Alberta Takes The iGaming Plunge
With progress stalled in the US, another Canadian province, Alberta, has regulated online gambling, with a launch expected in early 2026.
Alberta passes Bill 48 for regulated online gambling. OK sports betting fails, Oregon bans greyhound betting, and CT and NJ advance sweepstakes bills. The NCAA may allow pro sports betting. Texas considers abolishing the lottery.
The Bulletin Board
THE LEDE: Alberta passed a bill regulating online gambling. What’s Next?
ROUNDUP: OK sports betting bills die; Oregon bans greyhound betting; CT Sweeps/Courier bill advances; NJ sweeps bill progresses.
NEWS: NCAA is considering a betting policy change that would allow betting on professional sports.
VIEWS: Texas is considering taking the bold move of abolishing its lottery.
AROUND the WATERCOOLER: Slots vis-a-vis table games.
STRAY THOUGHTS: Follow and share the Straight to the Point LinkedIn page.
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The Lede: Regulated Online Gambling Coming to Alberta
Alberta's legislature passed Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, marking a significant step toward establishing a competitive, regulated online gambling market similar to Ontario’s.
Previous STTP coverage of the Alberta market and Bill 48 can be found here.
The bill now awaits Royal Assent (a ceremonial step, per Covers.com’s Geoff Zochodne).
By opening the market and ending the monopoly of the government-run Play Alberta platform, the province hopes to enhance consumer protections and capture revenue from the grey market — Play Alberta holds only 25-45% of the market share.
“Play Alberta is a success story, but it’s a bit sobering to consider that it’s only capturing up to 45 per cent of Albertans who gamble online,” Minister Dale Nally said. “That’s why we’re proposing to establish a regulated market where private operators are required to register and follow rules that will require them to put safeguards in place that better protect Albertans.”
Here are the key takeaways of the developments north of the border:
Bill 48 sets the legal framework for private-sector operators to offer online sports betting, casino games, and poker.
A new entity, the Alberta iGaming Corporation, will oversee operations and contract with private operators.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will regulate the market.
The legislation outlines no cap on operators.
The province is targeting a launch in early 2026.
Assuming Royal Assent, the focus will shift to developing regulations, including advertising guidelines and a centralized self-exclusion system (mandated via Bill 48) to promote responsible gambling.
Zochodne wrote, “The province must set up a new government corporation, draft and implement new regulations, and put concerned stakeholders at ease.”
When can that be expected? According to Tom Nightingale of Canadian Gaming Business, Minister Nally said at third reading, “More details on key regulations and policies related to revenue, consumer protection and specific social responsibility policies will be shared later this year, following further engagement.” Nally has been adamant that responsible gaming policies should be handled via regulations and not codified into law.
Roundup: OK Sports Betting; Oregon Bans Greyhound Betting; CT Sweeps/Courier Bill; NJ Sweeps Bill
Housekeeping: Yesterday’s newsletter said the Colorado House had adjourned without concurring with the Senate’s bill to tax promotional bets. After rechecking the Colorado government’s site, the House did concur on May 7 (h/t to Vixio’s Chris Sieroty).
Oklahoma sports betting efforts fail as session ends: A pair of bills that sought to legalize sports betting failed to pass the Oklahoma Senate last week, ending the state’s (fingers crossed) effort to bring mobile betting to the state. As previously reported in STTP, “Oklahoma lawmakers are pulling out a trick last used in 2003 to pass a lottery. "A senate committee passed two sports betting bills: “HB 1047 would allow tribes the ability to exclusively offer sports betting with a 10% fee to the state… A companion measure, HB 1101, also passed by a vote of 6-3. If the first fails or is vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, then HB 1101 would send the issue to a vote of the people.”
Oregon (finally) bans greyhound simulcast racing [Complete iGaming]: Oregon is the latest state to prohibit online greyhound racing betting. HB 3020 prohibits simulcast and advance deposit wagering (ADW) on greyhound races, which are under increasing pressure for animal cruelty. Only West Virginia currently hosts live greyhound racing, with two active tracks.
Connecticut sweepstakes and lottery courier bill advances [Covers.com]: Sweepstakes prohibitions bills are 1-4 in 2025, but there are still several active bills, including SB 1235 in Connecticut, which passed the Legislative Commissioner's Office Monday and is now headed for a vote in the full Senate.
New Jersey sweepstakes prohibition bill passes first committee [Casino Reports]: The New Jersey Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee unanimously advanced A 5447, a bill prohibiting sweepstakes sites in the state. Per Casino Reports, “B. Stephan Finkel, the director of legislative affairs for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, testified in favor of the bill… [saying] sweepstakes casino gaming was not approved by voter referendum and while operators make the games ‘to look different than what they are … you put something of value on a game of chance for the opportunity to win a prize, which is gambling.’”
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News: Is the NCAA Ready to Allow Wagers on Pro Sports?
According to Sports Illustrated, the NCAA is considering lifting its ban on professional sports betting for athletes, coaches, and staff, with potential implementation by June.
The Division I Board of Directors voted 21–1 to end the prohibition, forwarding the proposal to the D-I Council. While college sports betting restrictions would remain, the change aims to recalibrate NCAA resources on integrity threats like point-shaving and prop bets (which the NCAA has been trying to get prohibited).
SI also notes that the NCAA plans to explore “safe harbor” policies (policies protecting athletes who self-report gambling issues) for student-athletes seeking help for gambling issues.
Recent moves reveal the NCAA’s complex approach to sports betting, as it tries to balance (and potentially prosper from) the new reality of legal sports betting with integrity concerns.
On one hand, the NCAA is considering lifting its ban on professional sports betting for athletes, coaches, and staff, as well as its expanded partnership with Genius Sports, to sell official postseason data, including March Madness, to licensed sportsbooks. On the other hand are the NCAA’s severe misgivings about certain wagers.
In addition to its state (and federal) push to prohibit prop bets, the Genius Sports deal comes with a caveat, as it requires sportsbooks to ban high-risk prop bets, such as underperformance wagers or bets on injuries, to access this data.
These actions appear contradictory: loosening restrictions on pro sports betting while tightening controls on college prop bets. However, they align strategically. The NCAA appears focused on direct threats to college sports, which the NCAA believes prop bets are a part of. However, critics argue that banning prop bets may push bettors to unregulated markets, potentially undermining monitoring efforts.
This dual approach — easing peripheral restrictions while prohibiting prop bets — is the NCAA’s response to the evolving legal betting landscape.
Views: Will Texas Really Abolish Its Lottery?
The saga of the Texas lottery is growing stranger by the day. What started as a backlash to online couriers has morphed into something much larger, as the Texas Senate is considering abolishing the state lottery due to allegations of misconduct by the Texas Lottery Commission. The legislature has yet to budget funds for the lottery.
State Sen. Bob Hall, author of SB 1988, argues that the commission allowed illegal ticket sales, including a 2023 incident where a group spent $25 million to secure a $95 million jackpot.
The pending bill would repeal the Lottery Act, end lottery operations by January 2026, and redirect funds to schools.
Here’s a quick timeline of how we got to the point where Texas is considering scrapping its lottery:
April 2023: A "bulk purchase event" occurs where a group spends $25 million to buy most combinations for a $95 million lottery jackpot, raising concerns about lottery integrity and later prompting the Texas Lottery Commission to review online lottery courier services.
February 2025: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick investigates, visiting Winners Corner, a licensed retailer tied to Jackpocket, and exposes what he believes is potential misconduct in lottery courier operations, questioning their legality and the commission’s oversight.
February 2025: Following Patrick’s public criticism, the Texas Lottery Commission reverses its stance — it had previously claimed it lacked the authority to regulate online lottery couriers — with Executive Director Ryan Mindell announcing that lottery ticket courier services are illegal under Texas law and proposing rule amendments to ban them — Mindell later resigned from the Commission.
February 2025: Gov. Greg Abbott directs the Texas Rangers to investigate potential wrongdoing in the lottery. Commissioner Clark Smith resigns amid the controversy.
March 2025: The Texas Lottery Commission holds an open meeting to formalize rule amendments prohibiting lottery courier services and plans to revoke licenses of retailers working with couriers.
April 2025: Lotto.com files a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery. SBC Americas reports, “Lotto.com is seeking the Travis County court to intervene and stop former Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Ryan Mindell’s new proposed rules that lottery couriers are no longer allowed in the state.” Lotto.com won the first court battle, with Judge Sherine Thomas issuing a temporary restraining order that prevents the rule’s enforcement.
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Around the Watercooler
Social media conversations, rumors, and gossip.
The difference between slots and table games in one simple post:
But as Alun Bowden noted in his reply, the speed of play and RTP (return to player) matter. It’s like comparing shots of beer to shots of Tequila.
I would also add that slot players generally aim to hit a jackpot (turning a $20 stake into a five or six-figure score), whereas blackjack players seek the excitement of a hot run.
Stray Thoughts
Straight to the Point now has a LinkedIn Business (you can follow it here). Straight to the Point was already taken (no surprise there), so I had to go with Straight to the Point Consulting.
My goal for the page is to post additional comments and insights on some of the newsletter’s entries.