The Atlantic Lottery Corporation's new president and CEO states that $200 million exits their region annually through gambling websites that are not legal in the Atlantic Canada provinces.
Dallas McCready, who assumed the role of head of the ALC following Patrick Daigle’s retirement, is observing the actions of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL). The Canadian Lottery Coalition has submitted an injunction in a Manitoba court to prohibit the illegal operator Bodog from the province.
Notably, Bodog has earlier declared that it is ceasing operations in Nova Scotia.
ALC is owned collectively by the four provincial governments of Atlantic Canada—New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, which all benefit from its profits.
ALC is the sole platform that allows individuals in the area to engage in legal online gambling, and the grey market presents a continual challenge. In 2022, Ontario introduced a competitive private iGaming model and has since become one of North America's largest iGaming markets, while Alberta is anticipated to establish a similar market by 2025.
"[$200 million] is a significant amount of money that could be staying right here in our region to fund important public services but instead continues to be taken away from helping our communities to the sole benefit of these private operators,” McCready said. “That number is troubling and a growing concern for the people who live in our region. These illegal operators are motivated by profit and do not place the same priority on responsible gambling as Atlantic Lottery, nor do they return profits or pay taxes to Atlantic Canadian provinces.”
McCready, who served as ALC’s chief strategy officer prior to stepping into the new role in January, mentioned they were “encouraged” by Bodog’s choice to halt operations in Nova Scotia, but noted that significant work remains to be accomplished.
CLC Executive Director Will Hill stated that the court injunction against Bodog in Manitoba signals what is to come for unlawful operators in other provinces too.
“[The provincial lotteries] are forced on a daily basis to contend with illegal online gambling operators, their unregulated websites, and in some instances misleading advertising,” Hill said.
The lottery companies deemed it necessary to unite in order to reduce illegal online gambling in Canada. A court date for the case is scheduled for March 5.
“It’s our intent to meet that goal to curtail illegal gambling through all available means,” Hill said. “This is just one of them.”
CLC signifies a partnership involving the ALC, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Loto Quebec, MBLL, and Lotteries & Gaming Saskatchewan.
“This injunction is part of the Canadian Lottery Coalition’s ongoing efforts to both raise awareness and curtail the activities of gambling websites operating illegally within our respective jurisdictions,” McCready said. “Unlike Atlantic Lottery, these websites operate without federal or provincial regulatory oversight or Canadian anti-money laundering reporting obligations, nor can the provinces ensure the safety or security of sites they do not regulate.”
McCready also mentioned that ALC will address illegal operators by executing a five-year strategic plan he contributed to while in his former position.
Confusion regarding advertising remains a constant issue, as Atlantic Canadians still encounter ads from other provinces for gambling sites that are not legally permitted in their area, McCready noted. This gives a sense of authenticity to these operators and deceives the public regarding the laws in this domain, resulting in persistent confusion that ALC aims to rectify.
“The strategic plan acts as a roadmap that will shape our plan for our products, services and operations during each year of that timeframe,” McCready said. “Our goal to take a strong and successful Atlantic Lottery to even greater heights. This goes beyond profits, as encouraging and supporting healthy play are at the core and are foundational to our organization.
“The plan highlights four strategic goals that define how Atlantic Lottery will realize that success, including player experience, betting and gaming market share, healthy play, and account-based play. There will be countless new products, features, and other projects that will help us meet these goals over the next five years, and we look forward to sharing them with our players.”
In 2025, McCready mentioned that an important milestone is the imminent launch of new lottery terminals in every retail outlet across Atlantic Canada. The latest generation of terminals will succeed an older version and greatly enhance technical reliability for both retailers and players. They will additionally provide new advantages and choices for players while enhancing retail purchases and further merging the in-store and online experiences.
“It is essential that we ensure our products, especially our digital games, are competitive within the market,” McCready said. “We know we need to be able to meet – and hopefully exceed – players’ expectations if we want to be their preferred source for entertainment.”
