Alberta Prepares to Launch Regulated iGaming Market Ahead of NFL Season
Strong Interest in Alberta’s Online Gambling Overhaul
Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, is leading the province’s efforts to reform its online gambling sector. She has reported significant interest from numerous online sportsbook and casino operators seeking licenses from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). To date, a notable number of companies have applied or expressed their intention to enter Alberta’s new regulated iGaming market.
Alberta’s iGaming Regulatory Framework Nearing Launch
Alberta is aiming to introduce a regulated iGaming environment by 2026, with a potential start date possibly aligning before the upcoming NFL season. This framework will open the market to multiple private operators, marking Alberta as the second Canadian province, after Ontario in 2022, to allow private sector participation in the online gambling space. Unlike most other provinces where government lottery corporations maintain exclusive control, Alberta plans a more open approach.
Currently, online betting in Alberta is monopolized by the Play Alberta platform, operated solely by the AGLC. Despite this, many residents currently wager through offshore or out-of-province sites that lack provincial regulation. These unregulated platforms, often labeled as “grey” or “black” market operators, represent an ongoing challenge that the new framework seeks to address by integrating these activities into a legal and supervised system.
Licensing Requirements and Financial Obligations for Operators
Operators interested in entering Alberta’s regulated market will face several prerequisites. They must submit a non-refundable application fee of $50,000 and pay an annual registration fee of $150,000. Additionally, licensees will enter contractual agreements with the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), which, alongside the AGLC, will publish an official list of authorized operators.
Regarding taxation, it is expected Alberta will adopt a model similar to Ontario’s, where licensed operators share a percentage of their gross gaming revenue with the province. Before splitting revenue, 1% will be dedicated to responsible gambling programs, and 2% will support First Nations communities within Alberta. Following these allocations, revenue will be divided with operators retaining 80%, while 20% will go to the provincial government, effectively representing the tax rate.
Commitment to Responsible Gambling
An important component of Alberta’s new iGaming system is the implementation of a comprehensive self-exclusion tool. This system will allow players to voluntarily restrict their access to all online gambling platforms and physical casinos in Alberta. This feature is expected to launch alongside the regulated market and is emphasized as a priority to protect vulnerable gamblers. Notably, Alberta is advancing rapidly in this area, while Ontario’s iGaming market, despite being well-established, is still in the process of deploying a similar tool.
