No mention of regulated online sports betting and igaming in Alberta throne speech
No mention of regulated online sports betting and igaming in Alberta throne speech
The office of the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction said there's no timeline for the province's new digital sports betting and gaming strategy. NorthStar completes latest financing.
In this issue:
No mention of regulated gambling in Alberta throne speech
NorthStar Gaming completes latest financing
SiGMA issues warning about scam scum
Phill Gray to join Gaming News Canada Show
No dice for regulated gambling from Alberta throne speech
For the various and sundry stakeholders in the business of sports betting and gaming, Canadian style, hoping for encouraging news Monday from the lips of Alberta Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani, we offer two words:
No dice.
Lakhani delivered the throne speech on behalf of the Danielle Smith government, pointing to the ongoing fight with the federal government over electricity and taxes, the population boom, affordability, and additional financial support for the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation.
One section of the throne speech may - and we emphasize may - have provided a glimmer of hope for businesses looking at Alberta to follow Ontario’s lead and create an open marketplace:
It means our economy will be one of the strongest in the world for many decades. It means that all the technology and growth required to build flourishing new industries and transform and grow established ones will occur right in our front yard!
It means massive infrastructure improvements and new recreational and entertainment opportunities that will build our quality of life and culture for decades.
Gaming News Canada has reported before on Premier Smith’s mandate letter back in July to Dale Nally, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction that included “working with Indigenous partners, (to) finish developing and implementing Alberta's online gaming strategy with a focus on responsible gaming and provincial and Indigenous revenue generation”.
We contacted the Minister’s office a couple of weeks ago, and received this emailed statement from press secretary Nicky Gocuan:
Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction’s mandate includes a commitment to working with our Indigenous partners to develop and implement an online gaming strategy in Alberta, with a focus on responsible gambling.
As part of this work, the minister has met with various industry representatives in order to better understand the broad range of opportunities available to the province. No timelines have yet been established for finalizing and implementing Alberta’s new online gaming strategy.
Paul Burns, the president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, continues to be optimistic about other provinces one day taking the same regulated route as Ontari-ari-ari-o.
“I would hope it’s not if, but when,” said Burns during an interview last week. “My belief is the more provinces that adopt some sort of regulatory model, the better it will be for everybody. (And) for provinces, the solution is there. The internet is a great disruptor. It changed many industries from hotels to transportation to retail, just to name a few. It also changed ours.”
Burns and others with skin in the regulated Ontario game point at the continued growth of OLG’s digital gaming and lottery business in a province with 47 competitors.
“There are no monopolies in gaming anymore,” added Burns. “There are highly competitive marketplaces competing for consumer dollars. The CGA has always been an advocate for regulated gaming.
“We believe it’s the best way to protect consumers, and maintain public trust.”
By the by, OLG chief gaming officer Dave Pridmore, who appeared on the Gaming News Canada Show a couple of weeks ago to discuss the lottery corp’s latest annual report, reiterated his comments to us in a Q and A this week with Mark Keast of CDC Gaming Reports.
“The newly regulated and competitive market has challenged OLG to think differently and push the boundaries of possibilities, not just with our product offerings, but also by optimizing our teams and establishing more efficient processes to help our speed to market,” Pridmore told Keast. “The open market levelled the playing field for us. We went from being the only regulated operator in the province to one of many, which all had to adhere to the same rules.
“This is good for OLG and good for the customer.”
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NorthStar Gaming completes financing
Some Hallowe’en day news from Toronto-based NorthStar Gaming that its $10.3-million “private placement financing” was a done deal.
From the company, owners of NorthStarBets, which last month announced it was expanding its business beyond Ontario to the rest of the true north, strong and free:
Pursuant to the Offering, NorthStar has issued 29,528,458 units at a price of $0.175 per Unit, with each Unit comprised of one common share of the Company, one half warrant to acquire Common Shares exercisable at $0.36 per full warrant and a further half warrant to acquire Common Shares exercisable at $0.40 per full warrant, in each case for a period of five years. In addition, the Company has issued three-year, 8% unsecured debentures in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $5.2 million, converting into Common Shares at $0.20 per share with interest payable-in-kind. Investors in the Offering include Playtech plc, a global leader in gambling technology that is a supplier of software and services to, and already a significant investor in, the Company, as well as members of the Company’s senior management team. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are legend and restricted from trading until March 1, 2024.
Proceeds from the Offering will be utilized to fund NorthStar’s expansion across Canada and for general working capital purposes.
“This injection of capital will strengthen our balance sheet and fund our continued growth,” said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar. “In particular, the Canada-wide re-branding of Spreads.ca into NorthStarBets.com is expected to supplement the strong organic growth we continue to deliver in our initial market.”
As part of Tuesday’s announcement, legal counsel Alex Latner will join CFO Chris McGinnis as Playtech representatives on the NorthStar board of directors. Playtech reserves the right to nominate up to two additional directors down the road.
SiGMA targeted by scam artists
A heads-up this week from igaming events and media company SiGMA Group, which is being targeted by scam scum. From an email sent Tuesday:
It has come to our attention that individuals are falsely representing themselves as SiGMA Group, attempting to sell our client database to unauthorized entities. We want to emphasize that these actions are not authorized by our company in any way.
Your security and trust are of utmost importance to us. We strongly advise caution and vigilance regarding any unsolicited communications or offers claiming to be from SiGMA Group. Should you encounter any such suspicious activity, please reach out to any member of our team immediately.
That ends this public service announcement.
Departing trader Gray joins Gaming News Canada Show
In a Linkedin post yesterday afternoon, Phill Gray made public his exit from Sports Interaction after just over 20 years as the head of trading operations. Gray will speak with us about his two-decades-long tenure with the online sportsbook and igaming business, acquired by Entain from Avid Gaming in February 2022, when he returns to the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on LinkedIn Audio this afternoon (the first bon mots are uttered shortly after 1 p.m. ET).
Regular guests Amanda Brewer and Kris Abbott are scheduled to join the conversation, and we’re working to get someone from the sports integrity monitoring business to come on and talk about the NHL’s suspension of Shane Pinto - which we covered from stem to stern in Tuesday’s chronicle.
Classified (Jobs) Information
iGaming Ontario has a role open for an Anti-Money Laundering Reporting Analyst, and also has a posting for an Administrative Assistant.
Gaming industry payments company Paramount Commerce is on a seek-and-employ mission for a Head of Business Development in Toronto.
The compliance department of BV Group is seeking an EDD Officer for the Ontario market, and there’s an opportunity for a Player Protection Officer EDD in Gibraltar.
TheScore is seeking a Social Media Editor - Betting, and is also hiring a Content Creator, esports.
NorthStar Gaming has a six-month contract available for a Senior Manager, Compliance.
Blazesoft has a plethora of positions available in the Greater Toronto Area.
Strive Gaming, which has offices in Vancouver, the UK and Malta, is seeking a Human Resources Manager and also has a posting for a Software Quality Assurance Engineer.
Rivalry has a remote opportunity for a VIP Manager, CRM.
Gaming Innovation Group has an opening at its Malta location for a Technical Integrations Manager.
Hard Rock Digital’s Malta business has an opportunity for a Trading Proposition Manager, and in the U.S., HRD is looking for a Casino CRM Manager. And, there’s an opening for a Unity Developer at its Toronto office. Finally, it’s also hiring a Sportsbook Operations Associate.
Entain is seeking a couple of Propositions Executives for its bwin business in Germany and Austria.
Better Collective’s brand partnerships team in London (England) is looking to add a Digital Media Sales Manager.
Malta-based PowerPlay is in hiring mode for a Customer Experience Manager.
Wanted by TAG Media: a Senior Client Manager.
British Esports is looking for a Guest Relations Executive.
Gen.g, the Los Angeles-based esports and gaming agency is seeking someone with sales/business development experience.
Interac has a Toronto-based position available for a Senior Manager, Legal, Compliance & Regulation Operations.
A very good gig for a comms pro, as the Dallas Mavericks are hiring a VP of Basketball Communications.
The National Football League is in the mood to hire a Manager, Video Gaming.
The Action Network is hiring a Backend Engineering Manager.
Vroom vroom organization NASCAR has an opportunity for a Senior Director of Social Media.
The National Hockey League offices in New York have an opening for an Analyst, Ticketing Analytics.
Our friends at The Gist are in the market for a Podcast Editor.
FIFA World Cup 2026 is seeking a Director, Venue Operations.
Wanted by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment: a Manager, Media Integrations.
The Professional Bull Riders organization has an opening for a Director, Social Media.
Disney’s Florida campus is in search of a Sports Event Manager.
Hockey Alberta is hiring a Manager, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Safe Sport.
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