Digital Wager Wire highlights the most significant events affecting the domestic and international sports betting and gaming industries each week throughout the year.
Alberta Bets Big on an Online Sports Betting Reset
July 13th is the date when Alberta officially launches its third-party gaming industry, which will not only give the government-run PlayAlberta plenty of company but also put grey-market operators on notice that the province’s previous hands-off approach will be quickly replaced by a far more aggressive approach.
As Alberta prepares to open its regulated online gambling market, one number will likely be watched more closely than any revenue figure: 70%. When the province launches its expanded online sports betting and casino market next week, officials want at least 70% of online gambling activity to take place on licensed platforms within the first year.
By the second year, that goal rises to 75%, meaning three out of every four dollars wagered online would be placed with provincially approved operators.
The target reflects a dramatic shift from the current landscape. Provincial survey data suggest that about 70% of online gambling in Alberta now occurs through unregulated websites, often described as the grey or black market. In other words, the province is aiming to reverse today’s market balance almost entirely.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) reported that 47 operators had completed registration with the regulator as of last week. Registration alone, however, does not authorize companies to begin accepting wagers. Before launching, each operator must also sign an operating agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which oversees and manages the province’s regulated online gambling market.
Those agreements establish the financial terms for participation. Operators will return slightly more than 20% of gaming revenue to the province. The effective rate includes a 3% allocation from gross gaming revenue that supports First Nations initiatives and responsible gambling programs before the provincial share is calculated.
Downstate NYC Casino Developments: July Progress Report
Resorts World New York City Expands With Live Table Games
Resorts World New York City reached a major milestone in April when it launched New York City’s first full-scale casino with live table games. Located next to Aqueduct Racetrack, the expanded casino added more than 240 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and poker. The new offerings build on the property’s existing gaming operations, which already include thousands of slot machines.
The overall redevelopment represents a $5.5 billion investment and will eventually cover about 5.6 million square feet. Because Resorts World was already operating as a racino, it had an advantage over the other newly approved projects and was able to introduce casino table games sooner.
The expansion has also brought significant job growth. The company added approximately 1,250 employees, including around 950 table game dealers. Staffing levels are expected to grow to roughly 2,700 workers by the end of the summer.
The transition also marked the end of an era for Aqueduct Racetrack, which hosted live horse racing for 132 years before closing racing operations. The property is now shifting its focus toward becoming a full-scale casino destination.
The complete redevelopment is expected to be finished between late 2030 and early 2031.
Bally’s Bronx Prepares for Construction
Bally’s Bronx is planned as a $4 billion casino and hotel complex at Ferry Point. The development is expected to cover about 3 million square feet and create approximately 4,000 jobs. Company filings indicated that construction would likely begin eight to nine months after receiving the gaming license, putting the expected groundbreaking timeframe around August or September.
Bally’s is currently targeting a casino opening around mid-2030. However, before construction could begin, Bally’s needed to finalize the purchase of a 16-acre site where the casino would be built. The property is located next to the company’s existing 300-acre Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point. That acquisition was completed in February, clearing an important hurdle for the project.
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park Encounters Early Delays
Hard Rock Metropolitan Park is the largest of the three approved casino projects, representing an estimated $8 billion investment near Citi Field in Queens.
The development is planned as more than just a casino. It will serve as the centerpiece of a larger entertainment complex featuring a proposed soccer stadium, tennis facilities, public green spaces, and other attractions. Despite a few early setbacks, the casino is expected to swing its doors open to the public in 2030.
