Gaming News Canada

On a new episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, mkdodo Commercial Director Will Whitehead spoke with host Steve McAllister on the UK company’s continued expansion into North America – including Alberta – introduction of new products and other topics. Whitehead, who joined mkodo as an account executive in 2013 and has been in the commercial director’s role for almost five years, talked about the retirement of Stuart Godfree this summer and the lessons learned from the company’s co-founder and long-time managing director. The conversation with McAllister included the introduction of mkodo’s GeoLocs product into Alberta over the summer and its presence in the Ontario market that includes collaborating with Bede Gaming to support OLG’s igaming business. There’s also a segment on mkodo’s adoption of new tools, including Fraud Shieldand the challenges and opportunities around the demand for products beyond geolocation in today’s regulated gaming industry. Whitehead also addressed mkodo’s expansion strategy for the North American regulated market.

On a new episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, Jonah Sigel rejoined Steve McAllister for a wide-ranging discussion on the business of sports, sports media and sports betting. Sigel, a Toronto Star contributor and the host of the Bleav In The Pressrow podcast, gave McAllister his thoughts on the Sportsnet/NHL partnership and the tweaks that were made over the summer to talent at Hockey Night in Canada. He was also asked about the contract status of popular Toronto Raptors voice Jack Armstrong, which appears to be related to the new ownership structure of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Five years after Sportsnet hired Cabral (Cabbie) Richards as executive producer of sports betting content – a move that didn’t pan out - Sigel and McAllister debated the integration of sports betting into sports media including the relationship between FanDuel and TSN, why the networks haven’t leaned into a second-screen experience that’s betting focused, and Sigel’s opinion on that information being provided around game broadcasts. Finally, the host and his guest talked about the current state of sports media and journalism.

On a new episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, Harley Redlick makes his return for a conversation with host Steve McAllister. These days the Executive Director of the Canadian Addiction Recovery Association, Redlick explained the services provided by CARA – including its partnership with Connex Ontario - and the work he’s been doing since joining the organization in the spring. Redlick also spoke about recent media coverage of youth gambling in Ontario, Massachusetts, the Netherlands and Sweden along with new(ish) programs by the Responsible Gambling Council to educate high-school students about the potential dangers of gambling. That led to a discussion about advertising and the use of athletes by sportsbook and online gaming operators in Ontario, where the Alcohol and Gambling Commission changed regulations around that use in 2024 and the lessons learned from four-plus years of regulated gambling in the province with Alberta’s regulated market approaching its two-month anniversary this weekend. Finally, McAllister asked Redlick about the Osgoode Certificate in Gambling Law program he launched with lawyer and gaming industry veteran Don Bourgeois. The program will be offered again this fall with registration currently taking place.

On a new episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, host Steve McAllister took a virtual trip down under to speak with Waterhouse VC’s Chief Investment Officer, Tom Waterhouse. Waterhouse, whose family has been involved in the business of betting for more than a century, spoke about his own personal path through the industry and what led him down the road from a 20-year-old bookmaker in 2003 to delivering value for investors through the gambling industry and authoring the regular Waterhouse VC Update on NEXT.io. Among the topics discussed was the current state of the global economy and its impact on the sports betting and gaming industry, the shifting sands of regulated gambling jurisdictions, the role of artificial intelligence within the industry, and Waterhouse’s take on Ontario and Alberta’s regulated markets. And oh yeah, we asked Waterhouse to weigh in prediction markets

 On a new episode of the Gaming News Canada Show hosted by Bede Gaming, host Steve McAllister welcomed back the Global Gaming Director for GBG Plc, Rebekah Jackson. Jackson spoke with McAllister about GBG’s involvement in the launch of the new regulated gambling market in Alberta, including a conversation she had with AGLC Chief Regulatory Officer Dave Berry back in May at the SBC Summit Canada. GBG also has some early numbers on the work it’s doing in the western Canada province. GBG, which has also been a very active participant in Ontario’s regulated marketplace, is also lending a hand to operators preparing for launches in Finland’s incoming regulated sports betting and online gaming industry, and other countries. Also discussed was GBG’s latest products, including Loquate, and the company’s work in other sectors around the world. And, not surprisingly, that segment included much talk about the use of artificial intelligence.

On the latest episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, host Steve McAllister caught up with Paul Burns. The Canadian Gaming Association president and CEO was in Calgary to meet with representatives from Gibraltar – including the country’s finance minister – who were in Alberta last week for a trade mission. Burns spoke with McAllister about the one-month-old, regulated sports betting and online gaming market in the western Canada province, and the feedback he’s received on the process leading to the July 13 launch. The arrival last week of Bally Bet gives the new regulated jurisdiction some 26 websites and Burns expects more operators will join the market before Labour Day weekend. McAllister also asked Burns about the CGA’s position on prediction markets as companies such as Wealthsimple are making their case to do business in Canada with oversight from provincial securities regulators and no interference by gambling regulators. Layoffs at Better Collective and Catena Media last week are the latest to take place in a year that’s seen job cuts across the industry, so we asked Burns for his thoughts.The CGA’s head honcho also looked ahead to a busy fall when the association will release a series of white papers on the industry and is also watching bills being debated on Parliament Hill around sports betting advertising and amending the Criminal Code and Indian Act with regards to gambling. Burns said the association is also continuing to advocate for changes to the rules and regulations around anti-money laundering in our home and native land.

Geoff Zochodne (Covers) and Tom Nightingale (Canadian Gaming Business/SBC Americas) were Steve McAllister’s guests for a wide-ranging discussion on what’s happening in the business of gambling.  The topics du jour included: Thoughts and layers from the three members of the fourth estate on the opening of regulated sports betting and iGaming in Alberta last month, and what’s to come in Canada’s second regulated gaming marketplace.The panel did some spitballing around potential suitors for AGLC-owned PlayAlberta.The ongoing Ontario market which recently welcomed DAZN Bet and Hard Rock Bet and continues with 48 operators and 82 websites in a regulated landscape that is frequently praised in other jurisdictions.The fast-moving prediction markets issue in the U.S. and what may come to our home and native land.

On a new episode of the Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming, host Steve McAllister welcomed GeoComply CEO Kip Levin. Levin joined the Vancouver-based company in March 2025 after spending the past decade in C-suite roles at Flutter Entertainment and its FanDuel and FOXBet businesses. So, McAllister asked Levin to share his thoughts from his experiences in the gambling industry on several topics including:The challenges to keep up with online fraudsters and scammers, especially with the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence.The opportunities being provided by AI and other new technologies.GeoComply’s supporting role in the launch of new regulated gambling jurisdictions, including most recently in Alberta.The popularity with the betting populace around the recently completed men’s World Cup of Soccer.The evolution of GeoComply some 15 years after being founded by Anna Sainsbury and David Briggs.What does the road ahead look like for the gambling industry.