Tuesday was a major milestone day for Alberta’s open and regulated online gambling market. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) set Oct. 13 as the end of a three-month grace period from the July 13 launch date for unregulated sites to make the transition to the legal market.
By day’s end, some 29 operators and 50 brands are now in business having been given the seals of approval by AGLC and the Alberta iGaming Corporation.
It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Dale Nally, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction that oversees Alberta’s online gambling market, said two weeks ago at the G2E conference in Las Vegas that the province will go after unregulated operators that continue to take bets from Albertans (Covers senior news analyst Geoff Zochodne reported yesterday on the “mystery levers” Nally and Co. can use).
The communications team at AiGC emailed us these bullets last night:
As of today, only registered iGaming sites are approved to operate within Alberta’s regulated market. These sites are authorized to offer gaming services to Albertans and meet regulatory requirements designed to protect players.
Sites that have not transitioned to Alberta’s regulated market—or that are still awaiting approvals in order to transition—are required to go dark.
AGLC will be responsible for monitoring compliance and taking appropriate enforcement action against sites that continue to operate outside of the regulated deadline of October 13, 2026.
And, from corporation CEO Dan Keene: “Alberta’s regulated iGaming market exists to protect Albertans. We look forward to working with operators who have chosen accountability by transitioning away from the illegal grey market.”
At least one operator is taking Nally’s threat seriously. PokerStars has announced it is leaving the market, for now. It has told customers it will stop taking bets from those in Alberta as of Oct. 13 and will use both IP and registration information to ban people in the province from accessing the site. There was reporting yesterday from Poker Industry Pro that 888 will offer online poker to Albertans.
That doesn’t mean PokerStars, which is regulated and operating in Ontario, won’t return to Alberta at some point by officially regulating. There is speculation that the operator may be waiting to see how a case currently before the Supreme Court of Canada plays out. Ontario is trying to establish common-pool wagering for poker and Daily Fantasy Sports outside of the province’s borders in order to grow pool size. A Supreme Court decision in Ontario’s favour would mean Alberta and Ontario could operate one pool for poker, which would make for a more attractive business case for PokerStars.
That aside, Alberta’s open market is largely a huge success in just three months. A quick tour of the internets last night reminded us that some 15 operators and 31 websites were up and running in Ontario’s regulated market at the end of its opening quarter in June 2022.
In its latest earnings report, BetMGM let it be known yesterday that it is pleased with its business in Alberta since the market opened July 13.
BetMGM has said its multi-product launch in Alberta has revealed “per player metrics trending above the Ontario launch.” From Tom Nightingale’s reporting in Canada Gaming Business, BetMGM chief financial officer Gary Deutsch said:
“From an acquisition standpoint, about 20% of the new players we acquired in Q3 were from Alberta, so we have had a really good burst out of the gates there. We modelled our own forecast for Alberta to mimic the trajectory takeoff that we had in Ontario a few years back.
“We have ramped up faster and higher than that trajectory, so that is positive. We are exceeding our daily targets. We’re all good there.”
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Supreme Court of Canada hears both sides of international igaming case
To paraphrase the aforementioned Zochodne and his article on Covers, the highest court in the land devoted its morning seven days ago to gather information on Ontario’s “proposal to let its online gamblers play and bet with counterparts outside of the country”.
Both Zochodne and Canadian Gaming Business editor Tom Nightingale watched the Supreme Court of Canada hearing about the case of Atlantic Lottery Corporation et al. v. the Attorney General of Ontario. As Zochodne and Nightingale reported, Chief Justice Richard Wagner said the judges would take the case under advisement.
The two journalists joined your resident editor-in-chief on the latest Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, devoting the final chunk of the podcast (which starts at the 63-minute mark) to the court proceedings. To watch the entire episode:
RGC’s latest Impact Report is out and about
While we were getting ready to turn out the lights at GNC HQ for the Thanksgiving long weekend, a Friday perusing of the LinkedIn uncovered the Responsible Gambling Council’s release of its 2025-26 Impact Report: A Year of Connection & Impact. The report captures the highlights from the second year of the organization’s strategic plan.
In the report are words from RGC CEO Sarah McCarthy and board chair Bev Mehmel, including:
Our impact was both measurable and meaningful. PlaySmart Advisors continued to meet players where they are across Ontario, and the Virtual PlaySmart Centre extended our reach beyond physical venues. With core funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health, our prevention campaigns reached millions of Canadians across general and ethnocultural audiences, while our programs continued to influence practice nationally and internationally. The Randomizer returned to post-secondary campuses, Beyond the Game high school training module expanded into French, and a new program, Games, Bets and Reality Checks, was piloted in Ontario high school classrooms for the first time.
The report contains a “financial impact snapshot” that includes funding support from the Ontario Ministry of Health ($6.2 million), $9.3 from the OLG courtesy of PlaySmart Centres and $3.2 million from the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada.
And. . .
People on the Move
Laurie Fisher has a new role at Scientific Games as Managing Director, Canada. For the past four years, Fisher served as the company’s VP, Business Development – Canada.
At Pavilion Payments, Mary Beth Higgins is named Chief Executive Officer, Alyssa Beaver is promoted to Chief Revenue Officer and Dawn Brandt is appointed Vice President, Regulatory Relations.
Adam Shorts is appointed Chief Operating Officer at Global TV Experts.
Shelley Samel, who recently joined Amanda Brewer on the Canadian Gaming Association’s Get to Know Canadian Gaming podcast, is leaving his Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary position with Ad Standards.
Flip Pidot joins High Roller Technologies as Chief Business Officer.
Megan Matlock has a new business card at FanDuel as Senior Vice President, Marketing. Connor McCarthy is named Senior Associate, Brand & Content Strategy.
Adam Doyle, ex of PureWager Group, joins Crucial Compliance as Chief Revenue Officer.
Anestis Karagiannidies is named Senior VP, Wallet Platforms & Transformation at Paysafe.
Ex-Netflix guy Eric Berman joins Fanatics as Vice President, Commercial Strategy & Operations.
After almost 20 years, Eduardo Aching leaves Konami Gaming and his role as Vice President, International Gaming Operations.
Light & Wonder introduces Aimee Hoyt as Chief People Officer and Mike Smith as its new Vice President & Managing Director, Asia.
Tracey White announces her retirement after 32 years in the gaming industry, the past eight as Vice President of Finance for Seminole Hard Rock Support Services.
Jordan Lazenby has a new gig at White Hat Gaming as Vice President, Legal & Regulatory Affairs.
Genius Sports names Richard Crouch as Senior VP, Sports Rights and Gabrielle Trovato as Vice President, Growth Marketing.
Neil Chetcuti is named General Counsel at LCKY Group.
Novibet appoints Ioannis Alysandratos as Head of Affiliates, Emmanuel Kavarnos as Head of Public Relations and Argiris Loizos as Director of Affiliates & Poker.
Bryce Blum is appointed Global Head of TFT Esports at Riot Games.
The World Gaming and Betting Alliance tabs Maarten Haijer as the leader of the new organization.
Aristocrat Interactive names Paren Arzoomanian as Commercial Director of Emerging Markets.
Ex-Flutter senior manager Tony Buono Jr. joins Boyd Interactive as Director of Regulatory Compliance.
Former Entain General Counsel Simon Zinger launches London-based advisory firms Calibri Law and Bluestar Partners.
Lee Astley departs Clickout Media and his Head of News role.
Meaghan McSorley, ex of Betty and Soft2Bet, joins Hard Rock Digital as Senior Content Manager, Performance Marketing, International.
NeoPollard Interactive promotes Jason Tayon to Senior Manager, Payments, Risk and Compliance.
DraftKings names Tyler Matthews as Manager, iGaming Marketing and Operations.
Karan Virdi is named Executive Assistant at the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
Ashton Chalmers is appointed Senior Sports Partnerships Manager at EPIC Global Solutions.
Major League Baseball promotes Tim Hurd to Vice President, Digital Media and Marketing.
Classified (Jobs) Information
On the Home Front
Pinnacle is pining for a Senior Cloud Network Engineer and a Trading Systems Analyst.
Midnite is hiring in Canada a Senior Backend Engineer.
In Moncton, N.B., IGT is seeking an Account Executive – Canada.
There’s an opening at Betty for a User Acquisition Manager (App).
Corus Entertainment is looking for a Digital Content Creator.
U Sports, the national governing body for university sport in our home and native land, is hiring a Director, Compliance & Eligibility.
Speed Skating Canada is in the market for a Director, Business and Member Development.
MLSE is searching for a Creative Solutions Strategist (Pitch & Storytelling), Partnership Development & Solutions.
The CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats are looking for a Manager, Ticketing Business Development.
Your Toronto Blue Jays are seeking a Program Specialist, Blue Jays Baseball Academy & Youth Development.
South of the Border
Good gig alert at MGM Resorts International, which is hiring a Director of Sports Partnerships.
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council is on the lookout for an Assistant General Counsel.
Netflix has a remote opportunity in California for an Executive Producer – Mainstream, Narrative & New Experiences (Games).
Paysafe is looking for a Data Products Director.
DraftKings has a remote opening for a Senior Accountant - SEC Reporting, Acquisition & Integration, Lead Product Designer, Core Journey and is also looking for a Manager, Content & Employer Brand.
Fanatics is searching for a Loyalty Marketing Manager (Brand & TGM) and needs help with some apps building.
Hard Rock Digital is seeking an Engineering Manager – Sportsbook and has a trio of positions available for its Partnership Marketing team.
In Las Vegas, Light & Wonder requires a Marketing Manager.
In Tampa, Xtremepush is looking for an Account Manager.
BetMGM has a partially remote opening in New Jersey for an Influencer Manager.
Across the Ponds
The UK Gambling Commission is hiring a Chief Executive Officer.
In Sliema, LeoVegas Group is seeking a Head of Change & Tech (Fraud/Risk & AML).
Pierre Lindh (belated Happy Birthday greetings) and Co. at NEXT.io are looking for a Head of Media Products and a Head of Marketing & Growth Operations.
Betsson Group is on the lookout for a Director of Product.
Sportradar has an opening in Vienna for a Senior Product Lead.
Sport Integrity Australia has an opportunity for an Assistant Director, Intelligence.
Wanted by the UK Betting and Gaming Council: a Policy and Research Executive.
Betty UK wants to bring on board a Senior Back-End Software Engineer.
In Gibraltar, DAZN Bet is hiring a Compliance Manager.
UK-based Press Box PR is in the market for a Media Relations Executive (U.S. Sports).
Get to Know Canadian Gaming, advertising rules episode
On a new episode of Get To Know Canadian Gaming, Canadian Gaming Association SVP Amanda Brewer is joined by Shelley Samel, Chief Legal Officer at Ad Standards, and Yamina Bennacer, Director of Standards, for a conversation about responsible and truthful advertising in Canada’s gaming industry.
They discuss the CGA Code for Responsible Gambling Advertising, how Ad Standards handles consumer complaints, the responsibilities of operators and creative agencies, and what advertisers need to know when working with influencers.
For Your Perusing Pleasure
Quebec Online Gaming Coalition spokesperson appeared on a Quebec radio station last week to make the case for regulated gaming in La Belle Province.
Author Rob Csernyik, a recent guest on the Gaming News Canada Show, appeared on CBC’s St. John’s Morning Show to discuss his book.
A tap of the Titan twig to the creative folks at OLG, which was recognized with seven awards last week at the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries.
Speaking of OLG, it launched its new Cash Pop lottery product last week including a wraparound package of The Toronto Star’s Saturday newspaper.
PointsBet’s latest financial results didn’t include any information about its Canadian connection.
While we. . . sigh. . . continue to wait for Dr. Karin Schnarr to join us on the Gaming News Canada Show, The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s head honcho had a lengthy conversation with Kirk Geller of Global Gaming Insider.
Ex-gaming industry executive/regulator Richard Schuetz wrote a must-read piece for RG Journal about “irresponsible gambling”.
Barron’s journalist Nick Devor has the deets on chaos inside the National Council on Problem Gambling after it accepted a $2 million donation from Kalshi.
The man in the middle of an NCAA hoops betting and bribery scandal was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison.
Betting activity on midterm elections on the south side of Lake Ontario is leading to concerns about insider trading. And it’s the same story with the announcement of the White House’s new press secretary.
Jeff Edelstein has a thought or two on gambling advertising.
Brant James took Gambling Insider readers on a trip down Memory Lane by catching up with a former federal prosecutor who’s written a book that comes out today.
The ban on betting in Brazil has resulted in the loss of more than 3,500 jobs, reports Gildo Mazza of iGaming Business.
Speaking of Brazil, there’s reporting that soccer clubs in the South American country might endorse Flavio Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
The New York State Gaming Commission, reports CDC Gaming managing editor Chris Sieroty, is working to prevent sports betting operators from using AI to “personalize promotions and wagering recommendations in order to protect consumers”.
In a post on LinkedIn, the director of research and education at the International Center for Responsible Gaming asked “how might other addictions resemble gambling?”.
The NBA and WNBA have raised the curtain on a new responsible gambling campaign for sports wagering and prediction markets.
Sportico’s Michael McCann has a smart piece on the connection between the NFL, prediction markets and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Almost 80 companies have submitted their application to join Finland’s regulated gaming industry when it launches next summer.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is trying to redefine gambling on behalf of prediction markets, wrote Steve Ruddock.
In yesterday’s edition of The Event Horizon, Dustin Gouker and Eric Ramsey weigh in on the latest bit of spin by PMs.
There was a matter of M&A last week with the acquisition of Splash Games by LOW6.
Bob Duff has the goods for Betting.net on the Florida Gaming Control Commission’s new responsible gambling campaign.
The latest gambling-related piece by McKay Coppins for The Atlantic reports the increasing role of American churches in the crusade against sports betting.
CNN gambling reporter Marshall Cohen covered Kalshi’s new business with Native American tribes that’s causing a split within U.S. First Nations gaming folks.
Cohen also posted on X the results of a Reuters poll about prediction markets. It’s not pretty for PMs.
There’s reporting from the New York Post’s Ariel Zilber that a former Democratic senator who pushed for a crackdown on sports betting is now a lobbyist for Kalshi.
Sportradar is selling off its Atrium Sports business for $170 million U.S.
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