The Metro Toronto Convention Centre played host to leading figures from the Canadian sports betting, iGaming, and land-based casino industries during the past week, from June 17th to 19th, for SBC’s Canadian Gaming Summit 2025.
Hundreds of the gaming industry’s brightest attended the three-day event, which was highlighted by educational discussions led by experts in their respective fields revolving around a diverse range of topics, from RTP relevance to the significance of responsible gambling practices and how best to approach them.
Canadian gaming industry updates
After an opening night party at Real Sports Restaurant, across the road from Scotiabank Arena where the Toronto Maple Leafs play and featured the Florida Panthers winning the final game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the venue’s big screens, attendees packed Conference Room 1 of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre the following morning for updates on the Ontario market, Alberta market, and the rest of Canada.
Ontario
Ontario is clearly leading the way for provinces in Canada. Its success is providing blueprints for regions like Alberta, BC, and Quebec. Success must be maintained by Ontario, though, and that is not going to happen automatically. The province recognizes that collaborating with other provinces will be key to the industry’s continued success, as will improved player protection and responsible gambling practices.
Alberta
Minister Dale Nally was on hand to give updates from Alberta. The province has removed 34% of red tape to streamline processes for operators. This has led to a growth in private employment, which is outstripping public employment growth. Perhaps the most exciting news of the week came from Nally, who announced that iGaming Alberta will open early next year, essentially opening Alberta’s regulated market.
The rest of Canada
With an eye to the rest of Canada, provinces like BC, Quebec, and those on the Atlantic need to aim to move from their current channelization rates of 24-27% to around 80%. Ontario has already proven it all possible, and provinces are leaving money on the table. This has to change and will.
A feel for the Canadian Gaming Summit
Of course, the murmur of introductions and new partnerships permeated the three-day event. Seeds were planted at the opening night party, watered during the first full day of exhibits and panels, and were coming into bloom by the Canadian Gaming Summit’s official party at the Hockey Hall of Fame where attendees loosened up by taking shots on a digital Carey Price and trying to make saves against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl while surrounded by paraphernalia from the history of hockey.
The following morning saw Nick Kypreos as a guest on a broadcast of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show live from Conference Room 1 and a succession of panels focusing on player safety and the evolution of responsible gambling practices. Attendees continued to meet for fruitful discussions at scattered tables across the booths set up in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre until they all piled into the lounge area in the center for happy hour and the final conversations of a busy week for the Canadian gaming industry.
