Canada

Licensing Requirements for New US Casinos

Published

6 years ago

August 13, 2020

When it comes to new online casinos, the situation of sites operating in the United States is a unique one.

Whilst globally renowned as a force in casino games and gambling, the US continues to impose strict restrictions when it comes to gambling both online and offline. In fact, the practice is only legal in a handful of states such as Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey.

In this article, we will take a look at licensing requirements for new US casinos, assessing how newcomers to the American online casino game go about securing a license to operate in the US.

Let’s get started with a look at the current legal situation of gambling in the United States.

Online gambling in the United States of America: The Current Legal Situation

Across the United States, the majority of forms of betting and gambling are illegal thanks to the Federal Wire Act. In recent times however, many campaigners and lobbyists for the gambling business have gained newfound hope of imminent legalization across the board.

A 2018 Supreme Court decision overturned a 1992 decision to outlaw sports betting across the nation, potentially opening the door just a tiny bit to the industry. Indeed, the fact that illegal bookmakers and card games throughout the USA are worth hundreds of billions of dollars per year makes this eventuality a seeming certainty.

With that said, for all of the noise around the legalization of gambling, there remains to be any real progress made on the legislative level.

How do new US casinos obtain a license?

For newcomers to the online casino game looking to operate in the United States, the route is a fairly simple one to understand, if not necessarily to follow through on.

Simply, three states have a legalized and regulated online gambling systems in place. These are Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. Both California and Pennsylvania remain in discussions to legalize online gambling, yet this may take years to finalize.

Playing at online casino sites with a license in the US important for player safety. Sites such as this UK reviews website provide quality information on licensing for many online casino sites.

For new US casinos, obtaining a licensing in one of the states that offer them is of paramount importance. Let’s take a closer look at how these three states regulate gambling and provide licenses to prospective casino sites.

Licensing Requirements in Nevada

As home to Las Vegas, Nevada is well known to be a gambling mecca across the globe. Yet few people know that the Nevada Gaming Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board also regulate online gambling in the state, which has been legal since 2013.

At present, these regulatory bodies only allow casinos with a Nevada license to provide games to players within Nevada. Online sites with a Nevada license include Bovada.

Licensing Requirements in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the story is similar to that of Nevada. Since 2012, the state has offered it’s residents access to a wide range of new US casino sites offering everything from card games to slots and more.

Naturally, only players from NJ are able to access these sites, which include big names such as Bwin and 888.

Licensing Requirements in Delaware

Delaware is known as a progressive, small state in the US northeast. Having legalized online gambling in 2012, the state provides residents with access to a quality selection of new US casinos.

Canada

RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

respwned-partners-with-lotus-8-to-bring-girlgamer-festival-to-winnipeg-in-2026

RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 have signed a partnership to launch the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026, marking the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand’s expansion into Canada.

RESPWNED manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, while LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships. The companies said they will jointly develop and deliver the Winnipeg event, combining global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local execution.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED. “Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”

Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada. This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value. Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is planned as a family-oriented event with business networking, brand activations, and community programming, and is expected to include international and local talent. Additional details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.

The post RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

respwned-and-lotus-8-to-launch-girlgamer-winnipeg-festival-in-2026

RESPWNED, the company that manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, and LOTUS 8, a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships, today announced their partnership to the launch of the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival.

The strategic partnership marks a significant step in expanding the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand into Canada.

This brings its globally recognized platform for competitive gaming, inclusivity, and industry engagement to a new market.

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is envisioned as a family-oriented event, with business networking, brand activations, and community-driven experiences.

Under the terms of the agreement, RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 will work collaboratively to develop and deliver the event, combining their respective expertise in global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local market execution.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED.

“Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”

Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada.

This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value.

Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival will feature a combination of international and local talent, brand partnerships, and programming designed to foster diversity, inclusion, and innovation within the gaming and esports ecosystem.

Further details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.

RESPWNED LTD

RESPWNED is a United Kingdom-based company specializing in esports IP management, event production, and industry consultancy.

The company manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, a global platform dedicated to creating opportunities and visibility for women in gaming and esports.

LOTUS 8

LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based premier esports organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dedicated to building championship-calibre teams across North America, they are at the forefront of innovation in competitive gaming.

As pioneers in the industry, they have developed the Performance Mindset Mindfulness, a system designed to support mental health in esports.

This holistic approach blends mental wellness practices, meditation, nutrition, fitness, and proper sleep hygiene into their competitive strategy.

The post RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Canada

Analysis flags World Cup 2026 stress test for Canada’s patchwork betting rules

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

analysis-flags-world-cup-2026-stress-test-for-canada’s-patchwork-betting-rules

Canada’s provincial gambling model is likely to face a major stress test during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to new research published by CasinoCanada.com. The analysis argues the tournament will highlight uneven betting access and channelisation across provinces as Canada co-hosts the event.

The research draws on provincial regulatory reporting, iGaming Ontario’s annual figures and data from Blask’s 2025 iGaming Landscape Report. It says Ontario’s open market—described as having nearly 50 licensed operators—has reached an 83.7% channelisation rate, meaning most online bettors are using regulated platforms.

Outside Ontario, CasinoCanada.com estimates significantly higher offshore leakage, including 93% in Saskatchewan, 88% in Alberta and Manitoba, and about 49% retention in British Columbia despite the long-running PlayNow provincial platform. The report frames those gaps as a competitiveness issue for regulated offerings.

CasinoCanada.com also highlights timing risk in Alberta’s transition to a competitive market. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) registration deadline for operators is 13 July 2026—after the World Cup reaches the quarter-final stage—raising the likelihood that peak tournament betting volume continues to flow through unregulated operators, the report says.

Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said: “The 2026 World Cup is not just a commercial opportunity for the Canadian market – it’s a live stress test for how the country regulates gambling. Ontario has built something that works, and the numbers show it. However, for most Canadians outside that market, the tournament is going to arrive at a system that was never designed for this level of demand.

“The offshore leakage figures are not abstract. They represent real bettors choosing unregulated platforms because the regulated alternative isn’t competitive enough. The World Cup will make that gap very visible, very quickly.”

The post Analysis flags World Cup 2026 stress test for Canada’s patchwork betting rules appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.