Michael D. Lipton, K.C.

Michael D. Lipton, a senior partner based in Dickinson Wright’s Toronto office, focuses his practice on gaming law. He regularly represents governments, casino operators, gaming equipment suppliers/manufacturers, payment processors, and licensees throughout North America on gaming compliance and governance issues. Michael has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada® since 2008. He has authored numerous articles in gaming law publications and spoken at many conferences worldwide. He has earned a global reputation as an outstanding gaming regulatory counsel.

• Appearances before all levels of Court, including the Supreme Court of Canada  
• Extensive practice before gaming regulatory authorities throughout Canada
• Advise clients in regard to compliance, AML, governance, procurement policies and due diligence requirements integral to the gaming and hospitality industries
• Counseled clients in regard to amendments to gaming legislation enacted by government of Ontario including drafting legislative amendments
• Advise charitable organizations, public and private corporations in regard to gaming provisions of the Canadian Criminal Code
• Represent self-regulatory bodies in prosecutions of non-licensees

• Panelist, “How Many Fish in the Pool?” Masterclass 3, Canadian Gaming Summit, 2025

• Panelist, “Canadian Lottery Coalition (ICLC),” Masterclass 3, Canadian Gaming Summit, 2025

• Panelist, “IMGL Masterclass 1,” Canadian Gaming Summit, June 2024

• Speaker, “Jackpots, Lotteries, and Beyond,” IMGL 2024 Spring Conference, International Masters of Gaming Law, April 2024

• Moderator, “Problems, pitfalls and issues encountered by iGaming jurisdictions in establishing and maintaining a successful Sports betting & i-Gaming legal,” International Masters of Gaming Law, Spring Conference 2023, April 2023
• Co-Author, LexisNexis Gaming Law & Practice Guide, 2018–2022
• Speaker, Global Gaming Business News Podcast, July 2022
• Co-Author, “Operators, Start Your Engines; But Beware of Sanctions,” Dickinson Wright Gaming & Hospitality Industry Alert, May 2022 
• Co-Author, “Goodbye Parlays, Hello Single Event Betting: Ontario Rolls out New Standards for Sport and Event Betting,” Dickinson Wright Industry Alert, October 2021 
• Joint Author, “New Developments: Regulation of Payment Service Providers in Canada,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, June 2020
• Joint Author, “Attorney General of Quebec v. Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (Procureur général du Québec v. Association canadienne des télécommunications sans fil),” Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, May 2021
• Joint Author, “Canada Continues Push for Single-Game Sports Betting,” Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, April 2021
• Joint Author, “Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc. v. Babstock: A Resounding Success at the Supreme Court of Canada for Dickinson Wright LLP,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, August 2020
• Joint Author, “Canadian Gaming Association’s Standards for Cashless Wagering,” Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, August 2020
• Joint Author, “The Effect of Canada’s Revised Anti-Money Laundering Rules on Casino Operators, Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, August 2019
• Joint Author, “Uncertainty of Prize and ‘Chance’,” Canadian Gaming Lawyer, Fall/Winter 2019 
• Author and co-author of numerous Gaming law papers and articles published in several global publications including World Online Gambling Law Report, Casino Lawyer, iGaming Business and Canadian Gaming Lawyer
• Joint Author, “Modernizing the Canadian Criminal Code to Allow for Single Game Sports Betting,” Canadian Gaming Lawyer, Fall 2018
• Joint Author, “Québec Appeals Superior Court Ruling that Bill 74 is Unconstitutional,” LexisNexis Canada Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada, Volume 19, Number 6, October 2018
• Joint Author, “Québec Appeals Superior Court Ruling that Bill 74 is Unconstitutional,” Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, September 2018
• Joint Author, “Québec’s Superior Court Rules that Bill 74 is Unconstitutional”, Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, August 2018
• Joint Author, “Gaming Law and Practice”, Lexis Nexis, 2018 
• Joint Author, “Indigenous Gaming Issues In Canada”, Canadian Gaming Lawyer, Summer 2018
• Joint Author, “Indigenous Gaming Issues In Canada”, Dickinson Wright Gaming and Hospitality Blog, January 2018 
• Joint Author, “New Anti-Money Laundering Recommendations For British Columbia Casinos”, Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, December 2017
• Co-Author, “Canadian Reporting Issuers With U.S.-Related Cannabis Activities”, Dickinson Wright Gaming Newsletter, December 2017
• Joint Author, “Gaming, Gambling and Licensing 2018,” Canada Chapter, Chambers and Partners Practice Guide, October 2017
• Co-author, “Liability Potentially Extended to Gamblers,” Canadian Gaming Lawyer, Summer 2017
• Co-author, “Enforceability of iGaming Debts in Ontario,” (Gaming Legal News, June 17, 2013)
• Co-author, “Retreat of Legalized Gaming in Canada,” (Canadian Gaming Lawyer, June 2013)
• Co-author, Internet Gambling Report, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th editions (Mark Balestra and Tony Cabot, editors) (St. Charles, MO: River City Group LLC) – chapters relating to Canadian gaming law (updated 2013)
• Co-author, “Canada: a Year in Review”, iGaming Business, Issue 71, November/December 2011
• Co-author of Poker, Advertising and Canada chapters in Internet Gambling Report, 8th to 12th editions, 2008-2013
• Co-author of British Columbia and Alberta chapters in International Casino Law and Regulation, 2009
• Co-author, “Proposed Amendments to the Criminal Code to Expand Sports Betting Options” (Canadian Gaming Lawyer, Vol. 1, Issue 2, November 2008)
• Co-author, “Update on iGaming in Canada” (iGaming Business, issues 50 & 51, May/June 2008 and July/August 2008)
• Co-author, “Kahnawà:ke: Canada ponders I-Gaming crackdown” (World Online Gambling Report, Vol. 7, Issue 4, Apr. 2008)
• Co-author, “Canada: Jurisdictional Issues in Online Gambling Regulation,” (World Online Gambling Report, Vol. 6, Iss. 12, Dec. 2007)
• Co-author, “British Columbia” and “Alberta” chapters in International Casino Law and Regulation – 2007
• Co-author, “Bill 152: Legislation Barring Advertising of Online Gaming” (World Online Gambling Report, Vol. 6, Issue 1, Jan. 2007)
• Co-author of Games of Skill and Chance in Canada-Gaming Law Review, 2005