UK Challenger Brand Midnite Names Canada GM, Eyes Entry to Canada

^{British sportsbook and casino operator Midnite has hired a former FanDuel Canada executive to lead its first expansion outside the U.K. and Ireland, with a Canadian licence not expected before 2027. (Image: Courtesy of Midnite)}

U.K. sportsbook and online casino operator Midnite has appointed Dale Tang as general manager of a new Canadian business, the company said this week.

The hire marks Midnite's first move outside the U.K. and Ireland, the only markets where it currently holds a licence.

Tang spent five years at FanDuel, most recently as senior director of Canada commercial, analytics and retention, and previously worked more than three years at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

He will be based in Toronto.

Not Licensed Yet

Midnite is not yet licensed to operate in any Canadian province, and the company expects to gain a licence no later than January 2027, according to SBC News.

That timeline puts a Canadian launch squarely in the regulated markets of Ontario and Alberta, the only two provinces currently hosting licensed online gambling.

Ontario opened its market in April 2022, while Alberta launched on July 13.

Competition in the Alberta online casino market is already fierce: about 50 operators were approved for a licence before that market launched.

While the number of Ontario online casino operators has reached 48, across 83 different gaming websites.

Funding the Push

The Canada hire follows a $35 million Series C round led by Raine Partners IV, which brings Midnite's total equity funding above $75 million.

Founded in 2015, Midnite launched as a sportsbook in 2018 and added horse racing and online casino products in 2023.

“The regulated Canadian market is a huge opportunity for us to expand beyond the U.K. and Ireland, and bringing Dale on board is a clear signal of our ambition to build a truly localized, next-generation sports betting and casino experience that puts player protection at the front and centre,” Midnite said in a statement.

Tang said the chance to build something new in Canada does not come around often.

“I'm excited to share that I've joined Midnite to lead its launch into the Canadian market,” Tang said.

Battling the Big Boys 

Midnite has built its U.K. business as a challenger brand to legacy operators, including partnerships with Premier League and Championship football clubs, and is aiming to become Britain's first betting unicorn since Sky Bet.

A confirmed Canadian entry would add another challenger name to a market already served by some of the biggest brands in gaming, though no licence application, provincial choice or launch date has been confirmed.