Novig announced that it has received designation from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a Designated Contract Market (DCM), positioning the company to operate as a federally regulated prediction market and expand nationwide under a single regulatory framework.

With CFTC designation, Novig will be able to operate across all 50 states and implement robust safeguards more commonly associated with financial markets, including enhanced market surveillance, protections against manipulation and insider activity, and comprehensive compliance standards designed to protect participants. The platform also maintains a 21+ age requirement and is built with a focus on responsible participation at scale.

The approval represents one of the fastest designations of its kind in CFTC history and reflects growing momentum behind exchange-based models that prioritize fairness, transparency, and integrity.

Built to challenge outdated and exploitative systems, Novig is singularly focused on creating the best platform to trade sports. By removing unfair odds and punitive limits on winning traders, Novig creates a more transparent and efficient marketplace where pricing is driven by real-time supply and demand. Through its exchange-based model, customers trade directly with one another in a liquid, market-driven environment designed to reward edge.

“Novig is the best place to trade sports. From day one, our vision has been to operate within a single national framework that raises the standard for the entire category. Novig is the first sports prediction market built by sports traders for sports traders, and the momentum we’ve seen to date reinforces that there is real demand for a more efficient, and ultimately more profitable way for sports fans to participate in sports markets. Federal oversight allows us to scale within a framework built on trust, transparency, and fairness. By aligning incentives with users and removing the structural disadvantages of legacy betting platforms, we’re building a fundamentally different model where participants aren’t playing against the house, but operating within a fair and transparent market,” said Jacob Fortinsky, co-founder and CEO of Novig.

The company has already demonstrated significant traction, surpassing $5 billion in cumulative volume as more users adopt a platform that emphasizes efficiency and transparency. By combining a sports-native experience with the mechanics of modern financial exchanges, Novig is positioning itself as the most liquid and efficient sports prediction market in the country. Operating under CFTC oversight will dramatically increase its addressable market while introducing a more consistent and scalable approach to regulation.

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.