River Cree Resort & Casino picks GiG to power its entry into Alberta's online gambling market

River Cree Resort & Casino, located on the western edge of Edmonton, has selected Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) as its technology partner for expansion into Alberta's regulated online gambling market. The property is owned by the Enoch Cree Nation and registered with Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) earlier in 2026 to run an iGaming site. Online play has not yet started.

GiG announced the deal this week. Under the agreement it will supply an online casino, online sports betting, a native mobile app, custom front-end and omnichannel solutions, and advanced data analytics and managed services. The omnichannel infrastructure is meant to connect River Cree's land-based operation with its digital offering, building on its local roots, existing player base and customer loyalty. River Cree becomes GiG's fifth operator partner in Alberta.

GiG CEO Richard Carter said the company's turnkey technology and Data and Logic engines were developed to help established operators link their physical and online businesses. He expressed confidence that this technology and local expertise could help River Cree extend its success into the online market and win market share. River Cree CEO Vik Mahajan described the project as the next step in bringing the casino's games to players.

River Cree opened in 2006 and is described as the first Indigenous-owned casino in Alberta. It is the only land-based casino the company runs. Alberta's rules allow existing land-based casinos, both commercial and First Nations-owned, to apply to enter the regulated online market, and River Cree's registration places it among the physical operators preparing to take part.

Another Indigenous operator, PURE Casino Entertainment, launched purecasino.ca in early August, with technology from Boyd Interactive and sports betting from Kambi. Its parent, the First Nations coalition Indigenous Gaming Partners, owns seven casinos and multiple hotels in the province. Alberta's market opened on July 13 and has since grown to more than 50 casino and sportsbook sites run by around 30 companies.

GiG's other Alberta partners are Casino Time, LuckyDays and PowerPlay, all of which it also works with in Ontario, where it has held a service provider licence since 2022.