Canada
PASPA – Five years on – did any initial predictions come true or not?
With the fifth anniversary of the PASPA repeal on May 14th, we caught up with Compliable’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Justin Stempeck, who examines what was predicted in May 2018 and how accurate those initial guesses have proved to be.
“National regulation on sports betting”
When PASPA was overturned, the Supreme Court explicitly placed the power to regulate gaming in the hands of the states. It would be extraordinarily unlikely for our highest court to conclude that betting is not a federal issue, then have legislators introduce another national law, yet there were calls for this strategy from numerous stakeholders in 2018.
While the different approaches of each state were less than ideal, the industry was able to adapt and continue to advance in each new jurisdiction that has legalized.
Despite the ‘patchwork quilt’ aspect of regulation there are far more commonalities than differences. Regulators have made some efforts to avoid reinventing the wheel, but it would be great to see wider momentum. As a former regulator, I understand that each state has its own unique pressures and competing interests to juggle, but ultimately, a push towards uniformity will be a success for everyone in the absence of national regulation of the sector.
“National Collegiate Athletic Association’s sports integrity concerns”
Betting on collegiate sports has always occurred but it took place offshore and in illegal markets before the repeal of PASPA. The expansion of sports betting includes official regulation, taxation and supervision of the activity, which can only be a good thing. A number of regulated entities are now actively ensuring there are no discrepancies in game performance and there is a vested interest in guaranteeing that everything is above board. With some states today allowing betting on collegiate sports, people have become more comfortable with the idea.
The NCAA continues to officially oppose sports betting, yet appointed former Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker as its president this past March. Notably, Governor Baker was a proponent of legalized sports betting in Massachusetts and ultimately signed it into law. The combination of a sports betting friendly president and a lack of major integrity scandals since legalization may shift their official stance in the future.
“Increased risk of match-fixing”
As of yet, there have been no high-profile match-fixing scandals despite the existential threat and this is in large a testament to the leagues’ enforcement of its own integrity as well as the plethora of third-party monitoring services now available.
A match-fixing scandal would have a significant impact on the industry as a lot of bettors would likely be lost due to a lack of trust. With sports, the thrill and excitement lie in the possibility that anything can happen and underdogs can become winners, if that narrative is shown to be fiction, the reputational damage would be sizeable. The ripple effect of such an event would carry on for years as critics of sports betting could use a match-fixing scandal to argue against legalization.
“Responsible Gambling – a negative impact”
The expansion of betting and gaming is naturally going to lead to an increase in problem gaming. There is still a lot of data to collect and synthesize, particularly given that many regulated jurisdictions have only been up and running between one and three years.
Operators have started to take a focused view of responsible gaming and have dedicated internal teams, as well as funding research. Failure here is another existential threat to the industry and a big scandal could do a huge amount of damage to a nascent industry.
I see responsible gambling being a cutting-edge issue as it is so critically important so it will only become more and more relevant moving forward.
“32 states to enact sports-gambling legislation by the end of 2023”
This was a very accurate prediction as gambling is now legal in 35 states. Expansion has slowed down a bit compared with the great momentum we saw between 2018-2020, but we will see additional states roll out legislation in the short term. Some states will never legalize of course, but eventually, we will have 80-90% of the US allowing sports betting.
California, Texas and Florida are the three remaining big states that everyone is now eagerly waiting for, offering huge potential due to their respective market size.
“International betting operators prohibited free access to the US”
No rules or regulations have been implemented to specifically keep out remote operators or benefit local ones except those operating in black or grey markets. The US has been an open market for operators from Europe, but I have spoken to many companies who are finding the different rules across the regulated states extremely confusing and resource draining. The US is the equivalent of 50 countries and there is very little federal law that applies to gambling, making it difficult to operate if you are not a company with a dedicated compliance team or efficient tools to fill that need.
Powered by WPeMatico
Alberta
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
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
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.
-
game-launch4 days agoMillion Games launches East West Wild slot with progressive multipliers
-
América Latina4 days agoLas diferencias locales de Argentina representan tanto un desafío como una oportunidad para el sector del iGaming
-
AI4 days agoVeikkaus rolls out OpenBet’s Neccton responsible gambling platform ahead of 2027 reform
-
Latest News4 days agoConnect with N1 Partners at G Gate Conf 2026
-
Africa4 days agoBooming Games signs content deal with World Sports Betting in South Africa
-
Gmonitor.ai3 days agoGmonitor llega a Latinoamérica: la plataforma de inteligencia de mercado para operadores debuta en seis mercados regulados
-
Latest News3 days agoSportradar Report | World Cup 2026: Opportunities for the Latin American Sports Betting Market
-
eSports4 days agoG2 partners with PUBG MOBILE Esports to scale Western Europe competition



