Soft2Bet is expanding its North American presence after securing a strategic licensing agreement with WPT Royale that will see the company launch a new World Poker Tour-branded online casino and sportsbook in Ontario.
The deal grants Soft2Bet the rights to operate the WPT Royale brand in Canada’s largest regulated iGaming market, adding another recognizable poker name to an increasingly competitive province.
The platform will be built using Soft2Bet’s proprietary technology and operated under the company’s existing Ontario gaming license. Before launch, the project must still receive the necessary regulatory approvals, with the operator targeting a rollout later this year.
WPT Brand Heads Online
The agreement represents another step in the continued expansion of the World Poker Tour brand beyond televised poker tournaments and live poker festivals.
While the WPT has long been synonymous with international poker events, WPT Royale will focus on the broader online casino and sportsbook market, giving Ontario players access to a new gaming platform carrying one of poker’s best-known names.
For Soft2Bet, the partnership strengthens an already growing North American strategy. The company entered Ontario after receiving regulatory approval in 2024 and has since continued investing in the Canadian market while exploring expansion into additional regulated jurisdictions.
A Strong Fit for Ontario
Ontario remains one of the most attractive regulated online gambling markets in North America. Since opening to private operators in 2022, the province has attracted dozens of licensed brands competing across casino gaming, poker, and sports betting.
Launching under an established global poker brand could help WPT Royale stand out in a crowded marketplace, particularly among poker fans already familiar with the World Poker Tour’s televised events and international tournament schedule.
Soft2Bet will be responsible for the complete operation of the platform, including its sportsbook and casino products, while leveraging its in-house technology stack and gamification tools.
The World Poker Tour’s Global Reach
Founded in 2002, the World Poker Tour helped fuel poker’s worldwide boom by bringing televised tournament poker to millions of viewers. Its innovative use of hole-card cameras gave fans an unprecedented look at professional strategy and quickly made the tour one of the game’s most recognizable brands.
Over the past two decades, the WPT has awarded hundreds of championship titles across multiple continents and expanded into festivals, online poker partnerships, and the prestigious WPT World Championship in Las Vegas.
Today, the brand operates events throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, remaining one of poker’s premier international tours.
The move into Ontario’s online casino and sportsbook market demonstrates how the WPT name continues to evolve beyond live poker, using established brand recognition to reach new audiences in regulated gaming markets.
If regulatory approvals proceed as expected, Ontario players can expect the WPT Royale platform to launch in the coming months, marking another significant addition to the province’s rapidly growing online gambling landscape.
