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SBC Summit Canada reinforces role as industry’s meeting point amid Alberta momentum

SBC Summit Canada reinforces role as industry’s meeting point amid Alberta momentum

29 May Canadian Gaming Summit Ellis Davis

SBC Summit Canada returned to Toronto last week, bringing the industry together at a pivotal moment for the Canadian gaming sector, as Alberta’s upcoming regulated market launch accelerated conversations around regulation, responsible gambling, advertising reform, cybersecurity and future market expansion. Held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from May 19-21, the event marked the first […]

Q&A: Steven Armstrong on why AML must move beyond audit readiness By Rachael Kennedy - May 16, 2026 Share Steven Armstrong will be speaking about AML after audit at SBC Summit Canada 2026 As FINTRAC scrutiny intensifies and payment ecosystems grow more complex, Steve Armstrong discusses why Canadian gaming operators are being pushed to embed AML into daily operations Anti-money laundering (AML) in gaming is often approached through the lens of audit preparation. Policies, reporting frameworks, and transaction monitoring systems were designed largely around demonstrating compliance during regulatory reviews. In Canada, this approach is increasingly being tested. Recent scrutiny from FINTRAC has placed greater attention on how operators monitor customer activity in real time, particularly across deposits, withdrawals, and payment flows. At the same time, the growing role of payment service providers and increasingly fragmented transaction ecosystems have complicated long-standing questions around who ultimately owns AML risk. The result is an industry being pushed towards a more operational model of compliance, one where AML controls sit closer to day-to-day decision making rather than existing solely as a reporting function. Ahead of SBC Summit Canada, Payment Expert spoke with Steve Armstrong, Chief Compliance Officer & Money Laundering Reporting Officer at FRL Compliance Solutions, about the shift towards embedded AML compliance, the growing importance of payments oversight, and why he believes strong compliance frameworks should be viewed as a commercial advantage rather than a barrier to growth. Read the full interview below. Canada’s gaming sector is moving from audit preparation towards embedded AML compliance. Why is this shift significant, and what does it mean in practice for operators? The shift is significant because Canadian gaming operators are moving from ‘audit readiness’ to embedded AML compliance. Regulators now expect AML controls to work in real time, not just appear effective during a FINTRAC review. In practice, that means embedding AML into daily operations through continuous monitoring, stronger governance, payments oversight, and a clearer view of customer risk. Recent FINTRAC scrutiny has highlighted inconsistencies in payments-led AML controls. Where are the biggest gaps currently emerging? The biggest gaps are in payments visibility, fragmented customer data, and unclear risk ownership across operators, PSPs, and banks. Many operators still cannot connect customer behaviour across payment methods and channels, weakening transaction monitoring. FINTRAC has also flagged inconsistent source-of-funds checks, escalation, and the identification and reporting of payment-related suspicious activity. As payment ecosystems grow more complex, AML controls must evolve beyond traditional banking models. One of the major debates is around ownership of AML risk between operators, PSPs, and banks. Do you think the industry has clear enough accountability today? No I think there is confusion where the underlying accountability sits today. It is a fine line between operators, PSPs and banks. It is important we get this right. How important are payment providers in shaping the effectiveness of an operator’s AML framework, particularly around transaction monitoring and suspicious activity detection? Payment providers are critical to an operator’s AML framework because they sit closest to transaction flows and customer payment behaviour. Strong PSP partnerships improve transaction monitoring, fraud detection, and suspicious activity identification through better data sharing and real-time insight. However, AML accountability cannot be outsourced and remains with the operator. Canada’s federal and provincial frameworks can create operational complexity. Is regulatory fragmentation becoming a wider challenge for payment businesses globally? Yes, regulatory fragmentation is a growing global challenge for payment businesses. Differences across federal, provincial, and state requirements add complexity, especially in AML, licensing, reporting, and consumer protection. For firms operating across jurisdictions, success depends on flexible, scalable compliance frameworks that adapt to varying expectations without adding unnecessary friction. There’s often tension between compliance requirements and customer experience. How can firms reduce friction without weakening AML safeguards? This has been a common theme across the industry forever. It all comes down to how the customer journey is built, with a blend of great technology, clear data and good decision making. The better the quality of data, combined with great technology, enable compliance requirements to be managed as a commercial advantage. A good customer journey (experience can still be compliant) so good compliance done right, means good commercials. What lessons can the broader payments and fintech sectors learn from the scrutiny currently facing gaming operators in Canada? The key lesson is that AML compliance cannot be reactive or siloed. The scrutiny of gaming operators shows the need to embed financial crime controls into daily operations, especially across payments, customer risk, and transaction monitoring. Payments and fintech firms should prioritise better data integration, clearer accountability, and proactive risk management, as regulators increasingly expect proven outcomes, not just documented policies. Do you believe the industry needs greater collaboration around AML intelligence-sharing, or does competitive sensitivity still limit meaningful cooperation? I am on the fence here, I think there is an element where there needs to be a better intelligence sharing, from operator, PSP and banks. I am not sure the sharing between operators is the way forward. We all still want a competitive market place. As payment ecosystems become more real-time and data-driven, how must AML programs evolve to remain effective? As payment ecosystems become more real-time and data-driven, AML programmes must shift from reactive reviews to continuous, intelligence-led monitoring. That requires better data integration, real-time monitoring, behavioural analytics, and risk-based automation to detect suspicious activity earlier. The goal is a more holistic customer view that strengthens controls without adding friction to the customer experience. You’ll be discussing these themes at SBC Canada. What is the one misconception about AML compliance that you think the payments industry still gets wrong? This is easy for me… the single biggest misconception is that AML and Compliance prevent a business from being commercially viable. This is nonsense – good AML and good compliance are the biggest commercial advantages, and ensure a business can be sustainable in the long term. VIP Event and Expo+ Pass holders can join Steven Armstrong for a panel discussion on AML After Audits, taking place on Thursday, May 21. Operators and Affiliates are eligible for a complimentary VIP Event Pass, simply apply here.

Q&A: Steven Armstrong on why AML must move beyond audit readiness

18 May Canadian Gaming Summit Cosmo Teare

Q&A: bet365’s Andrew Moreno on localization, player behaviours and Alberta’s potential

15 May Canadian Gaming Summit Cosmo Teare

As sports betting becomes increasingly woven into the fan experience, Scott Grant discusses the growing risks around competition manipulation, the challenges facing Canada’s integrity framework, and why stronger coordination between sport and betting stakeholders is becoming more urgent. Sports betting has become increasingly embedded within the way fans consume live sport. Odds now sit alongside broadcasts, leagues have signed commercial agreements with operators, and regulated sportsbooks have become part of the wider sports economy in Canada since the legalisation of single-event betting in 2021. But as betting’s presence grows, so too does scrutiny around competition manipulation and the systems designed to detect it. For integrity stakeholders, the issue stretches far beyond suspicious wagers alone. Manipulated competitions risk undermining the unpredictability that gives sport its value, threatening confidence among fans, sponsors, broadcasters, and betting markets alike. Lower-tier and underfunded competitions are often viewed as particularly exposed, especially where governance structures, monitoring capabilities, or reporting mechanisms remain inconsistent. Ahead of SBC Summit Canada, Insider Sport spoke with Scott Grant of Sport Integrity Canada about the growing focus on competition manipulation, Canada’s evolving integrity framework, and why stronger coordination between sports bodies, betting operators, regulators, and law enforcement has become increasingly important. The integrity risk extends beyond betting Competition manipulation is frequently framed as a gambling issue, but Grant argues the implications are much broader for the wider sports ecosystem. “The unpredictability of sport is what makes it compelling,” he explains. “When that unpredictability is called into question, it erodes trust and ultimately diminishes the credibility and value of sport itself.” This concern has become more pressing as sports betting expands across Canada and internationally. According to Grant, betting-related risks are often amplified in environments where governance is fragmented or resources are limited. Suspicious betting activity remains one of the clearest warning signs, particularly when paired with weak oversight structures, inconsistent policies, or limited intelligence sharing between organisations. Proposition betting markets can also create vulnerabilities because specific events within a game may be easier to influence without altering the overall result. While awareness around integrity threats has increased in recent years, Grant notes that the maturity of prevention programs still varies significantly across sport. Canada’s fragmented approach One of the recurring themes in discussions around competition manipulation in Canada has been coordination. Grant points to the country’s historically fragmented approach, where responsibilities have often sat across separate organisations, regulators, and sporting bodies without a unified framework. “The Macolin Convention establishes a coordinated, multi-stakeholder framework connecting sport, regulators, law enforcement, and betting operators,” he says. “It works because it connects the key partners required to protect the system.” The Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, is widely regarded as one of the leading international frameworks for addressing match-fixing and betting-related corruption. Among its central recommendations is the creation of ‘National Platforms’ designed to improve intelligence sharing and coordinated responses between stakeholders. Canada has begun building its own response through the Canadian Program to Prevent Competition Manipulation (CPPCM), which focuses on monitoring, education, and independent oversight. However, Grant acknowledged there is still work to do before a fully harmonised national system exists. Canada ice hockey May 05 2025: World Championship warm-up ice hockey match Canada -Hungary. Image credit: GTS Productions / Shutterstock.com Betting operators as frontline partners As regulated sportsbooks continue to expand, operators are increasingly being viewed as key integrity partners rather than simply commercial stakeholders. “Betting operators are critical frontline partners,” Grant says. “Their ability to detect irregular betting activity early and report it facilitates timely intervention.” This role has become more significant as betting markets grow more sophisticated and integrated into mainstream sports consumption. Grant notes that fan expectations around fairness and transparency are also rising as wagering becomes more closely tied to the viewing experience itself. For lower-tier and emerging sports, the challenge is often more acute. Grant highlighted independently administered policies, education programmes, coordinated monitoring systems, and meaningful sanctions as some of the foundational safeguards needed to reduce manipulation risks. Still, he stresses no single organisation can manage the issue in isolation. “Competition manipulation must be addressed as a shared responsibility,” Grant concluded. “Effective prevention requires information sharing, clear roles, strong detection, and education.” VIP Event and Expo+ Pass holders can join Scott Grant for a Fireside Chat on Protecting Sport Integrity, taking place on Thursday, May 21. Operators and Affiliates are eligible for a complimentary VIP Event Pass, simply apply here.

Q&A: Scott Grant on on Canada’s approach to competition manipulation

15 May Canadian Gaming Summit Cosmo Teare

Q&A: Mark Wrigley on F1’s betting push By Louis Thompsett -May 14, 2026 Q&A: Mark Wrigley, Head of Betting, Formula 1 Q&A: Mark Wrigley, Head of Betting, Formula 1 Share Tweet Google Linkedin Mail Ahead of SBC Summit Canada, Formula 1’s Head of Betting sets out how live data, operator partnerships, and product innovation can transform F1’s wagering footprint. Formula 1 commands a global audience of hundreds of millions, yet accounts for just 0.4% of worldwide betting handle – a gap that Mark Wrigley, F1’s Head of Betting, is tasked with closing. Ahead of his fireside chat at SBC Summit Canada, Wrigley spoke to Insider Sport about F1’s data-driven betting product, its emerging operator portfolio, and why the lessons of golf and tennis point toward a significant revenue opportunity for sportsbooks willing to invest. Read the full interview below. F1 only accounts for around 0.4% of global betting handle despite its scale. Where do you see the biggest opportunity to close that gap? “The biggest opportunity for F1 is to grow the engagement with our global fanbase through innovative product developments, giving them a proposition they can interact with in a meaningful way. We have been proactive in understanding our fanbase, how they view betting, how they would like to see the product and the features they would engage with. “Additionally, we have worked with traders and product owners from global sportsbook operators to help build the markets they would like to see. This has led to us, alongside our partners ALT Sports Data, to create a really exciting betting product launch with live and micro betting opportunities. “This has helped created more relevant markets, more competitive odds, and more opportunities to bet over the course of the race weekend. This will lead to more engagement to grow the global betting handle which would reflect the size and scale of our sport more broadly.” You’ve described F1’s data as “limitless” – how are you turning 700 data points per second into markets that fans actually want to bet on? “Our sport is a data led sport and therefore we’ve created vast amounts of data to service all aspects. The data team at F1 has been working extensively with ALT Sports Data to help understand, contextualise, and model all the data points that we can provide so that we can provide the most accurate, reliable and engaging betting proposition to the fanbase. “As mentioned before, we extensively surveyed our fans to understand what they would like to bet on, how it would mirror the stories we are telling in the broadcast, and the betting markets seen in other sports. “We will continue to test and learn from all the markets we are providing through detailed feedback from our sportsbook operators and fans to ensure we are building not just quantity but quality of markets for them to bet on.” SUZUKA, JAPAN - September 22, 2023: Yuki Tsunoda, from The Japan competes for AlphaTauri. Practice for the 2023 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Mark Wrigley describes F1’s data as limitless. Editorial credit: Motorsport Photography F1 / Shutterstock.com You’ve partnered with Betway in March, and more recently FanDuel. What does building an operator portfolio look like from here, and what do you need from partners to deliver on the product vision? “We’ve partnered with two excellent Tier 1 betting operators who are aligned in our vision of what the experience of betting on F1 should be. They are committed to integrating the product into their sportsbook and promoting it to their customers to grow engagement. “They are also providing detailed feedback to ourselves and ALT Sports Data to consistently refine the product to maximise the engagement from their customer base. “We’re building a select operator portfolio on a non-exclusive and territory basis who believe in the opportunity to grow betting in F1.” In-play and real-time markets are clearly central to the strategy. What does an innovative F1 betting experience look like in practice – what should operators be building toward? “Operators should be building towards integrating the ALT Sports Data F1 odds feed either directly or through other third parties who have mapped the feed. This will give them access to the leading live and micro betting product which also has additional features such as Same Game Parlay and Cashout. “The betting experience is also aligned with the F1 broadcast as the markets will also align with the stories we are telling there. These could be midfield battles, overtake situations, pit stop strategies, etc. “We will also continue to evolve the product outside of live and micro markets as we look to add other engagement tools to bring it in line with the standard market offering. This may include front end visualisations for example. “The beauty of our sport is that there is so much at our fingertips and the quantity and quality of our data rivals all of the top tier sports that have millions of betting users, so there is so much potential to shape that data and insight into new and exciting products and experiences for fans.” F1 has been deliberate about responsible growth – no trackside advertising, no odds on the broadcast. How do you scale the betting proposition without compromising the fan experience you’ve built? “We have been deliberate about working with our operator partners on promoting to their customers and our fanbase predominantly through digital activations. This is to ensure they are promoting the F1 betting experience rather than using our large fanbase as a billboard to convert into other sports or alternative products. “It’s not to say we couldn’t add in trackside advertising or alternative betting promotion in the future in a responsible and tailored way, but our focus in the near term is on engaging the audience with the product itself and building a core user base incrementally.” You’ve done this before with tennis and golf. What’s the one lesson from those journeys that operators in the room should take away for F1? “That the quality of the product can really change the level of engagement with the sport. We are aware of the low levels of engagement that F1 has had in the betting sector previously and that was similar to Golf for example. “However, as operators invested in the product and integrated it into their sportsbooks, there was proven revenue growth for them over time with users finding that it added to the overall experience of engaging with the sport.”

Q&A: Mark Wrigley on F1’s betting push

14 May Canadian Gaming Summit Cosmo Teare

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