Online Gambling in Alberta Will Become Legal as the Province Prepares to Launch the iGaming Market
Alberta is preparing to launch legal online gambling
In Canada, there is a second precedent after Ontario: Alberta has officially approved bill number 48 — the Alberta Act. This means that the region will begin restructuring its entire online gambling scene in the coming months — in order to launch a regulated market for casinos and online betting.
The law has passed through parliament and is now awaiting final approval from Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani. According to the authorities, this will happen very soon. After that, Alberta will create a separate body - Alberta iGaming Corporation, which will control licensed operators, conclude contracts with them, and monitor compliance with both local legislation and the federal Criminal Code of Canada.
What is all this for? Combating "gray" sites
Today, Alberta has an official sports betting website in Alberta. However, according to the authorities, it holds less than half of the market.
The idea is simple: to create a safe market where all participants act according to clear and transparent rules. This will not only reduce the outflow of players to offshore sites, but will also allow the state to earn on taxes. According to preliminary estimates, the legal market will be able to bring from 50 to 100 million dollars a year to the budget of Alberta.
When will everything work?
The official launch of the regulated iGaming market is scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026. The authorities want not only to copy the experience of Ontario, but even to go further. For example, it is planned to create a single self-exclusion system — a player will be able to block access to all licensed sites with one click.
Minister Dale Nally, who is responsible for the process, emphasises that the key task is a safe and controlled industry, where measures to protect players are observed and aggressive advertising is limited. This includes a ban on celebrity participation in promotions and restrictions on bonus promotions.
Alberta as a tidbit for iGaming companies
The attention of major brands, including FanDuel, is already riveted on Alberta. The reason is the unique combination of a small population with a high level of income and a fairly young audience. This makes the province attractive for the gambling business, especially if the regulation is mild, but understandable.
The next months will be decisive: the success of the whole venture depends on how the government builds the rules and infrastructure. But it is already clear that Alberta is taking a confident step towards a new era of Canadian online gambling.
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
I wonder if deposits will be allowed to deposit crypto... in Ontario they allow it, here at least they would give a choice.
I wonder if deposits will be allowed to deposit crypto... in Ontario they allow it, here at least they would give a choice.
I already have a couple of operators that I would like to switch to if licensed.
Will British Columbia ever do that, or are we stuck here in the last century?
Yes, I was generally when I read it. For the first time, the state is doing something really smart with gambling. I only hope that it will not slide into bureaucracy and greed.
If they do it normally, with adequate licenses and without idiotic restrictions, it will be the top. And now there are either gray sites or the wretched PlayAlberta...