Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2026/02/07
PointsBet Canada Announces Pre-Registration Ahead of Alberta’s iGaming Launch
PointsBet Canada has begun its registration process in Alberta, along with marketing activities ahead of Alberta’s iGaming market launch.
Those in the province who are eligible can now pre-register on PointsBet Canada’s website and will receive a notification when the market officially launches. Additionally, PointsBet Canada is offering an exclusive welcome offer.
“Alberta’s move toward an open, competitive iGaming framework is a positive step for Canadian players, offering more choice and consumer protections in a safe and regulated environment. We’re excited to introduce our innovative, Canadian-focused sports betting and online casino products to Alberta residents, supported by industry-leading speed, responsible gaming tools, and local expertise,” said Scott Vanderwel, CEO of Pointsbet Canada.
The preregistration process is available, as Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis streamlined it to allow PointsBet Canada to introduce its iGaming and sports betting products to residents ahead of the launch.
Illegal Gambling Platforms Abundant in Manitoba, CBC Says
A CBC investigation has revealed that, despite Manitoba only having one legal sports betting site, it is easy to access popular online gambling sites licensed in Ontario.
While the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries agency has stated that the operations are illegal, CBC’s investigation shows that the regulator has done nothing to prevent Manitobans from accessing these sites.
The province has only one legal iGaming platform, PlayNow, which is facing increasing competition from illegal operators. The Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Danielle Rice, claims the platforms are trying to attract bettors away from PlayNow.
As part of the investigation, CBC registered an account and deposited minimum funds, with successful bets placed, which the news outlet promptly lost, on three platforms: Sports Interaction, TonyBet, and Tooniebet.
While Canada legalized single-event sports betting in 2021, it was up to provinces to manage betting in their jurisdictions.
While ads for the companies are broadcast across the country, such as during a joint CBC and Onesoccer broadcast for the 2024 Canadian Premier League Final with Tonybet, the ad ran with the disclosure that it was only available in Ontario.
However, this has not stopped residents outside of the province from attempting to access the sites.
Alberta Senator Joins Efforts to Ban Sports Betting Advertisements
A new senator from Alberta has joined growing efforts to get the federal government to ban online sports betting advertisements.
St Albert Senator Kristopher Wells has joined over 40 Canadian Senators in signing a letter asking Prime Minister Mark Carney to ban the advertisements they describe as harmful and increasingly normalised.
He said the ads are comparable to tobacco advertising, which has since been banned, and that during sporting games, their appearance has “actually taken away from the very enjoyment of the game.”
Additionally, he said that a number of Canadians support the bill because they dislike the pressuring tactics used. He also highlighted that the number of sports betting advertisements had become a public health concern due to the high risk of addiction and the harm it can cause.
While the group of Senators attempts to ban the advertisements, Minister of Red Tape Reduction for Alberta, Dale Nally, has warned that the ban could do more harm than good, as it could lead bettors to move to offshore operators and weaken regulated platforms.
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/
