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Which sports and casino games are most popular in early Alberta betting?

Alberta launched commercial sports betting six weeks ago on July 13. What are some of the early Alberta betting trends so far?

Canadian Gaming Business spoke with several operators that went live on day one of the new market to find out what their users in Canada’s second regulated iGaming province are seeking out.

GeoComply notes FIFA World Cup flurry

Generally speaking, things got off to a fast start, according to Vancouver-based geocompliance technology firm GeoComply.

GeoComply reported that its iGaming partners in Alberta recorded more than 3.2 million geolocation checks and more than 100,000 sign-ups across the province in the very first week of the market. Geolocation checks refer to each time that a sports betting platform verifies a user’s location.

Operators who use GeoComply technology include:

  • BetMGM
  • Caesars
  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel
Image: GeoComply

As would be expected, the activity came mostly in the highest-population areas of Calgary and Edmonton.

While Alberta’s launch missed major events on the North American sports calendar in the first half of 2026, like the end of the NBA season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, operators did get the final week of the FIFA World Cup under their belts.

GeoComply said the early flurry in regulated activity was driven in part by final rounds of the tournament, and peaked with more than 53,000 geolocation checks related to the Spain vs. Argentina final on Sunday, July 19.

Alberta gets in on soccer action

That tracks with what bet365‘s trading team told Canadian Gaming Business. The brand, which completed its transition to the regulated market on July 13, reported that all three of the most-bet sporting events on bet365 in Alberta so far were part of the FIFA World Cup:

  1. The World Cup final
  2. The semi-final round
  3. The third-place match

At both bet365 and BetMGM, soccer is the second-most-bet sport in Alberta so far, behind only baseball.

BetMGM VP of Canada Scott Woodgate said that even with the World Cup excitement, baseball has been No. 1 by far; three times as much money was placed on MLB as on soccer in the first few weeks of the Alberta betting market.

BetMGM’s top Alberta betting sports (by total handle)

  1. Baseball
  2. Soccer
  3. Table tennis
  4. Tennis

bet365’s top Alberta betting sports (by total wagers)

  1. Baseball
  2. Soccer
  3. Basketball
  4. Tennis
  5. MMA

bet365 compared that list with Ontario betting activity since July 13, where soccer was above baseball as the sport with the most wagers.

Meanwhile, a Caesars Sportsbook spokesperson told Canadian Gaming Business that the most wagered-on team in Alberta in the first month of the platform being live was the eventual World Cup winner, the Spain national team.

CFL and local picks feature prominently

Speaking of individual team picks, given their status as ‘Canada’s team’, the Toronto Blue Jays are the single most-wagered MLB team so far on BetMGM in Alberta, coming in ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in second and the Boston Red Sox in third.

Other Canadian teams and sports are also proving popular in the early stages of the market. Several operators noted the Canadian Football League (CFL), with a FanDuel spokesperson telling Canadian Gaming Business that Alberta customers are engaging three times more with CFL betting than the operator’s Ontario users, “underscoring the deep regional connection Albertans have with the league.”

“This is further reflected in betting preferences, with Alberta customers overwhelmingly backing their home teams, the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders, while Ontario bettors show a more balanced distribution across the league,” added the FanDuel spokesperson.

bet365 and DraftKings also both reported that the CFL has been particularly popular in Alberta betting, along with the NHL and the NFL.

On DraftKings, the Elks are the overwhelming choice among DraftKings users in the province to win the 2026 Grey Cup, attracting 55% of both the number of wagers and the total handle as of the time of the data collection in mid-August.

Alberta betting data via DraftKings

DraftKings users aren’t so hot on Canadian NHL teams. While the Florida Panthers lead Stanley Cup futures betting in Alberta with 25% of the handle and 22% of bets, the Edmonton Oilers saw 6% of the handle and wagers, ranked fourth in popularity. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the second most-backed Canadian hockey team, at 3% of the handle and 2% of bets.

Albertans tuned in to US sports

Several operators also noted that even in the offseason, the NFL is big business.

At BetMGM, the Seattle Seahawks are the top pick to win the Super Bowl by the number of bets placed in Alberta, ahead of the LA Rams. The Rams are the No. 1 choice in DraftKings’ Alberta betting, with 35% of all wagers on that futures market, ahead of the Buffalo Bills with 16% of bets.

On Caesars, baseball has proven to be particularly popular in Alberta betting. Three of the five most-bet teams by both tickets and handle are MLB franchises, although there’s a lot of difference between those two categories:

Caesars’ top Alberta betting teams (by total wagers)

  1. Spain (FIFA World Cup)
  2. Atlanta Braves (MLB)
  3. Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)
  4. Boston Red Sox (MLB)
  5. Argentina (FIFA World Cup)

Caesars’ top Alberta betting teams/athletes (by total handle)

  1. St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)
  2. LA Dodgers (MLB)
  3. Tampa Bay Rays (MLB)
  4. Atlanta Dream (WNBA)
  5. Arthur Fils (Tennis)

What drives online casino in Alberta?

Like Ontario’s, Alberta’s iGaming market also allows operators to offer online casino.

BetMGM’s Woodgate said that so far, titles with recognizable brands and sports intellectual property have driven early engagement, as well as slots that have been mainstays on the casino floor. One such IP series, slots based on Game of Thrones, broke various records across key metrics in Ontario and is on a similar trajectory early in Alberta. 

The FanDuel spokesperson added that its exclusive partnership with Light & Wonder for certain games in the prominent Huff N’ Puff franchise represents a distinct competitive advantage in Alberta; Huff N’ Even More Puff and Huff N’ Lots of Puff currently rank as the two most-played casino games on FanDuel Casino in Alberta.

Meanwhile, on the topic of slots, bet365 recently issued its July slots report, illustrating which individual games are proving popular on its Alberta casino platform.

Alberta’s PURE Casino signs up with IBIA for sports betting integrity

Alberta’s largest land-based casino operator PURE Casino Entertainment has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) after launching online sports betting for the first time.

PURE owns seven casinos in the province and recently took its brand online via a new purecasino.ca platform. As part of its expansion into iGaming, it signed up online and retail sports betting technology specialist Kambi to power the sports wagering side of its business.

“Launching our online betting operations marks an important milestone for PURE Casino’s iGaming Platform offering in Alberta, and joining IBIA is a key part of our integrity and compliance framework,” said PURE Casino Entertainment CEO Brad Belhouse in a statement.

“Working with IBIA, the leading betting integrity body serving Canada’s regulated market, reflects our commitment to protecting customers, safeguarding sporting integrity and supporting a trusted, well-regulated betting environment.”

Alberta makes integrity monitoring mandatory for operators

Alberta’s iGaming regulations, like Ontario’s, mandate that all licensed operators must contract with a provincially approved Independent Integrity Monitor (IIM), such as the IBIA or Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360).

The IBIA was registered as a services supplier in May to provide its integrity monitoring tools including its Global Monitoring & Alert Platform (MAP) to operators and to work together with the market regulator, Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC).

While many of the operators entering Alberta iGaming also do business in Ontario and have pre-existing relationships with integrity firms, PURE Casino is an Alberta-only operator that has never before offered online sports betting, and so needed to partner with an IIM from scratch.

“As Alberta’s largest land-based casino operator, PURE Casino brings significant scale and expertise to our Canadian and global integrity monitoring network,” said IBIA CEO Khalid Ali. “Its membership reinforces the integrity framework underpinning Canada’s regulated sports betting market and highlights the value of embedding collaborative integrity monitoring from the outset of a new regulatory regime.”

PURE Casino spreads wings with online launch

PURE Casino is owned by Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP), a group of five Nova Scotia First Nations in partnership with Sonco Gaming. It operates seven casino properties across Alberta, adding three more locations to its original four PIRE-branded venues when it acquired GameHost Inc. this year.

In August, a few weeks after Alberta opened its iGaming market on July 13, it launched a Boyd Interactive-powered online platform in the province, the first First Nations gaming entity and first Alberta-only brick-and-mortar operator to do so.

IGP-owned Pure Casino Edmonton
PURE Casino Edmonton. Image: PURE Casino Entertainment

Belhouse told Canadian Gaming Business in an exclusive interview this month that PURE Casino had plans to launch iGaming long before Alberta actually opened its doors to iGaming, and that it hopes to make its retail gaming advantage count. On the Kambi sports betting deal specifically, Belhouse stressed that PURE wanted to work with an expert in the field, given that sports betting is a new product for the operator.

Now, as part of the IBIA, it will work with one of the most prominent betting monitoring and integrity firms in the world.

IBIA adds to Canadian footprint

The IBIA already works with numerous licensed operators in Alberta, including the likes of

  • Bally’s
  • bet365
  • BetVictor
  • Entain
  • FanDuel
  • PENN Entertainment

It also works hand-in-hand with Canadian sports entities like the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Canadian Premier League (CPL), and the Professional Footballers Association of Canada (PFA Canada) on initiatives such as player education campaigns.

“IBIA’s work in Canada shows that integrity is built through collaboration,” wrote the IBIA in its Q2 2026 report. “When athletes, leagues, integrity experts and regulated betting operators work together, sport is better equipped to remain fair, transparent and trusted.

“IBIA has invested in athlete education to help players understand the integrity risks, meet their responsibilities and protect the competitions they represent.”

Soft2Bet launches 3rd Ontario iGaming brand as ToonieBet partners Ottawa Redblacks

iGaming solutions provider Soft2Bet now operates three separate B2C operator brands in Ontario, as its Betinia platform began taking bets in the province earlier in August.

The supplier already operated the Canada-focused ToonieBet sportsbook and casino in the province, as well as the Swiper platform that it offers in multiple European countries. Now, it has added Betinia, another brand that it runs on its home continent.

It means that Soft2Bet is now one of several operator firms that offer at least three iGaming brands in Ontario’s regulated market, along with the likes of:

  • Apollo Entertainment
  • Caesars Entertainment
  • Entain
  • Skill On Net
  • Super Group

ToonieBet partners with CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks

Meanwhile, Soft2Bet announced on Aug. 26 that ToonieBet is now the exclusive sportsbook partner of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

ToonieBet’s logo will be displayed on all three Redblacks jerseys, as well as throughout the team’s TD Place stadium via in-person activations, high-visibility TV and LED signage. The gaming brand also becomes the official sponsor of the field-level Sideline Club seating, and ToonieBet will also benefit from social media integrations on Redblacks channels.

The partners will host three pre-game street parties for fans in Ottawa on game days, with a live DJ, games, and giveaways.

“We are thrilled to welcome ToonieBet into the Redblacks family as a sportsbook partner,” said the team’s VP of Corporate Partnerships, Matthew Bennett. “This partnership is all about taking that fan experience to the next level. From the high-stakes atmosphere of the new ToonieBet Sideline Club to the vibrant pregame street parties, we are excited to collaborate on unique activations that celebrate our fans and the great tradition of Canadian football.”

Ottawa Redblacks’ TD Place Stadium. Image: JJ YANG / Shutterstock

Daniel Madmon, head of ToonieBet Canada, said that partnering with the Redblacks is an exciting milestone as Soft2Bet continues to expand ToonieBet’s footprint in Canada.

The operator said the partnership reflects ToonieBet’s commitment to Canadian sports fans and to providing the highest quality experiences for players. The brand has prominent connections with the CFL already, having been partnered with the league since last summer. Since June, it has also been the exclusive iGaming partner of the Hamilton Tigers-Cats.

The Redblacks have had gaming partners before, and previously held a deal with PointsBet Canada.

ToonieBet may pursue Alberta sports deals once live

ToonieBet is also registered with Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) as Soft2Bet’s operator brand for Alberta’s regulated market, although it has yet to begin taking bets in that province.

Soft2Bet General Counsel David Yatom Hay told Canadian Gaming Business in March that partnering with local Canadian teams and leagues is part of the company’s strategy to localize its offering and appeal to Canadian players. He suggested that the operator may look for similar sponsorship opportunities in Alberta.

“If we identify the right partnerships, we will pursue them,” Yatom Hay said at the time. “The objective is not simply visibility, but relevance, ensuring that the experience we offer feels tailored to Alberta players and connected to the sports they care about. These types of partnerships are important for building trust and familiarity in a new market.”

SBC Summit reveals 5 First Pitch finalists to showcase next-gen gaming tech

SBC has revealed the five startups that will compete in the 2026 edition of First Pitch, in partnership with BettingStartups, with this year’s shortlist showcasing a new generation of businesses using innovative technology to tackle some of betting and gaming’s biggest challenges.

Taking place on Thursday, Oct. 1, on the Product Innovation Showcase Stage at SBC Summit 2026, the competition will give five emerging companies the opportunity to present their products and growth plans in front of investors, operators and industry decision-makers.

Each finalist will have three minutes to pitch at SBC Summit, followed by a three-minute Q&A with the judging panel, as they compete for a prize package valued at €139,400 (approximately C$225,500), designed to accelerate the winning company’s next stage of growth.

This year’s First Pitch finalists

  • Betsy – a social prediction gaming platform designed to turn bets and predictions into shareable content, making participation itself part of the entertainment experience.
  • Gmonitor – an AI-powered competitive intelligence platform that tracks market activity, including promotions, games, advertising, rankings and regulation. Helping operators understand where competitors are gaining ground and how they can respond.
  • InsightPlay.ai – an AI workforce for player engagement, using autonomous agents for acquisition, retention, reactivation and customer support.
  • Safefy – Uses AI to monitor transactions to prevent suspicious activities and losses.
  • Whizgen AI (Whizdom AI) – Gives iGaming operators three interconnected AI tools for handling player support queries, giving players personalized game recommendations, and flagging players at risk of leaving an operator. 

First Pitch is part of expanded Startup Hub

The competition forms part of SBC Summit’s expanded Startup Hub for 2026, hosted by BettingStartups, which brings together exhibition space, networking opportunities and startup-focused content to connect emerging businesses with investors, operators and potential commercial partners. The Product Innovation Showcase Stage will be dedicated entirely to startups on Thursday, culminating in the First Pitch final.

“What stands out about this year’s finalists is the range of problems they’re trying to solve — from player retention to transaction monitoring and competitive intelligence,” said SBC Senior Event Director Paul Mills. “Each one is tackling a genuine industry challenge, but from a completely different angle.

“One thing’s for sure: the judges are going to have their work cut out for them given the amount of talent on stage this year.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups and host of SBC First Pitch, added that First Pitch gives founders a unique opportunity to demonstrate what they have built in front of people who can help them move forward.

“The pitch itself may only last a few minutes, but the introductions, feedback and conversations that come from it can have a much longer-term impact,” Learmonth added.

SBC First Pitch prize package

This year’s prize package is worth over €100,000 (C$161,800) and includes:

  • Are You Watching This?! & MetaBet – One year of API access to sports, gambling and engagement data, worth €42,000 (C$68,000).
  • SBC Events – A 3x3m booth with turnkey stand build, sponsorship mention and four complimentary tickets to SBC Summit 2027, worth €15,000 (C$24,300).
  • SBC Media – Six months of advertising across relevant industry news platforms, newsletter advertising and two featured editorials promoting the business, worth €11,000 (C$17,800)
  • AWS – €10,000 (C$16,200) in promotional credits to support eligible AWS services and infrastructure.
  • CertiIQ – Twelve months of access to the company’s technical compliance management platform, plus one compliance tool add-on, worth €7,400 (C$12,000).
  • Square in the Air – A winner’s video package filmed on-site at SBC Summit, supported by social promotion, a social media audit, competitor analysis and strategy guide, worth €5,000 (C$8,100).
  • Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC – €4,000 (C$6,500) in credit towards gaming-related legal services.
  • Vegas Kings – An exclusive brand or web design package worth €3,000 (C$4,900).
  • GameOn – Two drafted and distributed press releases, a US-facing trade media interview, a short video interview and inclusion in GameOn newsletters, worth €2,750 (C$4,400).

An esteemed panel of judges

To determine this year’s winner, SBC has assembled a panel of judges with extensive experience across sports betting, iGaming, investment, start-up development, and venture capital.

This year’s esteemed panel includes Rob Duboff (Director, Velo Partners), Willy Joseph (Global SA Leader, Games, Betting & Gaming and Sports, Amazon Web Services), Paris Smith (Founder & CEO, Defy the Odds), Tom Waterhouse (Founder and CIO, Waterhouse VC) and David Williams (Partner, Discerning Capital).

First Pitch will take place on the final day of SBC Summit 2026, which will unite more than 40,000 betting and gaming professionals from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena.

Access to the Product Innovation Showcase Stage and First Pitch is included with Conference, Business, and VIP Passes. Operators, affiliates and regulators may also qualify for complimentary SBC Summit passes, subject to approval.

Explore the full range of SBC Summit ticket options here.

UK gaming brand Midnite recruits ex-FanDuel director to lead planned Canadian launch

United Kingdom iGaming challenger brand Midnite is preparing to launch in Canada, which would constitute its first international expansion outside of the UK and Ireland.

To lead its charge, Midnite has appointed former FanDuel Canada commercial director Dale Tang as its general manager of Canada. Tang will lead the sportsbook and casino operator’s market strategy in the country, overseeing its confirmed plans to launch in regulated Canadian markets, pending licensing approvals.

“The chance to build something new in Canada doesn’t come around often – so I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Midnite to lead its launch into the Canadian market,” Tang wrote on LinkedIn on Aug. 23.

Representatives for Midnite did not offer more specifics on their Canadian plans, but the company’s focus on regulated operations suggests it is pursuing either Ontario or Alberta or both. The company is currently recruiting for a Canadian team, including a Casino Manager, with a job posting that is centred on Ontario and references that province’s regulatory requirements.

SBC News reported that the operator is working towards securing licensing by January 2027 at the latest.

What will Midnite bring to the Canadian iGaming market?

Founded in 2015, Midnite launched in 2018 as an online sportsbook and expanded its products in 2023 to include online casino. It developed its entire sportsbook and casino platform in-house on proprietary technology. It has been scaling up significantly since 2024 as it looks to disrupt the dominance of legacy UK gambling brands including bet365, Betfred, Entain’s Ladbrokes Coral, William Hill, and more.

Licensed to do business by both the UK Gambling Commission and the Irish Revenue Commissioners, whichever Canadian markets it enters will be its first steps elsewhere.

One of the fastest-growing challenger brands in the UK, it has a publicly stated ambition of becoming a tier-1 operator in global markets. The company said that, with significant new investment and an expanding leadership team, it is focused on closing the gap with the largest operators.

Midnite held a Series C funding round in January that raised $35m and took its total equity funding above $75m. Backed by investors including the Raine Group, Discerning Capital, Makers Fund, and Play Ventures, it previously secured a $100m credit facility in October 2025.

Tang offers Canadian market entry expertise

In Tang, Midnite has recruited a regulated Canadian iGaming market expert to oversee its venture on this side of the Atlantic.

Tang was FanDuel’s second employee in Canada, joining the gaming giant in late 2021 as it was preparing for its entry into Ontario’s regulated market, which opened in April 2022. As FanDuel’s commercial and analytics leader in Canada, he helped to oversee that launch and FanDuel’s growth to a market leadership position in the province, as well as its entry into Alberta, which launched its own regulated iGaming market on July 13, 2026.

Before his five years at FanDuel Canada, Tang worked for Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as the government gaming operator’s director of strategy development.

“Dale’s appointment marks an exciting milestone in Midnite’s journey to disrupt the industry,” said Midnite founder and CEO Nick Wright in a press release issued on Aug 25. “The regulated Canadian market is a huge opportunity for us to expand beyond the UK 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.

“As we look to build Midnite into a next-generation tier-1 global operator, Dale’s experience, local insight and leadership puts us in a strong position for future growth.”

Tang added in the release that the chance to work on building Midnite’s Canadian operations in a market he knows well “was simply too exciting to pass up.”

“Midnite has established itself as a brand with a clear vision on how to deliver an exciting proposition for players,” Tang added. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the team that helps establish Midnite as a responsible and trusted brand that resonates with Canadian consumers.”

Canadian iGaming market continues to evolve

In each of Ontario and Alberta, Midnite would have to apply for a license, meet all regulatory requirements and pay all fees, and subsequently sign and implement an operating agreement with the respective province’s iGaming conduct-and-manage agency before it could actually start doing business.

As and when it does launch, it would be another new entrant to a Canadian iGaming landscape that continues to expand and diversify.

Ontario’s more than four-year-old market already hosts almost 50 operators running more than 80 sites, and added the likes of Hard Rock Bet and DAZN Bet in recent weeks. More are coming; major U.S. challenger brand Fanatics Betting & Gaming secured an Ontario license this month.

Meanwhile, after Alberta opened with 22 operator sites on July 13, several others have joined in the last month or so. As of the time of writing, 29 commercial iGaming sites are live and operational in Canada’s second open province.

Alberta iGaming market adds two new online casino operators

Two more online casino sites are now live in the regulated Alberta iGaming market, as the total number of commercial sites doing business in the province climbs towards 30.

Canadian charitable gaming company Casino Time has extended its iGaming presence into a second province by launching in Alberta, and G2 Gaming’s Vegas Club Casino brand has made its debut in Canada.

What is Casino Time?

A Canadian-owned brand headquartered in Kingston, Ont., Casino Time is operated by a partnership group that has more than 30 years of experience in land-based gaming in Ontario. It is affiliated with 10 land-based charitable gaming entertainment venues and operates within the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association, which advocates for gaming as a source of non-profit community fundraising.

These days, it also has an online gambling platform powered by Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) that features more than 3,000 online casino games from more than 40 gaming suppliers and studios, including a range of slots, table games, live dealer casino, and game show content.

Charitable gaming company Casino Time has offered online casino and bingo in Ontario since 2024, and confirmed in June that it had registered with Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis. It is now live and operational with Alberta iGaming, which launched on July 13.

Through its brick-and-mortar charitable gaming work, it is one of the few iGaming operators authorized to offer online bingo as well as casino games. Long-term charity gaming company Delta Bingo & Gaming also offers iBingo on its Delta Casino platform, while growing slots-focused site Betty Casino acquired a Northern Ontario bingo hall earlier this year to facilitate its addition of online bingo.

What is Vegas Club Casino?

Meanwhile, Alberta is the second regulated iGaming market for Vegas Club Casino after it debuted in New Jersey in July.

The brand’s parent company, G2 Digital, was founded by gaming industry veterans Greg Carlin and Dan Alexander. Carlin is a co-founder and the former CEO of Rush Street Interactive and Rush Street Gaming, while Alexander helped launch and grow PlayStar Casino in New Jersey.

At the time of the New Jersey launch, G2 said it also plans to roll out Vegas Club Casino in Ontario, as well as Pennsylvania. Those launches have not yet happened, meaning that Vegas Club Casino is one of very few Alberta iGaming registrants that is not already active in Canada’s first regulated online gambling province.

Which online gambling sites are available in Alberta?

When Alberta iGaming began on July 13, a total of 22 separate licensed operator sites went live on the very first day. Since then, several more have joined the fray, most recently First Nations-owned brick-and-mortar casino operator PURE Casino Entertainment, which launched its online platform on Aug. 7.

With Casino Time and Vegas Club Casino’s entry, a total of 29 Alberta iGaming sites run by 19 different operating companies are live and operational in the province’s market:

  • Bally Bet and Monopoly Casino & Sportsbook
  • Bet365 Casino and Bet365 Sportsbook
  • BetMGM Sportsbook & Casino
  • BetRivers Casino & Sportsbook
  • Betty Casino
  • BetVictor Sportsbook & Casino
  • Caesars Palace Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, and Horseshoe Casino
  • Casino Days
  • Casino Time
  • DAZN Bet Sportsbook & Casino
  • Delta Casino
  • DraftKings Sportsbook & Casino and Golden Nugget Casino
  • Entain’s PartyCasino and Sports Interaction
  • FanDuel Casino and FanDuel Sportsbook
  • LuckyDays Casino
  • PENN Entertainment‘s theScore Bet Sportsbook & Casino, theScore Casino, and Hollywood Casino
  • PURE Casino
  • Stardust Casino
  • TonyBet
  • Vegas Club Casino

Those sites all compete with the government-run Play Alberta platform, which was the only authorized Alberta iGaming platform before the province began to welcome in commercial operators on July 13.

Many other Alberta iGaming sites are registered but are yet to start taking bets in the regulated market, including:

  • 888 Casino
  • Bet99
  • Betano
  • GGPoker
  • PointsBet Canada
  • River Cree iGaming
  • Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet
  • Super Group’s five brands, including Betway

BetMGM begins livestreaming Las Vegas table games to Alberta users

BetMGM now offers Alberta users the chance to play live dealer blackjack, roulette, and baccarat games streamed directly from MGM Resorts International destinations in Las Vegas.

Hosted by professional dealers, the games are broadcast from on-site studios at the MGM Grand and the Bellagio via the brick-and-mortar casino company’s MGM Live collaboration with Playtech, allowing players in some online casino markets to remotely participate from their phone or other device.

BetMGM announced on Aug. 20 that it has extended that existing offering on BetMGM Casino to Alberta, after the MGM Resorts and Entain joint-venture brand began streaming MGM Live games to Ontario players two years ago. While many online casino jurisdictions in the U.S. require live dealer games to be broadcast from local studios, both Ontario and Alberta’s regulations allow licensed operators to stream content directly from Nevada.

Leaders at MGM Resorts and Playtech Live recently spoke to Canadian Gaming Business about the joint live casino venture, and how they tailor the offerings for a Canadian audience.

Which livestreamed games can Albertans play on BetMGM?

Numerous dedicated live dealer tables are now available to Albertans through the collaboration, as well as Dual Play games from Bellagio and MGM Grand, wherein online and in-person players are able to participate in the same game. Thos titles include:

  • MGM Grand Live Roulette and Live American Roulette
  • Bellagio Live Roulette
  • MGM Grand Live Baccarat
  • Bellagio Live Baccarat
  • Various iterations of Vegas Blackjack and Vegas Roulette Live
Image: BetMGM

“Live dealer content continues to be one of the fastest-evolving categories in iGaming,” said BetMGM Director of Gaming Rob Passerino. “Live dealer bridges the gap between online gaming and the casino floor, creating a more immersive and engaging experience for players.

“The real-time interaction with professional dealers and the ability to watch hands and spins unfold live adds a sense of authenticity that really resonates with players.”

MGM Resorts, Playtech join forces on live casino streams

MGM Resorts and Playtech first launched their MGM Live casino partnership in June 2024, streaming directly from the gaming floors of the MGM Grand and the Bellagio and licensing out the content in regulated markets worldwide, outside of the U.S.

Last year, the partners expanded the collaboration with the launch of live casino games based on Fremantle’s Family Feud TV show, marking the first interactive game show of its kind to be broadcast live from a Vegas casino floor.

BetMGM was a day one operator in Alberta, launching in the province’s new regulated iGaming market on July 13. Its casino platform includes a portfolio of intellectual property content related to popular TV and movies, including:

On an earnings call in late July, soon after BetMGM’s Alberta launch, CEO Adam Greenblatt said that 70% of the operator’s gaming revenue comes from online casino. He specifically mentioned the MGM Live casino offerings as a unique advantage the operator has over its competitors in the new Alberta market.

“With our shareholder MGM Resorts, we have a unique offering in the world of live [casino], and we think that’s an area that we can build from,” said the CEO. “It’s popular in our Ontario business, and we believe it will gain traction in Alberta … Live is another area where we can differentiate.”

Greenblatt also said on that earnings call that around 10% of BetMGM’s new users in Alberta had some kind of pre-existing relationship with MGM Resorts International, which he believes demonstrates “the power of the brand, the relevance of our omni[channel] strategy and the sustainable benefit of our deep collaboration.”

A BetMGM spokesperson told Canadian Gaming Business on Aug. 21 that online casino titles with recognizable brand and sports IP, such as new Game of Thrones content, have driven early player engagement in Alberta. Live dealer content like the MGM Live slate has proven to be popular in Ontario and is expected to gain similar traction in Alberta.

Endorphina enters Alberta as newly licensed iGaming supplier

Czech online gambling supplier Endorphina is one of the latest iGaming companies to receive a license to operate in Alberta’s regulated market.

The Prague-based company confirmed on Aug. 24 that it has been approved by the market’s regulator, Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC). The company’s license was effective Aug. 12, allowing it to begin rolling out its portfolio of more than 200+ games to players in Alberta.

Operational in Ontario’s regulated market since April 2026, the expansion into Alberta is the latest step in Endorphina’s long-term expansion plan, which includes strengthening its presence in North America. The gambling software provider is now actively supplying to operators in 59 regulated jurisdictions worldwide.

The company said that Alberta represents “a particularly valuable achievement” due to its specific local legal, regulatory, and technical requirements.

“Entering this market requires a carefully tailored approach, including the implementation of several dedicated internal technical and compliance processes,” added Endorphina in a press release.

Alberta latest step in Endorphina’s global footprint

Endorphina develops proprietary online slot games and has partnerships with more than 6,000 online gambling operators worldwide. It is active in Canada, Latin America, numerous regulated European markets, and beyond.

Some of its operator partners that are present in Canadian iGaming include:

  • bet365
  • Betano
  • Entain
  • FanDuel parent Flutter

It also works with other suppliers and providers, including Bragg Gaming Group, EveryMatrix, Light & Wonder, and Relax Gaming.

More suppliers gain licenses in Alberta

Dozens and dozens of suppliers have registered with AGLC to offer their technology, games, or other services in Canada’s second regulated iGaming market, which opened for business on July 13.

Endorphina and Delasport are the two most recent additions as of the time of writing. Other companies that have obtained supplier licenses since the market launched last month include:

  • Catalist Sports (iGaming – Goods or Services Supplier – Other)
  • Lsports Data (iGaming – Goods or Services Supplier – Other)
  • Playson (iGaming – Critical Gaming Systems Provider)
  • Roxor Gaming (iGaming – Critical Gaming Systems Provider)
  • Spinberry OÜ (iGaming – Critical Gaming Systems Provider)

iGaming AFRIKA named event partner for SBC’s Africa Gaming Forum

SBC has named iGaming AFRIKA, the African region’s leading B2B and B2C gambling media source, as the official event partner for the African Gaming Forum taking place during SBC Summit week in Lisbon.

Taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the Myriad Hotel, the invite-only Forum brings together senior stakeholders, regulators, and operators from across Africa’s gaming ecosystem for a focused day of conference content and networking, positioning the continent’s most important markets within one of the industry’s biggest global gatherings.

iGaming AFRIKA brings regional knowledge and network

Founded in 2022, iGaming AFRIKA has rapidly established itself as the most influential media platform covering the African gaming industry, delivering the news, interviews, podcasts and industry analysis that the continent’s betting, gaming and lottery sectors rely on to stay informed.

As Event Partner, iGaming AFRIKA will contribute its regional knowledge and industry network to support the Forum’s engagement with regulators, operators and investors. For SBC, the partnership reflects a deeper commitment: to give Africa a permanent, structured place within the SBC Summit ecosystem, and to build the connections that help shape the continent’s gaming future, not just for one day, but for years to come.

“No two of Africa’s gaming markets are moving in the same direction,” said SBC founder and CEO Rasmus Sojmark. “Regulation, maturity, opportunity – it all looks different market by market, which is exactly why we needed a partner who understands those nuances.

“iGaming AFRIKA was the natural choice. Their regional knowledge sharpens exactly who we bring into the room in Lisbon. And because the Forum runs during SBC Summit week, it’s a chance for African stakeholders to walk straight from those discussions into the biggest global exchange the industry has, learning from markets and models well beyond their own.”

What’s on the agenda at Africa Gaming Forum?

Throughout the day, the Africa Gaming Forum program will tackle the latest developments across the region’s most significant markets, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. It opens with a regulator panel examining regulatory models across the continent, followed by a CEO panel on the realities of entering and scaling African markets.

Further sessions cover Ghana’s continued growth, Kenya’s Gambling Control Act, potential tax changes in South Africa, the future of iGaming in Ethiopia, and Nigeria’s evolving regulatory landscape.

The agenda will feature senior representatives from across Africa’s gaming ecosystem, including:

  • Bashir Are (CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority)
  • Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo (Acting Commissioner, Gaming Commission of Ghana)
  • Ronnie Whelan (CEO, Kingmakers)
  • John Mutua (CEO, Association of Gaming Operators Kenya)
  • Simon Gregory (CEO, SunBet)
  • Peter Maina Karimi (Director General, Kenya’s Gaming Regulatory Authority)

“Our mission has always been to give African gaming a platform. SBC shares that ambition, and this partnership is proof of it,” said iGaming AFRIKA founder and CEO Jeremiah Maangi. “Bringing the African Gaming Forum into SBC Summit week means African stakeholders get direct access to the world’s biggest gaming conversations, and the world gets a clearer view of one of the industry’s most important growth stories.”

Register for invite-only African Gaming Forum

Presented by SBC and the iGaming AFRIKA, the African Gaming Forum will take place during SBC Summit 2026, SBC’s flagship global event, which will welcome 40,000 industry professionals to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and MEO Arena from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. 

Attendees can expect more than just networking, product discovery and a CPD-certified conference programme across the three days. Standout moments include appearances from basketball icon, investor, and philanthropist Michael Jordan and UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira, before the week closes out with a headline set from Tiësto, one of the world’s top DJs, at INFINITY Lisbon.

Access to the African Gaming Forum is invite-only. Register your interest here.

AGCO fines Booming Games for violating province’s ban on auto-play slots

Ontario’s gambling regulator has handed down another fine to an iGaming licensee, this time penalizing Booming Games for allowing a prohibited auto-play functionality.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) said on Thursday, Aug. 20, that it ordered $70,000 in monetary penalties against the gaming supplier after finding that the banned auto-play feature was available to Ontario players for several months on multiple slot games hosted on a licensed operator’s platform.

The AGCO said that its compliance investigation found that Booming Games failed to properly configure, test, and monitor certain games before and after it launched as a licensed supplier in Ontario, as is every registered gaming supplier’s responsibility. The AGCO notified the impacted operator and the auto-play functionality was disabled.

Booming Games will not appeal the fine.

“We accept the AGCO’s ruling and take full responsibility for the breach,” Booming Games COO Dani Paleu told Canadian Gaming Business.

“We acted immediately once the issue was identified, and we have since strengthened how market-specific game options are verified against each regulator’s requirements, both before a site goes live and on an ongoing basis afterwards.”

Booming Games has supplied games to some online casino operators in Ontario since receiving a license from the AGCO in early 2024. It offers titles like Buffalo Hold and Win, Cash Pigs, and The Wild Wings of Phoenix to licensed operators in the market.

Globally, Booming Games works with operator partners including Ontario-licensed brands like Bally’s, Betano, Casino Days, LeoVegas, and more.

The AGCO did not name the operator involved in the auto-play violation.

Why does Ontario ban auto-play features?

The regulator charges Booming Games with two violations of its iGaming standards:

  • Offering games that include auto-play features for slots
  • Failing to perform sufficient monitoring and testing, with the result that the gaming system and/or gaming supplies were not demonstrated to be operating as approved

Auto-play functionality allows a player to play several rounds on an online slot machine without actually manually initiating each separate spin. The AGCO’s regulations ban that feature outright, as well as imposing other restrictions such as a minimum time requirement between spins.

The regulator said that the prohibition on auto-play is in place to ensure that players have an opportunity to pause and assess their play and whether they want to continue gambling, in an attempt to reduce the potential for excessive intensity, speed, and continuity of play and to support informed player decision-making within online games.

“Requiring players to manually start each spin creates a deliberate pause between wagers,” added the regulator in a press release. “This pause can help maintain player awareness and control, reduce prolonged and uninterrupted play, and reduce the risk of gambling-related harm.”

There are some concessions; online slots in Ontario can implement auto-play during bonus rounds when no additional money is being wagered.

AGCO hold suppliers and operators to account

Booming Games is the second iGaming registrant to be punished by the AGCO in the space of two weeks.

On Aug. 6, the regulator fined Betty Casino a total of $120,000 after finding that age-verification and player controls failures allowed users under the province’s legal gambling age of 19 to sign up and in some cases gamble on the slots-focused online casino site. A total of 23 underage people were able to create accounts with Betty and nine of them went on to place bets, said the AGCO.

A Betty spokesperson confirmed to Canadian Gaming Business that it identified and reported a “vulnerability” in its age-verification process, immediately closed the accounts in question, implemented additional safeguards, and accepted the fine.

The AGCO has handed down various other punishments in the last 12 months, including: