Regulation
New government legislation could open up sports betting in Alberta, Canada by end of this year
- Alberta’s Bill 16 will allow third-party operators in online gambling by 2025
- The province aims to capture grey market bets and boost revenue like Ontario
- Safeguards like self-exclusion and player monitoring will promote responsible gambling
Alberta is on the brink of a significant shift in its online gambling landscape. With the passage of Bill 16, the province aims to open up sports betting, iGaming, and crypto casinos to third-party operators by the end of this year.
Alberta’s move follows Ontario’s example and is designed to capture the grey market while promoting responsible gambling through updated regulations and safeguards.
Bill 16 a game-changer for Alberta’s gambling industry
In May, the Alberta government passed Bill 16, also known as the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, marking a monumental shift in the province’s approach to online gambling.
The bill, which received Royal Assent shortly after, allows the provincial government to oversee and regulate online gaming alongside Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC). This opens the door for private, licensed operators to enter the Alberta market, replacing the government’s previous monopoly on legal online gambling.
Currently, the only legal option in Alberta is PlayAlberta, a platform managed by AGLC that offers casino games and sports betting. However, offshore “grey market” sites like Bet365 and Bodog continue to attract many Albertans, contributing to an unregulated market.
Ontario implemented a similar model in 2022, which generated $1.48 billion in total gaming revenue during its first year and Alberta’s government hopes to replicate this success by drawing bets away from illicit markets and boosting its own revenues.
Alberta’s expansion plans aim to address the limitations of PlayAlberta and enhance competition. The provincial government is currently in the process of consultations with industry stakeholders to determine the best path forward.
Though a specific launch date has yet to be set, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally has emphasized that the government intends to act quickly once a final strategy is determined.
Regulated expansion with a focus on safety
While opening the Canadian sports betting market offers lucrative revenue opportunities, the move is not without its challenges. Alberta is mindful of the potential risks associated with an expanded gambling market, particularly in terms of problem gambling and addiction.
David Hodgins, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary and research director with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, expressed concerns about the social impacts of having multiple operators in the province. He emphasized the importance of implementing strong safeguards to minimize harm.
To promote responsible gambling, Alberta is looking to adopt measures like self-exclusion programs that would allow individuals to ban themselves from all gambling sites within the province. Ontario is working toward such a system, and Alberta is keen to follow suit.
Minister Nally confirmed that he is interested in provincewide self-exclusion tools, as well as monitoring player behaviour to detect sudden shifts in betting patterns—another strategy aimed at curbing problem gambling.
Revenue splits between the government and private operators are also being reviewed. Ontario takes 20% of revenues from regulated gambling websites, a model Alberta is studying closely. A balance must be struck to ensure the tax rate is appealing enough to encourage operators to join Alberta’s market, while also generating significant revenue for the province.
As Alberta moves closer to an open, regulated online gambling market, it seeks to capture the benefits seen in Ontario while ensuring safety and responsible gaming practices.
With consultations nearing completion, and regulatory frameworks being refined, the province could see a new era of sports betting and iGaming by the end of 2024 or early 2025.
The US Federal Reserve announced a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut following its November FOMC meeting. This development is undoubtedly significant, considering the impact it could have on the Bitcoin price and broader crypto market.
US Federal Reserve Announces 25 Bps Rate Cut
In a press release, the US Fed announced its decision to cut interest rates by 25 bps, just about two months after it cut them by 50 bps at its September FOMC meeting. This move from the US Central Bank provides a bullish outlook for the Bitcoin price, which is already hitting new highs.
Interstingly, similar to the US Federal Reserve’s decision, the Bank of England (BOE) announced a 25 bps rate cut earlier in the day. This decision from both central banks will likely open up a liquidity cycle, causing more money to flow into risk assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The crypto community will look forward to US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech to see how dovish the Fed is. Positive remarks from him would suggest that the Fed could still cut interest rates at its December FOMC meeting.
In the press release, the US Federal Reserve stated that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. They remarked that since earlier in the year, labor market conditions have generally eased, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains low. They added that inflation has progressed toward their 2% goal.
Boluwatife Adeyemi
Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor who has covered topics that cut across DeFi, NFTs, smart contracts, and blockchain interoperability, among others. Boluwatife has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making it easy for crypto newbies to understand. Away from writing, He is an avid basketball lover and a part-time degen.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, is likely to be prohibited by France’s gambling regulator, the ANJ, after a huge amount of bets were placed on the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Since the global audience engaged in prediction platforms, Polymarket experienced a record jump, with $450 million expected to be distributed to users following the victory of Donald Trump.
This increase of betting volume and large stakes has become a matter of concern for the French regulator because the platform offers unlicensed gambling services.
$450 Million in Payouts Expected After U.S. Election Bets
Prediction markets, which are expected to increase their payout to election bettors to around $450m following Donald Trump’s projected win, are attracting increasing attention.
Although conventional polls pointed to a closer contest, prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi recorded a steep rise in Trump’s chances in the last few days, indicating a strong divergence with poll-based expectations.
Among the active users of Polymarket, a French trader called “Theo” made a $26 million bet on Trump’s win and won $49 million. This big bet made Polymarket popular, as the French authorities paid attention to the platform and its popularity among French residents, which led to concerns about the compliance of the platform with French gambling legislation.
France’s ANJ Considers Blocking Access to Polymarket
The ANJ has claimed that Polymarket is involved in gambling which is only allowed in France by licensed operators. According to local media, the regulator has the power to ban access to unlicensed gambling sites and is expected to restrict access to Polymarket soon.
An ANJ insider said: “Polymarket is just betting on something that is completely uncertain, which is exactly what gambling is.”
If put in place, the ban would prevent the usage of the application in France, despite the fact that users can still try to avoid the restriction by connecting to VPN. The ANJ could also try to influence media outlets and directories to stop advertising or linking to Polymarket and, thus, limit its audiences even more.
Regulatory Concerns Over Market Manipulation
The high level of activity on Polymarket has led to speculations that the platform may be used for market manipulation. Two blockchain analysis firms, Chaos Labs and Inca Digital, recently revealed that there was potential wash trading within Polymarket’s U.S. presidential betting market where the same assets are bought and sold to simply create a fake market. This type of trading is rather manipulative and can lead to the distortion of signals on the market and mislead other participants.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission also has concerns about prediction markets and put forward a rule in May aiming at stricter regulation of such markets due to the potential for manipulation.
Although no final decision has been reached, regulatory actions could impact Polymarket’s ability to operate freely in other markets, including the U.S.
Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
FTX co-founder Gary Wang has requested a federal judge not to send him to prison. He noted that he is testifying against the former business partner, Sam Bankman-Fried, someone he has known for a long time in a fraud case.
The lawyer for Wang submitted a sentencing memo in Manhattan federal court wherein he claimed that his client should not be incarcerated as he provided assistance to the prosecutors as well as his role in the scheme was comparatively less.
Wang, who pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy when FTX went bankrupt in 2022, is to receive his sentencing on the 20th of November.
FTX Co-Founder Gary Wang Appeals for No Jail Time
The defense counsel for FTX co-founder Gary Wang highlighted his client’s early cooperation with the federal prosecutors as one of the key reasons why the court should consider him for mercy. According to Graff, Wang was one of the first FTX executives to meet with the authorities and share information on the FTX and Alameda Research. Wang gave a testimony in the trial that led to the recent conviction of Bankman-Fried who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Speaking at the trial, Wang described how he was ordered to change the code of FTX in order to enable Alameda Research to use the assets of the company’s clients, which is one of the key points of Bankman-Fried’s fraud.
FTX co-founder’s lawyer noted that his involvement in the fraud was less than some of the other former executives, including Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Nishad Singh, FTX’s former head of engineering. Wang, his lawyer said, did not start or operate the scheme and was not personally involved in the provision of false information to the investors.
“Gary was not involved in the scheme at its inception, was never provided with details of the scheme, and, in contrast to Bankman-Fried, Ellison and Singh, never engaged in any affirmative action of deception,” Graff wrote.
Sentencing Comparisons to Other Executives
Wang’s attorney argued that a prison sentence would create an “unwarranted sentencing disparity” with Nishad Singh, who avoided jail time after pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. Singh, who faced potential decades-long sentences, was ultimately sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.
Ellison, another major cooperator, received a two-year prison sentence. FTX co-founder Gary Wang contended that Wang’s level of involvement was even lower than Singh’s, supporting a non-custodial sentence for Wang as well.
Graff also noted Wang’s personal circumstances, stating that Wang is expecting the birth of his first child shortly after his sentencing date. Wang’s attorney suggested that allowing him to remain with his family would align with the court’s treatment of other cooperators in the case.
“Gary wants nothing more than to be a good husband and father and to continue his work to facilitate FTX victims’ recovery,” Graff wrote.
Separately, the U.S. government is working to reclaim approximately $13.25 million in political donations made by FTX executives, including Bankman-Fried and Singh. Judge Lewis Kaplan however granted the government additional time to negotiate the return of these funds, extending discussions with the PACs until January 15, 2025.
Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
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