The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) is a national trade association that represents leading operators and suppliers in Canada’s gaming, sports betting, eSports, and lottery industries - a full spectrum of companies from land-based and online casino operators to providers of global premium sports, eSports, and game content and technology.
Strategic Approach
Our guiding principles recognize that gaming is a positive contributor to communities across Canada and our national economy.
In 2023, the CGA updated its Strategic Plan to accurately reflect the change in membership and determine its new areas of focus given the launch of Ontario’s iGaming market and the legalization of single-event sports betting across Canada.
Collaboration, Advocacy, and Education round out our new strategic plan, and the activities we prioritize fall under those three pillars.
The majority of the CGA’s work – and our member involvement – is in Advocacy & Public Policy.
The CGA defines its advocacy priorities through consultation with members and stakeholders and continues to strengthen relationships with provincial crown agencies, regulators, and key federal government stakeholders.
Industry Committees
The CGA’s Industry Committees
were established in 2019 and have been expanded in the years that follow. They are a great way for CGA members to get involved in issues of common cause.
Industry Committee on Regulatory Innovation
is tasked with fostering cooperation between regulatory agencies and the Canadian gaming industry and has already worked on standards for cashless wagering and sports betting. It also has an AML Sub-Committee which provided feedback as well as industry position papers to the federal Ministry of Finance on proposed improvements to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing or PCMLTF Act as part of the government’s 5-year review.
Federal Advocacy Committee
centers its work on building relationships and alliances with the Federal government, key partners, and stakeholders at the national level. Advocacy efforts on government-related policies in Canada’s digital industry and emerging technologies may include:
- The broader hospitality and tourism sectors; and
- The Canadian Criminal Code in relation to Canada’s gaming laws.
Responsible Gaming Committee
will work with members to develop a strategy to ensure the industry’s RG efforts are communicated to stakeholders in the marketplace.
Payment & Financial Technology Committee
will address ongoing financial and payments issues in Ontario, as well as the implementation of cashless wagering in jurisdictions across Canada.
Lastly, we’d remiss not to mention CGA Events and CGA Member Communications.
With the Canadian Gaming Summit sold to SBC, the CGA’s networking receptions at G2E and ICE are among the most popular and sought-after invitations of these conferences (although our member event at the Summit remains). We also launched our first Senior Leaders Forum and Members Town Hall in 2023.
The CGA has also implemented a new management system which features a Members Portal. This portal will include event information, latest news, CGA special discount codes, and more. CGA Updates will also be housed here, so if you miss one, you can easily locate all of them in one place.
