All eyes on Ontario model as other provinces look to open up iGaming markets

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Mark Keast

Mark Keast has recently covered the sports betting industry in Canada for The Parleh, and is a long-time sportswriter and editor, most notably with the Toronto Sun.

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Last Updated: 2024 Mar 14

The Ontario regulated igaming model, which is coming up on its two-year anniversary, is in the focus as other Canadian provinces decide whether to break crown corporation monopolies and head down the competitive trail.

The latest news is in Alberta, under Premier Danielle Smith’s government. They are in the exploratory phase of a rollout similar to the regulatory regime that’s in place in Ontario, a market that currently has 49 licensed operators and 79 gaming websites up and running, generating $17.2 billion in total wagers in FY 23-24 Q3. Online casino is dominating the market, followed by sports betting.

The Alberta premier has tasked the government’s Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Dale Nally, with a mandate to work with Indigenous partners to develop and implement Alberta’s online gaming strategy, focusing on responsible gaming and provincial and indigenous revenue generation.

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In a statement, Nally said: “Alberta can be a leading hub for iGaming, with a strong emphasis on openness and a free market. We have low corporate taxes, streamlined regulations and high disposable incomes. These conditions will allow us to establish ourselves as a premier destination for the iGaming industry.”

Nally was at the recent ICE conference in London taking part in a roundtable discussion on the Canadian market alongside Ontario’s Attorney General Doug Downey.

In the meantime, Quebec took a step back after comments in the media by a spokesperson from Finance Minister Eric Girard’s office that the provincial government has no intention of following in Ontario’s footsteps. They’re good with Loto-Québec handling igaming in the province.

888 Launches Responsible Gambling Tools

888 has launched the Control Centre on its Ontario online casino and sports betting platform, a customer-facing interface where players will be able to access intuitively presented playing statistics, dedicated responsible gambling tools and education information so they can make informed decisions about their playing habits.

888 was one of the first operators out of the gate with a license when the Ontario market went legal in April 2022.

“In the end, every relationship is built on trust. With nearly 30 years of experience, it is clear to us that responsible gaming alone won’t just give us a competitive advantage but will also create a strong foundation to build a long-lasting relationship with players, who trust 888 as their destination for entertainment,” said Roi Nadler, Head of Canada at 888.

Latest on AGCO B2B Licenses 

Booming Games, Design Works Gaming and now, according to Gaming America, Air Dice Group, are the latest companies to secure B2B licenses from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to distribute their games to licensed operators in the province. 

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Mark Keast has recently covered the sports betting industry in Canada for The Parleh, and is a long-time sportswriter and editor, most notably with the Toronto Sun.

Read Full Bio

Mark Keast

Last Updated:
 
2024 Mar 14