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Koi Nation of Northern California Casino Plan Meets Requirements of Indian Gaming Laws

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The Koi Nation of Northern California is in full compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s “Restored Lands Provision” in the tribe’s pursuit of the Shiloh Resort & Casino project in unincorporated Sonoma County, California.

“The promise of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s “restored lands provision” was to remedy the tragic history of forced removal and relocation by allowing restored lands to be utilized for tribal gaming. Like it or not, a rigid set of rules exists to qualify for this provision of federal law — and we’ve dutifully met them all,” said Darin Beltran, Chair of the Koi Nation of Northern California’s Tribal Council.

The Koi Nation’s ancestors relocated to Sonoma County after rejecting the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ offer of a Rancheria in neighboring Lake County in 1916 that the agency itself deemed uninhabitable. This tragic series of events rendered the Koi Nation landless and led to the improper termination of its federal recognition status, ending its ability to pursue gaming through the same rights afforded to all other federally recognized tribes.

The Koi Nation’s federal recognition status was finally restored in 2000, and a 2019 ruling in a case overseen by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, Beryl A. Howell, recognized the tribe’s ability to pursue gaming through the “restored lands provision”.

“This unique provision of federal law allows tribes restored to federal recognition status, such as the Koi Nation, to pursue gaming according to strict statutory and regulatory requirements,” Beltran said.

These requirements include the demonstration of a “significant historical connection” to the site of proposed gaming projects.

In its filing for a restored lands opinion, the Koi Nation methodically details the tribe’s deep ties to Sonoma County. These include their ancestors’ well-regarded roles as Sonoma County Native American political leaders who advocated for 1928 federal native claims legislation, Native American social rights and community organization with other Pomo tribes, and voters for the tribe’s organization under President FranklinRoosevelt’s Indian Reorganization Act of 1935.

“Since that time, the center of Koi Pomo life – and death – has been in Sonoma County. Our application is in full compliance with Indian Gaming Regulation Act’s restored lands provision,” said Dino Beltran, Vice Chair of the Koi Nation of Northern California’s Tribal Council.

The Koi Nation’s strong historical connection to Sonoma County was recently supported by an opinion piece published by the project site’s local paper of record, the Press Democrat.

Additionally, the largest native American news publication in the US, Indian Country Today, published an opinion piece supporting the Koi Nation’s utilization of the restored land provision in the face of recent opposition.

The publication of these two pieces demonstrates that the opinions contained therein are significant not just in the region surrounding the proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino project, but for all of Indian country throughout the US.

Alberta

Why Alberta Represents the Next Major Growth Opportunity for Gaming Operators

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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.

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Aviator Studio

Aviator Studio Secures Significant Legal Victory in Brazil as Federal Court Suspends Spribe’s Aviator Trademark Rights

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Aviator Studio has achieved a significant legal victory in Brazil after a Federal Court ordered the suspension of Spribe’s trademark registration for “Aviator,” recognizing the strength of Aviator Studio’s claims related to the grounds of invalidation of Spribe’s trademarks.

The decision, issued by the 18th Federal Civil Court of the Federal District, prevents Spribe from relying on the exclusivity rights arising from Brazilian trademark registration No. 501759803 until a final judgment is rendered.

The ruling follows legal action brought by Aviator Studio Brazil, which demonstrated that the Aviator trademark had been created and used years before Spribe obtained trademark protection in Brazil. The court acknowledged evidence showing that the Aviator brand originated in Georgia in 2016 and was formally registered there in 2018, years before Spribe’s Brazilian registration.

Importantly, the court also took note of previous judicial decisions in Georgia that invalidated Spribe’s registration of the Aviator trademark and confirmed the rights of the original trademark owner.

“This decision represents an important step in protecting the Aviator brand and enforcing intellectual property rights internationally. In practical terms, this means that, until the final resolution of the Spribe’s trademark invalidation proceedings, Spribe will no longer be able to continue it’s disruptive practices against operators, including sending threatening letters or initiating legal actions related to the use of Aviator Studio’s trademark.” comments George Pruidze, CEO of Aviator Studio. “We remain committed to defending the integrity of the Aviator brand and ensuring that its legitimate ownership is recognized across all jurisdictions.”

Aviator Studio will continue pursuing all available legal measures to safeguard its intellectual property rights and protect the integrity of the Aviator trademark worldwide.

The post Aviator Studio Secures Significant Legal Victory in Brazil as Federal Court Suspends Spribe’s Aviator Trademark Rights appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Benjamin Bradtke Co-Founder of ThrillTech

ThrillTech lands Gibraltar B2B supplier licence

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Approval from HM Government of Gibraltar’s Gambling Division lets the supplier serve Gibraltar-licensed iGaming operators.

ThrillTech has been granted a Gambling Services (B2B) Licence by the Gambling Division of HM Government of Gibraltar, allowing the supplier to provide its opt-in jackpot and mystery reward products to regulated iGaming operators licensed in Gibraltar.

The company said the licence supports its international expansion plans and will enable it to deploy its ThrillPots™ product with additional operators in the jurisdiction, which hosts a number of tier-one betting and gaming brands.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing a B2B licence in Gibraltar is an important step for ThrillTech and a testament to our market-leading jackpots technology. Gibraltar is home to some of the industry’s most prestigious operators. This approval not only accelerates our global expansion strategy but now allows us to provide these major operators with new layers of player engagement which generate incremental revenue.”

ThrillTech said it seeks market-specific licences and certifications because its side-bet jackpots operate independently of operators’ core casino games and betting products. The company added that its jackpots are powered by a proprietary, certified RNG and do not alter core game RTP, with funding coming from opt-in player contributions.

According to ThrillTech, its regulated market licences and certifications also include the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Peru, and Brazil.

The post ThrillTech lands Gibraltar B2B supplier licence appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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