Bally’s Corporation, a Rhode Island-based casino gambling, sports betting, and interactive entertainment company, joins BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, PokerStars, and other operators interested in offering iGaming in Alberta.
Bally’s executives hope Alberta will establish a regulated market for iGaming comparable to Ontario’s
Bally’s Corporation is the latest gaming company to hire lobbyists in Alberta. Of course, the province is moving forward with plans to create a regulated market for iGaming similar to Ontario’s.
By emulating Ontario’s iGaming model, private companies will compete with the government-run PlayAlberta. Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction (SARTR) minister Dale Nally revealed the plan at the Canadian Gaming Summit.
“Let me tell you a little bit about what our gaming site is going to look like. It’s going to be very similar to Ontario because we’re following their model,” Nally said.
“As far as I’m concerned, they build the roadmap. We’ll massage it a little bit, but it’s been inspired by the experience in Ontario. It’s going to be an open and free market.”
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission will not be the province’s regulator
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) was initially expected to be Alberta’s regulator. However, Nally said at the conference that the AGLC would not oversee gaming in the province.
Since GLC oversees PlayAlberta, regulating its competition could be a conflict of interest.
“We are excited about the potential opportunities that Alberta presents for our business,” said George Papanier, President and CEO of Bally’s Corporation.
“We believe that our unique mix of products and services will resonate with Alberta consumers and help drive growth in the province’s gambling industry.”
Sportsbook hired CGS Canadian Strategy Group Inc.
According to the Alberta Lobbyist Registry, Bally’s hired CSG Canadian Strategy Group Inc., an Edmonton-based firm, to manage communication between the gaming company and multiple provincial agencies.
Registration number CL-13768-03 was submitted by Michael Lohner on May 28.
Per the Alberta Lobbyist Registry, CSG has been tasked with “raising awareness of Bally’s online casino and discussions around the review of the current online gaming model.”
The firm will be responsible for “arranging one or more meetings” with Alberta officials. It will also handle “informal communications, meetings, presentations, and social media.
Additionally, telephone calls and written communication are included, whether in hard copy or electronic format.
While Albertans were expecting a 2025 launch of a privatized iGaming marketplace, Nally did not provide a launch timeline update at the Toronto conference.
