Canada

PlayMichigan.com: Sports betting drops for first time in online era

Published

5 years ago

May 17, 2021

Michigan experienced its first month-over-month decline in sports betting since launching online sports betting earlier this year, an unsurprising result as the sports calendar slowed in April. But the seasonal slowdown didn’t stop the state from becoming the quickest in the U.S. to $1 billion in online wagering. This as online casinos continued to dwarf sports betting with another month of revenue that neared $100 million, according to PlayMichigan, which analyzes and researches the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.

“Sports betting gets the lion’s share of attention, but it will take years for Michigan’s sportsbooks to reach the kind of revenue that online casinos are already producing,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayMichigan.com. “In addition, online casinos aren’t susceptible to the same seasonal ebbs and flows like sports betting. That said, $1 billion in less than four months of online sports betting is no minor feat either.”

Relying mostly on regular season baseball and NBA games to generate action, Michigan sportsbooks accepted $249.9 million in online handle in April, according to official data released Friday by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. That total was down 30.5% from $359.5 million in March. Combined with the state’s $24.2 million retail handle, which was released last week, Michigan’s online and retail sportsbooks collected $274.2 million in bets, 91.1% of which were made online. The combined handle was down 28.5% from $383.7 million in bets in March.

The total handle will likely keep Michigan at No. 5 in the U.S., behind New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. But with $1.03 billion in online wagers made from the launch of online sports betting on Jan. 21 through April 30, Michigan is the quickest of any state to reach $1 billion in online wagers.

April’s gross operator revenue from online betting slipped to $20.4 million, down 36.8% from $32.3 million in March. Adjusted gross revenue fell to $10.9 million from the record $19.0 million generated in March. That revenue yielded just $312,824 in state taxes. Promotional credits continue to sap the state’s take, even as the promotional spend fell to $9.5 million in April.

“Sportsbooks are in a generally healthy position heading into the typical summer slowdown, especially considering Michigan’s pro teams have not done much to spur interest,” said Matt Schoch, analyst for PlayMichigan.com. “Tax revenue is still a concern, and we will likely have to wait until football season to see significant growth in sports betting again. But with the Olympics this year and the NBA Finals later than usual, sportsbooks can look forward to a busier-than-normal summer. Ideally, that will positively affect tax revenue, too.”

FanDuel/MotorCity Casino topped online operators with a $74.2 million online handle, down from $107.2 million in March. April’s action produced $7.0 million in gross sports betting receipts for FanDuel, down from $7.8 million in March, resulting in a market-best $5.2 million in taxable revenue, up from $5.0 million.

DraftKings/Bay Mills Indian Community jumped to No. 2 with $61.5 million in wagers, down from $76.5 million in March. Gross gaming revenue dropped to $3.4 million from $6 million in March, leading to $1 million in adjusted revenue, down from $3.7 million. BetMGM/MGM Grand Detroit was third in betting volume with $54.9 million, down from $92.6 million in March. Gross receipts fell to $5.5 million from $8.7 million, and taxable revenue dropped to $3.8 million from $6.4 million.

The online market leaders were followed by:

Barstool/Greektown Casino ($24.8 million handle, down from $39.6 million in March; $1.2 million adjusted gross revenue, down from $3.6 million)
PointsBet/Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians ($14.1 million handle, down from $14.2 million; -$355,073 AGR, down from $2.2 million)
William Hill/Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians ($7 million handle, down from $11 million; -$8,162 AGR, down from $1 million)
FOX Bet/Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians ($5.5 million handle, down from $7 million; $163,175 AGR, down from $503,063)
BetRivers/Little River Band of the Ottawa Indians ($2.8 million handle, down from $4.8 million; -$28,856 AGR, down from $537,644)
Twin Spires/Hannahville Indian Community ($1.9 million handle, down from $3.2 million; -$12,190 AGR, down from $209,572)
Wynn/Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians ($1.9 million handle, down from $2.2 million; $89,902 AGR, down from $418,529)
Golden Nugget/Keweenaw Bay Indian Community ($874,114 handle, up from $789,792; -$43,215 AGR, down from $70,649)
Four Winds Sportsbook/Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians ($345,719 handle, down from $385,009; $107,524 AGR, up from $51,196)
“FanDuel, BetMGM and DraftKings continue to flex their marketing advantages to separate themselves from the state’s other operators,” Schoch said. “As the trio entrench themselves at the top of the market, it will be increasingly difficult for any other operator to break through.”

Online casinos and poker

Michigan’s online casinos and poker rooms continued to impress with $94.9 million in April — down slightly from $95.1 million in March. That total actually represents a small increase in revenue per day, however. Online casinos and poker rooms combined to win $3.16 million per day for the 30 days of April, up from $3.07 million per day in the 31 days of March.

The win yielded adjusted gross receipts of $88.9 million, up from $88.7 million in March, generating $17.8 million in tax revenue for the state and $5.2 million in local taxes.

April’s revenue should keep Michigan close to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the nation’s two largest iGaming markets in the U.S., though neither of those states has reported April data yet. The biggest difference is where the states are in maturity. New Jersey launched online casinos in 2013 and Pennsylvania launched in 2019.

“There is no precedent for how Michigan has responded to the launch of online casinos,” Welman said. “It’s safe to say that at some point Michigan will challenge to be the largest online casino market in the U.S. The only question is when.”

Other highlights from April:

BetMGM/MGM Grand Detroit led with $36.8 million in adjusted receipts, yielding $7.2 million in state taxes.
FanDuel/Motor City was second with $14.1 million in AGR, producing $2.8 million in state tax. That total edged DraftKings/Bay Mills’ $14 million in AGR.
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Michigan, visit PlayMichigan.com/news.

About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches (including PlayMichigan.com, PlayNJ.com, and PlayPennsylvania.com) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino.

Alberta

MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

mediatroopers-lines-up-eight-operator-partners-ahead-of-alberta-launch

MediaTroopers said it is preparing to launch in Alberta’s regulated gaming market on July 13, as Canada’s next regulated commercial gaming market opens.

The digital marketing and customer acquisition firm said it plans to enter Alberta alongside eight “premium operator” clients, which it said are also preparing for their own market entries. MediaTroopers did not name the operators.

The company said its Alberta offering will mirror its work in Ontario, including localized acquisition strategies, compliance-focused marketing, regional player education, and market-tailored performance campaigns.

MediaTroopers also said it has seen “strong interest” from Alberta players through pre-registration activity, without providing figures.

“Alberta represents an exciting next step for regulated iGaming in Canada, and Media Troopers is ready to support operators from day one,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of Media Troopers. “Our experience in Ontario has given us a strong understanding of what it takes to enter a new Canadian market successfully, from compliance and localization to scalable player acquisition. With eight of our premium clients already preparing for launch and early pre-registration traction underway, we see Alberta as a market with tremendous potential.”

The post MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

MediaTroopers Makes Preparations for Upcoming Alberta Launch with Eight Premium Operator Partners

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

mediatroopers-makes-preparations-for-upcoming-alberta-launch-with-eight-premium-operator-partners

MediaTroopers, the leading digital marketing and customer acquisition firm, has announced that preparations are underway for its upcoming launch in Alberta’s regulated gaming market, scheduled to go live on July 13. As part of those preparations, MediaTroopers will enter the province with eight of its premium operator clients, who are already preparing for their own entries.

With the launch of Canada’s second regulated commercial gaming market, Alberta has quickly become one of the most anticipated market opportunities for operators looking to expand. MediaTroopers has already cemented itself as a reliable partner in Ontario’s regulated market, supporting operators in one of North America’s most competitive markets, and it will bring that same expertise as it enters Alberta.

Much like Ontario, MediaTroopers will continue to support operators in Alberta with localized acquisition strategies, compliance-focused marketing, regional player education, and market-tailored performance-driven campaigns.

MediaTroopers has already seen strong interest from Alberta players through pre-registration activity. With eight of its premium clients also preparing to go live, the company expects to play a pivotal role in helping other licensed operators to build up brand visibility and recognition among players in the region from day one.

With its launch in Alberta, MediaTroopers remains committed to supporting sustainable, responsible, and compliant growth across Canada’s regulated market.

“Alberta represents an exciting next step for regulated iGaming in Canada, and Media Troopers is ready to support operators from day one,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of Media Troopers. “Our experience in Ontario has given us a strong understanding of what it takes to enter a new Canadian market successfully, from compliance and localization to scalable player acquisition. With eight of our premium clients already preparing for launch and early pre-registration traction underway, we see Alberta as a market with tremendous potential.”

The post MediaTroopers Makes Preparations for Upcoming Alberta Launch with Eight Premium Operator Partners appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Alberta

Why Alberta Represents the Next Major Growth Opportunity for Gaming Operators

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

why-alberta-represents-the-next-major-growth-opportunity-for-gaming-operators

Alberta’s iGaming market launch is right around the corner, going live on July 13 with 43 operators already approved, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and PointsBet.

Media Troopers is also set to enter the market alongside eight of our premium clients, with the mission to help operators capitalize on one of North America’s most anticipated markets through a suite of marketing tools designed to promote brand growth in the new region.

The Build Up to Canada’s Next Regulated Market

Alberta’s regulated iGaming market took shape with the introduction of Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, in March 2025.

Championed by Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally, the legislation aimed to bring online gambling into a regulated framework, addressing concerns that around 70% of the province’s online gaming revenue was flowing through unregulated operators.

The bill passed in May 2025, establishing the Alberta iGaming Corporation to oversee the market, with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission retaining regulatory responsibilities.

In my opinion, Alberta represents one of Canada’s most attractive growth opportunities for operators. The province is home to more than 4.8 million people, including 1.6 million adults aged 25-44, its largest demographic group.

With research published last year by Pew Research showing that sports betting participation is highest among younger adults, Alberta’s population profile aligns closely with key betting audiences, creating strong potential for customer acquisition and long-term market growth for operators.

Ontario’s Regulated Market as the Blueprint

Alberta isn’t the only province to have a regulated market. Ontario’s market, which went live in 2022, has ultimately become the benchmark for Alberta’s upcoming launch.

In its fourth year of operation, the province’s iGaming regulator, iGaming Ontario (iGO), recorded $4.2 billion in gaming revenue and a further $103 billion in wagers. The province is home to 44 licensed operators and 78 gaming platforms. A recent Ipsos study cited by iGO found that the market effectively encourages residents to gamble responsibly, with 91.1% of respondents preferring regulated platforms.

Speaking at the Toronto SBC Summit in May, Nally actually referenced using Ontario as a reference for Alberta, commending the safeguards it had in place to protect consumers from unregulated gambling.

That being said, Ontario’s success demonstrates the growth potential of a well-regulated market and provides a proven blueprint for Alberta’s expansion, with operators sure to capitalize on that new demand.

How Alberta Differs from Ontario

Operators entering Alberta need to know it won’t be the same as Ontario. Despite Nally expressing that Ontario was essentially a model for their own regulated market, it will come with some tweaks, or in Dally’s words, it will have its own “Alberta perspective.”

Most notable is Alberta’s revenue-sharing model that allows operators to retain 80% of generated revenue. On top of that, a further 3% contribution will be directed toward public priorities, with 2% allocated to First Nations and 1% supporting responsible gambling initiatives, including self-exclusion programs.

This framework looks to reflect Alberta’s commitment to balancing social responsibility with commercial opportunity. By ensuring that First Nations can benefit from market growth while maintaining consumer protections, the province aims to create a strong regulatory environment.

That same environment, I think, aligns closely with Media Troopers’ values, helping operators expand into new markets while supporting responsible, long-term industry growth.

How Operators Can Scale Alberta to Reach New Levels of Growth

Operators are sure to succeed and find growth from day one in Alberta’s upcoming market by leveraging Media Troopers’ proven customer-acquisition expertise. With a strong track record across multiple global markets, including close to home in Ontario, we are sure to help operators build brand awareness and retain players while navigating the new environment with confidence.

Like always, Localization is key in new markets. At Media Troopers, we can supply the tools needed to generate performance-driven campaigns that help operators really connect with their new audience and adapt to Alberta’s distinct regulatory environment.

That said, Alberta is not just another Ontario; it is a market with its own audience, culture, and expectations. I believe that operators who embrace those differences will be best positioned to achieve sustainable, long-term growth in North America’s newest market.

Written by Shmulik Segal, CEO and Co-Founder of Media Troopers.

The post Why Alberta Represents the Next Major Growth Opportunity for Gaming Operators appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.