to operate Caesars Windsor (fka. Casino Windsor) since the opening of the temporary facility in 1994. Caesars will assume responsibility for gaming and non-gaming operations of the Windsor casino on behalf of the OLG under a 20-year operating agreement, which is expected to begin in 2026.
OLG requires an 18-month restriction on any organizational changes consistent with other gaming bundle modernizations in Ontario. Unionized employees will continue to be governed by the terms of their collective agreement.
The post OLG Selects Caesars Entertainment as the Service Provider for Windsor Casino appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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