The Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLC) has taken on a new identity to reflect the changing nature of Canada’s betting, gaming and lottery space, particularly the types of products Crown Corporations now provide.
The CLC – which also entered a new era of leadership this year as Molly Cormier became its new Executive Director – has taken on the new moniker of the Canadian Alliance for Regulated Gaming (CARG).
The freshly-renamed organisation continues to consist of publicly-owned lottery and gaming organisations aka Canada’s Crown Corporations, and specifically those that aren’t active in Canada’s two multi-licensed betting markets of Ontario and Alberta.
“The Alliance was created in recognition of the increasingly complex and national nature of many industry-related issues and the importance of ensuring there is a strong, unified voice representing legal and regulated gaming organisations,” said Cormier said.
“Canada’s gambling landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace, while illegal and unregulated operators create growing risks for consumers and communities. Canadians must be at the centre of how we respond.
“By bringing together governments, regulators and industry leaders, we can help ensure the public interest continues to drive the future of gambling policy in Canada.”
Changing times for Canada’s Crown Corporations
For much of the Canadian industry’s history, gambling has been the remit of the provincial governments, provided by the likes of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Loto-Quebec, and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC).
However, Ontario became the first Canadian province to regulate a private betting and gaming market, and it has quickly become one of the biggest markets in North America. Alberta followed suit in July this year.
Crown Corporations in other states are now facing the prospect of their own markets, therefore threatening the monopolies they hold over casino gaming and sports betting in their respective provinces, potentially opening up their markets in the future.
A particularly fierce debate has erupted in Quebec, where Loto-Quebec is squaring off against an alliance of major betting firms including DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment, which are making the case for the province to follow Ontario and Alberta’s lead.
Against this backdrop, CARG states that it will work with governments, regulators, industry stakeholders and local communities to advance what it calls “public-interest policies that promote player health, strengthen consumer protection and support effective legislation, regulation and enforcement”.
It has cited key challenges as being illegal online gambling operators, a greater prevalence of gambling advertising, the rising popularity and availability of prediction markets, and general advancements in technology, as being top of its agenda.