Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/06/21
Ontario Regulator Fines Casino Days $54K for Deceptive Bonus Offer
Ontario’s gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), has issued a $54,000 fine to casino operator Well Played Media, Unipessoal LDA, for promoting a bonus on its casino site, Casino Days, which it deemed deceptive.
An investigation into the casino operator was instigated after a player complained that Casino Days had confiscated $8,500 in winnings. AGCO found that the displayed ‘welcome bonus’ promised players $2,000 without adequately disclosing the bonus’s requirements.
To qualify for the bonus, players must deposit $2,000 of their own money, wager at least $70,000, keep each wager at or under $5, and complete each task in seven days.
AGCO’s investigation also revealed that a player would lose on average $3,640 trying to claim the bonus.
“Player protection is a non-negotiable priority for the AGCO. We expect operators to be truthful and transparent about their promotions, and we also require them to ensure that those promotions do not encourage reckless or harmful patterns of play. An offer that requires a player to sustain substantial losses for a perceived benefit is not a fair offer. This penalty sends a clear signal that we will not hesitate to take action against operators who fail to meet their obligations to protect Ontario players,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO.
Alberta Minister Forecasts iGaming Launch for Early 2026
Alberta Minister Dale Nally revealed to attendees at the Canadian Gaming Summit that Alberta’s regulated iGaming market could launch as early as the beginning of 2026.
“In terms of timeframes, I can’t give you a month, but I can tell you early next year we’re going to be cutting the ribbon on iGaming in Alberta. We’re very excited to be able to offer that, and we’re going to have more to share with you in the near future,” Nally said during the Gaming Summit.
Nally authored the bill to legalize iGaming in the province, which was introduced in March 2025. The bill was inspired by Canada’s only regulated gaming market, Ontario. Nally explained that a regulated market in Alberta would help keep revenue currently lost to unlicensed operators, as well as establish a legal system that would protect consumers.
The bill passed the Committee of the Whole and the Assembly on May 7 and received Royal Assent a week later.
Betty Slots Announces Partnership with Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors
The Ontario online casino, Betty Slots, has entered into partnerships with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, NHL and NBA teams, becoming their official online casino partner.
As part of the collaboration, Betty Slots will engage with fans of both teams, creating opportunities for fans to win exclusive VIP experiences. Betty Slots has also revealed that through the partnership, they will support the MLSE Foundation and promote responsible gambling practices.
“This partnership represents a bold step forward for Betty. Partnering with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors allows us to reach fans across Ontario with experiences that are meaningful, exciting, and grounded in trust,” said Chavdar Dimitrov, CEO of Betty Slots.
Promotions with the two teams are expected to begin in October 2025, coinciding with the 25-26 Toronto Maple Leafs’ season.
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/
