Technology, Regulation, and Player Protection: What’s Being Discussed at CGS 2025

From June 17–19, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will host the Canadian Gaming Summit 2025 – the country’s largest business platform for discussing the future of gambling, regulation, and technology. This isn’t just an annual gathering – it’s a meeting point for government, operators, startups, and the professional community.

The summit is organized by SBC Events, one of the leading global platforms in iGaming and betting. The event program covers all core industry areas, from player responsibility to digital payments and combating financial crimes. Participants include representatives from Bede Gaming, Paramount Commerce, DraftKings, FanDuel, Interac, and Loto-Québec, as well as experts in regulation, cybersecurity, and sustainable gaming.

Why we need events like this today

Canada’s gaming industry is evolving rapidly. Regulation is becoming stricter, technologies more complex, and player expectations higher. In this environment, it’s not enough to simply keep up with the news – active participation in shaping standards and solutions is essential. That’s the purpose of professional summits.

The Canadian Gaming Summit provides a forum for addressing structural issues. Topics discussed directly impact market stability: data protection, compliance, payment infrastructure, and player behaviour. This is especially important now, as Canada moves away from a fragmented model toward a more coordinated approach across provinces.

Events like CGS allow stakeholders to compare strategies, exchange best practices, and – most importantly – hear from those who work in the industry daily. This isn’t top-down reporting; it’s a real dialogue between the market, government, and tech leaders.

Core tracks at CGS 2025

The Canadian Gaming Summit 2025 program is built around specialized tracks – each focusing on a critical area of the industry. This structure allows participants to dive deep into their domain and find solutions that can be practically applied.

• Payments & Compliance. One of the most tech-driven and demanding areas. Topics include the evolution of payment systems, cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, and compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. Discussions will also address upcoming audits, including preparation for the November FATF evaluation.
• Player Protection Symposium. Focused on user protection, this track covers legal and technological mechanisms – from self-exclusion systems to AI for risk detection. It also tackles ethical questions and challenges in cooperation between operators, regulators, and players. For more on AI in betting, we covered the topic in this article.
• Sports Betting & Casino. This stream explores new betting formats, audience behaviour, and the promotion of casino products. Topics include trends in live betting, automation, and engaging new generations of players.
• Cybersecurity. With the digitization of betting and online gaming, data and system security are more critical than ever. This track covers threats like data breaches, phishing attacks, and the cybersecurity standards operators must meet.
• Affiliates & Advertising. Examines changes in advertising rules and affiliate marketing. Topics include emerging restrictions, ethical boundaries for brand communications, especially toward younger audiences, and how companies can adapt.
• Leaders Track. A strategic panel that brings together executives, investors, and analysts to discuss business models, investment flows, market forecasts, and the challenges facing major industry players.

Each track is designed as an independent discussion zone – featuring real-world cases, data insights, and voices of those shaping industry processes.

From 2024 to 2025: how the summit is evolving

The Canadian Gaming Summit reflects the state of the industry. Comparing the 2024 and 2025 editions shows clear progress. In 2024, the focus was on the growth of regulated markets. Ontario was emerging as a flagship jurisdiction, while discussions around Alberta were mostly exploratory. The conversation then revolved around Alberta’s potential, referencing Ontario’s experience. In 2025, Alberta is already part of the strategic landscape, and the summit asks practical questions: how to launch, monitor, and establish rules. We’ve touched on some of these issues in this article.

Payments remain a recurring theme. Last year, discussions centred on localizing payment solutions, the launch of Interac Verifie, microtransactions, and user convenience. In 2025, the focus has deepened – beyond tech to trust, FATF compliance, cryptocurrencies, and digital wallets. Payment infrastructure is now a tool for both regulation and user retention.

A new emphasis in 2025 is responsible gaming as a full-fledged system. In 2024, it was mostly framed in terms of marketing and UX. Now, discussions include AI-driven risk assessment, national self-exclusion models, and ethical limits of data collection. Panels feature scientists, legal experts, players, and former athletes – offering multifaceted views on the issue.

Why it matters for the industry

Events like the Canadian Gaming Summit influence what the market will look like tomorrow. They define the rules of the game, from financial transparency to digital ethics. What’s discussed on panels today ends up in regulatory documents, app interfaces, and operator policies tomorrow.

For businesses, it’s a chance to lead, not lag. Companies that adapt early to trends find it easier to adjust to new regulations, attract users, and secure investors. Participation isn’t just PR – it’s an investment in long-term resilience and reputation.

For players, it’s about trust. Seamless payments, personalized services, data protection, and healthy gaming practices don’t arise by chance. They’re the product of dialogue among technologists, regulators, and experts. Events like this help build an ecosystem where players are active participants.

CGS 2025 shows that the industry is maturing. The conversation is shifting from “where to make money” to how to build a market that can handle pressure – without losing people along the way. That’s its greatest value.

Relevant news