Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2026/01/17
Gaming Corps Taps Ontario Market with BetMGM Partnership
Online casino games developer Gaming Corps has announced the expansion of its North American presence by launching its full portfolio of games in Ontario through a partnership with online casino operator BetMGM.
As part of the partnership, its titles, such as 3 Pigs of Olympus, Gate of Hellfire, A-MAZE-CADES, and its Smash4Cash instant-win series, will be available to BetMGM players in Ontario. Additionally, Gaming Corps has announced that its X-MY-WAY mechanic will also be part of the rollout, introducing a new level of interactivity to its content.
“Exclusivity matters because it gives our players something they can’t find anywhere else and sets us apart in a competitive market. Gaming Corps’ engaging and interactive content portfolio is a fantastic addition to BetMGM Casino,” said Oliver Bartlett, Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM.
Adam Pentecost, Chief Revenue Officer at Gaming Corps, added that the partnership was a milestone in its North American expansion and that they are thrilled to showcase their content to the Ontario-regulated market.
Alberta iGaming Regulations Announced Ahead of Launch
Alberta’s government has announced its gambling framework ahead of its anticipated iGaming launch expected later in 2026.
The province’s only regulated operator, PlayAlberta, was estimated to capture between 23% and 32%, and it is currently estimated that over 70% of Alberta’s iGaming market is captured by unregulated operators, which provide limited or no social responsibility measures or player protection.
Alberta has confirmed that under new regulations, player protection and social responsibility will become the forefront of iGaming providers in Alberta, with its newly established framework to protect Albertans and youth.
New rules and regulations include gaming companies being required not to use professional athletes to promote gambling activities and not to target minors. Additionally, at launch, a system-wide self-exclusion tool, along with time- and financial-limit tools, will be introduced, with operators required to provide players with activity statements for their gaming activities and to intervene if they show problematic gambling behavior.
The launch of the regulated gambling market is expected to also recover revenue from unregulated gambling sites. Providers wishing to operate in Alberta will be provided with the regulations to review and decide whether they want to operate in the market before the launch.
Halifax Casino to Jump Across Harbor to Dartmouth
Casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment has announced that its Casino Nova Scotia will move to Dartmouth Crossing after 25 years on the Halifax waterfront. Great Canadian Entertainment reached an agreement with the province to build a new venue near Ikea in the Dartmouth shopping area, to be owned, operated, and maintained by the operator.
“It’s a great location. Certainly, you have accessible highways going into Dartmouth Crossing. You have many hotels, you have many restaurants, businesses, you have the land that’s available,” Acting Finance and Treasury Board Minister Timothy Halman told reporters.
The land in Halifax will be sold to create an “opportunity for new development in downtown Halifax,” according to a release from the province, with Paul MacKinnon of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission saying he would like the site to have something else to draw people to the waterfront built on it.
The new casino is expected to open in 2029, with the Halifax location remaining open and operating until the project is completed.
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/
