Alberta iGaming Act: What Will Change in 2026?

While most Canadians are accustomed to believing that "an online casino means an offshore somewhere in Curacao", the province of Alberta has taken a decisive step towards full legalization. On May 12, 2025, the local parliament adopted Bill 48, a document that creates an officially regulated online gambling market. (AIC), and by the beginning of 2026, residents will be able to choose among dozens of licensed sites.

Briefly about how we came to this

• March 2025 – Alberta Service Minister Dale Nally introduces a bill promising "fair gaming, new taxes and player protections."
• May 8 – third reading: deputies do not make a single amendment.
• May 12 – final vote; the document goes to the Royal Assent.
• Later in May, industry media (SBC Americas, CasinoBeats) published an analysis: "Alberta will become the second province in Canada after Ontario with an open iGaming market."

For the average player, all this bureaucracy sounds dry. Let's see what it means in practice.

Alberta and Ontario: What's the difference if you just want to play

• Taxes are lower. Ontario takes 23% of the gross profit margin (GGR) from operators. In Alberta, 1820% is being discussed. The lower the tax, the more money the casino has for bonuses and cashback.
• Fewer papers when withdrawing. In Ontario, the regulator requires identity verification before depositing. Alberta allows you to pass KYC within 10 days after the first deposit, and in most cases, this is an instant check on the Equifax database.
• Responsible gaming without intrusiveness. In both regions, there will be pop-up reminders and loss limits, but in Alberta, they are triggered less frequently (once an hour, not every 30 minutes). For a sane player, this is simply less "pinging" during the game.
• Cryptocurrency is not banned. Ontario requires all crypto deposits to be converted to fiat before crediting. Alberta says, "Crypto is possible, but with blockchain analysis." This means that your BTC or USDT will be accepted faster and without unnecessary intermediaries.

What will change for you on the first day of launch

1. More Brands, More Stocks

At the discussion stage, the document was supported by 1xBit, Bet365, Bet99 and a couple of European sites that are waiting for a soft tax regime. Each of them wants to "bite" the market, which means that we are waiting for generous welcome packages: 100 – 300 CAD bonus, free spins at Pragmatic Play, weekly reload bonuses. In Ontario, after liberalization, the offer of bonuses increased by a third, and it is logical to expect the same in Alberta.

2. Fast payouts

The new regulator will force operators to keep player funds separate from operating funds. In reality, this is simplified accounting and the same day for withdrawal — especially if you transfer through Interac or eTransfer.

3. Single Self-Exclusion Database

If you enable CoolOff or self-exclusion at one casino, all others that have an AIC license will automatically block you. The plus is protection against spontaneous "relapse", the minus is that you will have to wait until the timer expires (1 day, 1 week or 6 months).

4. Clear advertising rules

No "deposit and get a Ferrari instantly" – bonuses can't be served as a guaranteed way to get rich. The act prohibits the involvement of influencers under the age of 25 and requires that each video be marked as responsible gambling.

What about crypto casinos?

Alberta does not turn bitcoin deposits into a crime, but introduces a filter:

1. The casino is obliged to verify the wallet address through Chainalysis or equivalent: if it is associated with the "dark market", the deposit will be rejected.
2. The withdrawal of winnings can be left in crypto, but the conversion to CAD for the tax office will still take place: you simply will not notice this back-office step.
3. For pure "crypto-only" brands, the entrance ticket will become more expensive: they will have to implement fiat reporting and an affiliate program with a Canadian bank.

But hybrid platforms, where there is already Visa, Interac and USDT on the same account, are likely to appear among the first licenses.

Why is it beneficial for an ordinary player

• Secure payments. Money is circulating within the Canadian jurisdiction: any dispute is resolved by a provincial regulator, not an offshore support.
• Transparent RTP and proven software. Certification takes place in independent laboratories, and the regulator may request game logs to investigate the complaint.
• Calm advertising. The bonus will not be called "free money", and the chances of a big win must be disclosed in the video itself.
• Responsible Gambling Service. The site will have a 24/7 phone, a gambling risk test, and the ability to set a weekly limit in two seconds.

Total

Bill 48 finally takes online casinos in Alberta out of the gray area. For players, this means:

• more licensed sites and bonuses;
• payments on the same day;
• clear rules for crypto and advertising;
• uniform tools for self-exclusion and protection.

For the industry, this is a market with a softer tax than in Ontario and huge demand: according to the latest estimates, residents of the province spend about 1 billion CAD a year on offshore sites.

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