According to the President & CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, Paul Burns, those awaiting stronger Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws in Canada will likely have to wait until the latter half of this year before any meaningful changes take place. The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has been lobbying for tighter AML legislation for some time, but due to various parliamentary delays and the impact of the upcoming 2025 Canadian federal election, Burns has expressed his dismay that the revision of current AML laws may not be tackled until the fall. Whilst the Trump administration has already indicated that they are keen to prioritize the matter, it is certainly looking likely that the Canadian government will have other priorities over the coming months. In this article we’ve explored the reasons why many are pushing for tighter AML laws, and considered the various factors at play which are slowing down progress right now.
The argument for strengthening AML laws in Canada
Those awaiting a revision of Canadian anti-money laundering laws have argued that the current set of legislation is not adequate when it comes to preventing financial crimes. As modern technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, staying one step ahead of the perpetrators of illicit online activity has been a major challenge for legislators around the world, meaning that strong AML frameworks are vital if governments hope to keep up. For some industries in Canada today the subject is especially pressing – and this is clearly visible in the nation’s flourishing iGaming industry, which continues to grow at an impressive rate. The CGA is a trade association which represents leading iGaming operators in Canada, and its leading figures currently argue that the sections of the legislation which refer to the gaming industry are significantly out of date.
Those in the CGA are particularly interested in the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA), because at present, this particular piece of legislation does not cover the subject of online casino gambling. This is undoubtedly problematic given that Ontario launched a legal and fully regulated iGaming market almost three years ago, meaning that the document is clearly outdated and needs to be brought in line with the current picture for online gambling activity in Canada today. The current regulation has not kept up with the rapid changes taking place in the gambling sector, and many in the CGA have argued that this regulatory oversight is leaving consumers and operators at risk. It’s understandable then that leading industry figures including Paul Burns have expressed their dismay that any necessary changes might not be implemented until the colder months later on this year.
The reasons behind the current delay
The iGaming industry in Canada is a hot topic right now as many of the casinos in Canada with the newest offers are becoming hugely popular, and the nation’s online casino landscape continues to grow and evolve at pace. So, why the delay to updating such necessary legislation? After all, with other provinces like Alberta expected to follow Ontario’s lead and open up their own regulated online gaming markets very soon, the need for more solidified AML frameworks is looking more pertinent than ever. The Department of Finance is working to progress the issue further, and they have put forwards a set of proposed amendments to PCMLTFA regulations, so the matter is slowly moving forwards. However, these proposed changes haven’t yet come into effect, and many of the amendments are currently expected to be implemented on 1st October 2025. Burns cited the current prorogation of parliament, the upcoming 2025 federal election, and the ongoing Liberal Party leadership race as reasons why the focus of government is currently directed elsewhere. These legal processes always take time to unfold, and whilst the reasons for the delay are understandable, it is also easy to see why leading figures in Canada’s iGaming industry are frustrated by the inefficient rate of change.
With Canada’s iGaming industry projected to grow 5.5% by 2029, it’s clear that Canada’s Anti-Money Laundering strategy requires some urgent updates in order to keep up with the evolution of this fast-growing gaming scene. The CGA continues to advocate for the industry and is working closely with policymakers to speed up the necessary changes and improve the safeguards in place, in order to uphold the integrity of the iGaming landscape and reduce the likelihood of criminal financial activities. Considering that the current AML laws do not even reference online casino gambling, it’s clear that urgent action is required to bring the legislation in line with the current proliferation of iGaming in Canada.
In conclusion, these observations by the CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association indicate that the much-needed updates to Canada’s AML legislation will not be finalized any time soon. Understandably, the Canadian government has other priorities right now, with the looming 2025 federal election on its way just around the corner. Those lobbying for change will be glad that the Department of Finance is working on the issue, and hopefully it won’t be too long before the changes come into effect. However, it is pretty astonishing that the legislation hasn’t been updated already to include online gaming, given that the iGaming industry in Canada has been enjoying such sustained success since Ontario’s legal online casino market opened in April 2022. Watch this space for any further developments – we’ll do our best to keep you updated.