Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/08/16
Four Arrested in Relation to ATM Scam at Edmonton Casinos
Four individuals have been arrested and charged with money laundering and fraud in Western Canada due to a coordinated ATM scam that resulted in a loss of over $1 million.
An investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing North West Region (NWR) was triggered after a service disruption to casino-based ATMs in the Edmonton area following multiple high-value withdrawals. The accused allegedly withdrew money in a coordinated scheme to evade detection.
In addition, six search warrants were executed by the NWR with assistance from the Edmonton Police Service, which found evidence of money laundering and fraud. A fifth individual was subsequently charged with drug trafficking after the search found quantities of cocaine.
The investigation’s results were the result of collaboration between the province’s gambling regulator, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, various financial institutions, and the Edmonton Police.
In a press release, the RCMP NWR said, “This investigation demonstrates how effective collaboration between public and private agencies can play a vital role in investigating the evolving financial crime landscape.”
Woodbine and OLG Announce Introduction of Live Horse Race Betting for Ontario Residents
The Ontario Crown Corporation, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), has become the first provincial lottery in Canada to introduce live horse race betting by partnering with horse racing operator Woodbine Entertainment.
Through Woodbine’s horse wagering product, powered by HPIbet, Ontario residents can place bets on horse racing at global and Ontario racetracks through the OLG’s online betting platform OLG.ca and the OLG app, starting with the King’s Plate, which is set to take place on August 16 at the Woodbine Racetrack.
Chief Executive Officer of Woodbine Entertainment, Michael Copeland, said, “This launch brings the excitement of horse racing to even more people across the province in a convenient and modern way — enhancing the experience for bettors while driving new interest in our sport. It’s another step forward for the growth of horse racing in Ontario, and we’re grateful to OLG for their continued support and willingness to collaborate and innovate alongside us.”
Captain of Ottawa Senators Forced to Lock Public Venmo Account After Bettors Demand Reimbursement
Captain of the Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk has been forced to close down his public Venmo account after being harassed by bettors who lost bets on his performance in games.
In an interview with ESPN, Tkachuk described how multiple bettors had contacted him after he had missed scores or lost games, asking him to cover any losses on failed bets.
Player props, which enable bettors to place bets on players in the game to hit specific outcomes, have become increasingly more popular, with more athletes reporting receiving betting-related threats from fans.
According to a study published by the NCAA and Signify, its data partner, found that more than 5,000 posts on social media harassed athletes, coaches, and officials in the space of a few months, with a large majority tied to wagering.
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/
