Why Alberta’s horse racing industry needs a cut of the online gambling revenue pie
Horse racing faces a double dose of cannibalization of its gambling customers once the online sector begins — a reduction in the retail slot revenue that supports horse racing and a loss of customers.
Prior to launching its open, regulated online gambling sector, Alberta has done an admirable job carving out revenue for First Nations communities, as well as responsible and problem gambling programs. But what about the province’s horse racing industry? Shouldn’t it also receive a small percentage to offset the inevitable cannibalization of its gambling customers?
After all, the most recent economic study by Horse Racing Alberta found that there are more than 1,500 full-time equivalent jobs in the horse racing industry in the province and horse racing has an economic benefit to Alberta of more than $300 million annually.
As we told you in our Jan. 28 newsletter, before a 20% tax rate is applied to online gambling operators, Alberta will take 3% off the top to allocate 1% to responsible gambling and 2% to First Nations communities that have strong ties to retail casinos in the province.
Clearly, the cut going to First Nations communities is to offset expected losses to their gambling revenue. So, why not do the same for the province’s horse racing industry, which was the original gambling game in the province and supports a lot of jobs and economic activity?
Yes, I know there’s a danger of there being too many fingers in the pie and it’s likely too late already to include horse racing. But, it’s also much better to set up the right framework before launch. It’s much more difficult to carve out a share later.
Thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing is conducted at five locations in Alberta, but most prominently at modern facilities near Calgary (Century Downs) and Edmonton (Century Mile).
Horse racing receives the bulk of its revenue from a 50% share of slots facilities at the tracks. But if the online gambling sector proves as successful as the one in Ontario on which it is modelled, it is highly likely it will reduce slot revenue at the tracks and, thus, revenue for horse racing, which is labour-intensive and provides jobs in rural communities where jobs are less plentiful.
Also, Canadian law prevents fixed-waged odds from being offered on horse racing, which means it can’t be easily offered by online sportsbooks.
In Ontario, other than the dedicated horse racing betting platform HPIbet operated by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, one can only bet on horse racing via bet365 and OLG, which routes the bets through Woodbine’s tote system.
That’s a double-whammy for horse racing. Not only can’t one easily bet on horse racing via online sportsbooks, but both the growth in sports betting and the decrease in revenue from retail slot halls at the tracks will surely be cannibalizing for horse racing overall. That in turn will lead to job losses and less revenue for Alberta from the sector.
The solution? Cut horse racing in with a 1% share to preserve jobs and rural economies.
A bow to Beau
Speaking of horse racing, a salute to Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred superstar standardbred Beau Jangles. On Sunday, the two-year-old pacing colt was named the Dan Patch Horse of the Year and Pacer of the Year in the United States. Earlier, he was voted Canada’s Horse of the Year.
It’s a remarkable achievement to be voted the top harness horse of 2025 in the U.S. considering Beau Jangles never left Ontario while completing a perfect 12-for-12 season.
That mean Beau Jangles, who was bred by Tara Hills Stud in Port Perry, ON, danced his way to a perfect record on the track and at the awards banquets.
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Hockey, curling, short track speed skating share the Winter Olympics betting podium
If Olympic medals were handed out for the most popular sports with bettors at the just-completed Milan/Cortina Winter Games, hockey would get the gold, curling the silver and. . . . . . short track speed skating with the bronze.
That’s according to a quick survey of three provincial lottery and gaming corporations and one Ontario-regulated online sportsbook by Gaming News Canada, and in perusing other media coverage of Games wagering the past two-plus weeks. To no one’s surprise the Winter Games men’s and women’s hockey tournament was the catalyst for a bevy of betting activity with the sports trading team at FanDuel Canada reporting more than 93% of Olympic wagering on the sport of pucks and sticks.
BCLC spokesperson Matt Lee let us know that the men’s gold medal game between Canada and Team USA (we’re still scouring the internets to find out. . . ahem. . . who won the game. . . .) was the fourth-most popular hockey game all time on its PlayNow online sportsbook, behind Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Game 7 of the Edmonton/Vancouver series in the opening round of the 2024 NHL playoffs, and last year’s Four Nations final that saw Canada defeat the U.S. in overtime. More than 95% of Olympics betting with BCLC’s Proline retail sportsbook was hockey related, and the men’s gold medal game was the second-most wagered-on hockey game since Proline launched in British Columbia in 2024.
“The men’s and women’s tournaments all performed at what we would characterize as Stanley Cup playoff-level betting numbers,” Lee told GNC in an email.
According to Loto-Québec spokesperson Renaud Dugas, action round the Olympic hockey tournament on its Mise-o-jeu sportsbook exceeded betting activity during the NHL season while prop bets involving Canadian stars Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Nathan MacKinnon, (Montreal Canadiens captain) Nick Suzuki, Jordan Binnington and Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebucyk were popular picks. With regards to player props, McDavid, MacKinnon, Celebrini, Cale Makar and Team USA (and Toronto Maple Leafs captain) Auston Matthews were the most popular hockey players for prop wagers.
OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti passed along that 28% of Proline players correctly went with Team USA in the men’s gold medal tilt, 41% had the Americans on the puck line at +1.5, and a somewhat surprising 59% bet the game would be decided in extra time. Covers news editor Brad Senkiw spoke with other operators about the phenomenal Canada-U.S. finale.
DraftKings director of sports operations Johnny Avello told Mark Keast of Casino.org that the men’s gold medal game attracted a lot of attention with its customers on both sides of the border.
As Ken Maguire reported for The Associated Press, betting activity around the Olympic curling competitions was buzzing. The BCLC’s Lee said the men’s and women’s tournaments attracted three times the number of bettors than the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and The Montana’s Brier, and the Canada-Great Britain men’s finale was the most popular curling event ever with PlayNow customers, with the women’s bronze medal game between Canada and the U.S. right behind it.
We expect FOGNC Nic Sulsky will have (much, much, much) more to say about this on a future episode of the GNCS.
The annual gathering of the Canadian gaming industry in our home and native land has a new name, but is bringing back the best and the brightest minds for the SBC Summit Canada.
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is once again the site for the 2026 summit, to take place May 19-21. Register today using the PARLEHPARTNERVIP code and receive a 40% discount on your VIP pass.
Paul Burns appears on milestone episode of Gaming News Canada Show
For the 200th episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, host Steve McAllister welcomed back the President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, Paul Burns, for an extended conversation on the latest happenings around the gambling industry.
We’re grateful to the many guests who’ve taken time to share their insight and wisdom with McAllister on the podcast. You can listen to his interview with the CGA boss here or watch it on our YouTube channel:
People on the Move
Heather Ace, Jeffrey Fox and Fabio Schiavolin join the Board of Directors at Penn Entertainment as Independent Directors.
Enhanced Games appoint Emily Tabak as Chief Legal Officer, Jordan Schlachter as Chief Partnership Officer and Craig Tello as Senior Vice President, Content.
Ari Borod, formerly of FanDuel, The Action Network and Fanatics, is named Polymarket’s President, Sports Business Development.
After five years in various senior executive roles, Ken Fuchs is out at Caesars Entertainment and opens a consulting practice.
Kevin Mullally is appointed the first Chief Executive Officer of the International Association of Gaming Regulators.
Google appoints Dhruv Thukral as Head of Gaming and AI – Google Cloud.
Pascal Chaffard is named Head of Online Betting and Gaming at FDJ UNITED to replace Nils Anden.
Joonas Karhu, ex of North Star Network, is appointed Managing Director, Finland at Immense Group.
SPORTFIVE promotes Steven Chittim to Vice President – Partnership Sales.
Jennie Mundy departs Paramount Commerce and is named Head of Support for Soft2Bet.
Octoplay appoints Kurt Causon as Head of Finance.
Eliane Nunes, ex of Skrive iGaming Strategy and Clarion Events, is appointed Head of Revenue & Commercial Growth at Atucha Strategic Advisory.
Len Belvedere Jr. leaves Genius Sports and his role as Head of Programmatic Partnerships.
Absolutebet Co-Founder Benjamin Truman joins Toronto venture capital and private equity firm Metric as a Partner.
Ramiro Atucha joins Kiron Interactive as a Board Advisor.
Jordan Coyle is appointed Head of Business Development at Crucible Gaming.
Ben Horlock, ex of Entain, GVC Group and ClickOut Media, is named Senior SEO Content Executive at BVGroup.
Novibet elevates Nelly Antoniadou to Head of Content.
Aristocrat Gaming promotes Lauren O’Brien Krucznyski to Senior Director of Gaming Operations.
Haleigh Garcia departs InclineBet and her Director of UA, Americas role.
Jason Mulholland leaves Big League Advantage to become Director of Data Science at BetMGM.
Catena Media promotes Giannella Borg to Director of Intelligent Automation and Information Security.
Derby City Gaming & Hotel promotes Audrey Stanton to Director of Compliance.
Bryce Evans is named Director, Client Partnerships at Frameplay.
Ray Freilibs is the new Director of External Relations at GAMMASTACK.
Scott Burrows is promoted to Director of Technical Compliance at Super.
Geoffrey Oswalt departs FanDuel to join SpinQuest as Fraud & Risk Supervisor.
The Esports World Cup Foundation names Brian Kremer as Director, Product – Esports Nations Cup.
Benji Page bids adieu to the MLB Florida Marlins to join Hard Rock Digital as Senior Manager, Corporate Communications.
After seven years, most recently as Senior Product Marketing Manager – GBG Loqate, Claire Bergin is leaving GBG Plc.
Melissa Di Pasquo has a new gig at OLG: Scrum Master (and yes, we’ll be asking Tony Bitonti to explain what that job entails. . . .)
John Alex Vos is promoted to Business Development Associate at Bet99.
Niko Virvilis has a new business card at Paramount Commerce as Staff Product Manager, Payment Rails & Treasury.
Former DraftKings guy Jim McKenna comes on board at Catena Media as Strategic Partnerships Manager.
Toby Halpern is joining DraftKings as a Trader and Emily Desverreaux comes on board as a Senior Software Engineer.
Laurin Peil moves into the Lead, Creator & Talent Partnerships (Global) role at EA Sports FC.
Kieran Shukri Kumar joins Eeze as a Systems and Business Analyst after almost four years at mkodo as Senior Business Analyst.
Emelie Lellky is promoted to Senior Workplace Experience Manager at LeoVegas Group.
Anthony Bruno departs Pinnacle as Senior Content and Creative Marketing Manager.
The Responsible Gambling Council promotes Tenzin Chimi Yehshopa to Senior Program Analyst.
Zedrick Tenorio is promoted to IT Services Team Lead at bet365.
Andy Thompson joins Betty’s UK offices as People and Culture Manager.
Sara Barshap is promoted to Senior Sports Trader at FanDuel.
Eva Kotta departs Kaizen Gaming and her Product Manager role.
Fabio De Martino is promoted to Senior Account Manager at Ruby Play and Koala Games.
Minute Media promotes Daniel Gendein to Senior Product Marketing Manager.
U.S. public affairs agency Invariant promotes Sally Blodgett and Isabella Anderson to Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Senior Associate.
John Riker takes his leave from Guerilla Sports to join The Athletic as a Live Reporter.
Stuart McReynolds moves from Associate Vice President, Strategy to Chief Operating Officer for Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
Tyler Mazereeuw is promoted to President & Chief Executive Officer at the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
Aaron LeValley joins the NY Islanders and UBS Arena as Chief Digital Marketing & Strategy Officer.
Rollo Goldstaub has a new title at TikTok: Global Head of Sport.
Former CEBL senior executive Patsy Coyle is named Associate Director of the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.
Dan Acosta departs Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and joins Hockey Canada as Manager, Market Intelligence.
Golf Canada names Brian Newton to replace Claire Welsh as the Tournament Director of the CPKC Women’s Open.
KOHO promotes Saad Usman to Director, Growth Marketing.
Cori Marshall leaves her Account Executive, Partnership Marketing role with NHL HQ to join XMC agency as Senior Account Manager.
Angie Sanyal joins Wasserman as Manager, Creative Strategy & Planning.
Front Office Sports names Felipe Fontes as Senior Manager, Social Media.
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation promotes Ashni Ramsammy to Senior Business Development Manager, Cricket.
Krisztina Virag is named Managing Director at Toronto-based We Are Social.
Classified (Jobs) Information
On the Home Front
Woodbine Entertainment is looking for a Manager, Sports Betting and Wagering Marketing.
Atlantic Lottery has need of a Change Management Specialist along with an IT Environment Specialist.
FanDuel is seeking a Media Associate for its Toronto offices.
Bet99 is searching for a UI/UX Designer, a Senior Data Engineer, a Digital Marketing Coordinator and a Technical Analyst. And, oh yes, a Digital Content Specialist.
EA Sports requires a Global Community Engagement Manager.
Titan1Studios is looking for a Head of Publishing (Video Games).
There’s a hybrid opening in Toronto for a Product Designer, iGaming.
LUG Sports Group is looking for a Growth Marketing Specialist.
The CEBL Edmonton Stingers are in the market for a Vice President of Business Operations.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment is searching for a Senior Graphic Designer.
In Winnipeg, True North Sports + Entertainment is looking for a Manager, Partnership Sales.
The WNBA Toronto Tempo are seeking a Manager, Media Relations for its inaugural season.
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is hiring a Media Campaign/Performance Marketing Specialist.
South of the Border
Among the current employment opportunities at Rush Street Interactive is one for a Vice President, Government Affairs.
Draft Kings is on the lookout for a Senior Director, Compliance.
Hard Rock Digital has a remote opportunity for a Director – Revenue & Marketing Delivery, and in New Jersey is hiring a Manager – Live Dealer Studio. In Hollywood, Fla., there’s an opening for a Director – Global Total Rewards.
Caesars Entertainment is searching for a Director of Social Strategy, Sports to join its team in Las Vegas.
Paysafe in on a seek-and-employ mission for a Senior Business Development Director, Entertainment.
PrizePicks has a remote opportunity for a Director of Government Affairs.
FanDuel is looking for a Product Senior Director, Discovery & Engagement in Atlanta, has a Product Manager opening in New York and is also looking for a Community Impact Manager in the Big Apple.
Genius Sports is seeking a Business Development Manager – Sports Data and a Director, Genius Sports Deal Desk.
Sportradar is hiring in the City of Brotherly Love a Junior Content Specialist.
Pikkit has a hybrid opportunity in New York for an Affiliate Growth Manager (Paid Partnerships).
There’s an opening at ESPN for a Director, Research & Analytics.
The United States Tennis Association is hiring a Manager, Communications.
Across the Ponds
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the UK government is in hiring mode for a Director, Sport and Gambling.
Spotlight Sports Group has a whole lotta openings.
G2 is searching for a Head of Brand & IP.
FDJ UNITED is on the lookout for an SEO Executive – Sweden.
Among the current openings with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is one for an Assistant Director of Compliance.
Entain Australia & New Zealand is looking for a Safer Gambling Compliance Officer.
GRID has an on-site/remote/hybrid opportunity in Berlin for a Senior Marketing & Communications Lead – Esports Betting.
Sportradar has an opportunity in London for a Sales Executive Lead, iGaming.
SPORTFIVE has an opening for a Senior Manager, Global Brand Partnerships, Esports & Gaming.
DraftKings is on the lookout for a Financial Crimes Investigations Senior Associate, and in Florida has a remote opportunity for a Senior Product Manager, Marketing Platform.
LCKY Group is looking for a Swedish-speaking Performance Marketing Specialist.
SOFTSWISS has an opening in Valletta that’s “fully remote” for a Senior Sales Manager.
Rhino Entertainment Group is searching for a Mobile Developer (React Native).
Damble wants to hire a Social Media Manager with some knowledge of the igaming and cryptocurrency spaces.
Sports Interactive (not the gaming brand) has an opportunity in the Greater London Area for a Head of Social and Content.
Stats Perform is searching for a Senior Data Collection Analyst to join its office in Aveiro, Portugal.
Malta-based Growth Leads has a remote opening for a Video Editor.
Playtech Managed Services is seeking for its Sofia City, Bulgaria, offices a Data Manager.
African gaming company LulaBet is looking for a Product and Trading Manager.
Push Gaming is in hiring mode for a Junior Game Engine Developer.
Reading and Reflection
Count the owners of BetRivers and Betway as the latest operators to publicly express they’re gung-ho about doing business in Alberta. Speaking of which, Alberta iGaming Corporation interim boss Dan Keene told us during an interview for next week’s episode of the Gaming News Canada Show that the province would like to see a spring/summer launch for the new open and regulated market.
And speaking of Alberta, AIGC and the Responsible Gambling Council have announced a partnership around the RGC’s RG Check accreditation.
Canadian Gaming Business chronicler Tom Nightingale reports that Caesars Entertainment is taking it slow when it comes to expanding its land-based casino footprint in the true north, strong and free.
Nightingale also did some keyboard pounding on Light & Wonder’s new partnership with Play Alberta.
And Nightingale with the hat trick with his piece on sports betting advertising and the role of the federal government.
The results of a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll include half the folks surveyed believe today’s pro athletes often or sometimes alter the way they play to give a helping hand to bettors.
St8, a casino games aggregator and technology provider, is up and running in Ontario through its partnership with TonyBet.
A restructuring post-launch of DraftKings Predictions and the expanding use of AI has sparked a round of job cuts.
The ongoing trial in Los Angeles involving social media giant Meta could have implications for sports betting industry stakeholders, wrote Michael McCann of Sportico.
Coming soon to a digital device near you: FanDuel Poker?
Facing a hit to the company’s stock price and criticism in other circles, Genius Sports boss Mark Locke did some tinkling of the keyboard last week to further explain the Legend acquisition.
Ryan Glasspiegel and Ben Horney did the double-byline thing to report on the efforts by Fanatics to prevent Polymarket from hiring Ari Borod.
Sportradar product executive Erich Zach told Erik Gibbs of NEXT.io that it’s early days for in-play sports betting in the land of the free. And the company’s fan engagement exec, Patrick Mostboeck, did the Q and A thing with Sports Betting Dime’s Robert Linnehan on the same topic.
As Ben Horney wrote for Front Office Sports, the board additions at Penn mentioned in People on the Move, should settle a longstanding feud between the operator and an activist investor.
Kalshi has removed badges and sponsored accounts on X after taking a fair amount of flak.
Rege Behe of CDC Gaming spoke with a social media influencer who said casinos aren’t doing enough to look after their customers.
Brant James pulled together for InGames a collection of past sports moments you’d swear were rigged.
The UK government is contemplating a ban against unlicensed gaming operators to sponsor sports teams/organizations. And that’s earned a tap of ye olde Bauer Vapor from Entain’s boss.
Bloomberg reporter Christopher Beam did some keyboarding on the “gamifying of truth” by Polymarket and Kalshi.
The House of Delegates in Virginia has given the green light to a bill that will make online gaming legal in the Commonwealth.
Novig has raised some money to help with its prediction market plans.
Legislators in Connecticut are looking at age restrictions and some advertising bans for prediction market operators.
DraftKings has launched its online sportsbook in the birthplace of Bad Bunny.
Stake has been approved for a five-year licence to operate its online gaming business in Denmark.
In case you missed it, 8.7 million viewers were tuned into CBC’s Olympic coverage Sunday morning when Jack Hughes scored the golden goal for Team USA. And more than 20 million folks in the U.S. watched the beeg game.
Finally, Bill King of Sports Business Journal did a deep dive into Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment under the new(ish) leadership of Edward Rogers.
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