Canada
THE ESPORTS AWARDS UNVEIL THE FIRST WAVE OF FINALISTS
The Esports Awards announces a return to a live event on November 20th with Dr Disrespect, G2 Esports and Hector ‘HECZ’ Rodriguez among the first wave of the finalists in the community award categories
Voting for the community categories is open now at www.esportsawards.com/vote
The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is pleased to present the first set of finalists for this year’s awards with Team Liquid, PUBG MOBILE, Sjokz and Valkyrae all being named. The Esports Awards is also happy to share that it will officially be returning for a physical award ceremony at the Esports Stadium Arlington, Texas on Saturday 20th November.
The first set of finalists were announced in the Esports Awards’ second Spotlight Show of the year which was hosted by Thom ‘F.’ Badinger with co-hosts Soe Gschwind and Mitch ‘Uber’ Leslie. The show was packed full of exciting content and interviews including Nyvi Estephan interview with Brazilian Free Fire player Bruno ‘Nobru’ Goes and FDot talking to streamer sensation and Twitch record-breaker, Ludwig.
The full list of community awards finalists are:
Esports Apparel of The Year
- 100 Thieves
- Team Liquid
- G2 Esports
- Cloud9
- FaZe Clan
- Ateyo
- Fnatic
- Spacestation Gaming
- Fallen Store
- Team Vitality
Esports Content Creator of The Year
- HECZ
- LS
- Ashley Kang
- Thorin
- Macie Jay
- UpUpDownDown
- BananaSlamJamma (BSJ)
- Musty
- Sunless Khan
- iFerg
- Coconut Brah
- NadeKing
Esports Mobile Game of The Year Presented by Verizon
- PUBG Mobile
- Free Fire
- Brawl Stars
- Clash Royale
- LoL Wild Rift
- CoD Mobile
- Arena of Valor
- Mobile Legends
Esports Personality of the Year
- HECZ
- Ocelote
- Sjokz
- Nobru
- Nadeshot
- FalleN
- Interro
- Perkz
- Goldenboy
- Baiano
- JohnnyBoi_i
Streamer of The Year
- Valkyrae
- XQC
- MortaL
- Ludwig
- Nickmercs
- TheGrefg
- LOUD Coringa
- Summit1G
- Dr Disrespect
- Ibai
- Shroud
- CouRage
“I am really excited for us to share the first set of finalists for this year’s awards which I am delighted will be returning to a live event format at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. We look forward to safely crowning this year’s winners and celebrating 12 months of resilience, growth and innovation. Get ready to witness the biggest night in esports celebration.” said Michael Ashford, Managing Director, Esports Awards
Throughout the year the Esports Awards will be bringing you Spotlight Shows packed with the best content and interviews hosted by the biggest faces from the esports industry. The Esports Awards 2021 key campaign dates are:
- June: Finalists for the Industry Awards
- July: Finalists for Creative Awards
- September: Finalists for the Pro & On-Air Talent Awards
- October: The Go-Home Show building up to the main event
- End of Year: The Esports Awards 2021 Ceremony
The Esports Awards is excited to welcome Matrix Keyboards back as a partner for the 2021 awards. Matrix Keyboards will be sponsoring both Esports PC Player and PC Rookie of the Year awards. Cementing its commitment to supporting mobile esports, Verizon will also be back as the sponsor for Esports Mobile Player of the Year & Esports Mobile Game of the Year. Other sponsors for the Esports Awards 2021 include Koyo Store, Sizzle Creative, Touch of Ginger, SCUF, Arlington CVB and SecretLab.
Nominations for all other categories are still open over at www.esportsawards.com/nominate. The Industry Awards nominations will close in June, Creative Awards nominations close in July and Pro & On-Air Talent Awards nominations conclude in September.
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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.
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