Article By Stephen Crystal – Founder & CEO, SCCG – SCHEDULE A MEETING!
A Historic Step for The Alberta iGaming Market
With the passage of Bill 48—the iGaming Alberta Act—on May 8, Alberta is officially on track to launch a regulated, competitive online gambling market. The bill passed its third and final reading in the Alberta Legislature without amendments, setting the stage for a major shakeup in Canada’s gaming landscape.
Following Royal Assent, the provincial government will finalize key regulations and begin accepting operator applications. A new agency, the Alberta iGaming Corporation, will manage contracts and market operations, while Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will serve as the regulatory authority—mirroring the dual-agency model used in Ontario.
This move makes Alberta the second Canadian province to embrace an open iGaming market, and the first to follow Ontario’s lead with a framework that blends regulatory oversight and market competitiveness.
Application Process to Mirror Ontario’s System
Sources close to the matter indicate that Alberta plans to model its operator application process after Ontario’s, a move that would streamline market entry for existing license holders.
Ontario-licensed operators are expected to leverage their current licenses as a foundation for fast-tracking Alberta applications—giving major players like BetMGM, FanDuel, BetRivers, and theScore Bet a potential head start. The province is reportedly targeting a soft launch by late 2025, with a full market opening now anticipated in Q1 2026.
This timeline reflects a more realistic approach following initial government hopes to go live before the start of the 2025 NFL season.
Responsible Gambling in Focus—but Not Yet in Law
While Bill 48 passed without specific amendments on player protection, it does commit to a centralized self-exclusion system, which will apply across all commercial platforms. That’s a notable improvement on Ontario’s framework, where a unified exclusion system remains absent over three years into regulation.
Still, the New Democratic Party (NDP) criticized the lack of explicit consumer safeguards in the bill’s language. Their proposed amendments—focused on responsible gambling—were rejected, leaving those matters to be addressed later through regulatory policy.
Minister Dave Nally defended this approach, stating that flexible regulation—not rigid legislation—will allow Alberta to better respond to evolving online gambling risks.
Tackling the Offshore Challenge
Alberta’s move to a regulated market also comes as a direct response to offshore competition. The province’s current legal platform, Play Alberta, reportedly captures only 25%–45% of the online gambling market, with the remainder going to unregulated operators.
This grey market not only creates compliance and consumer protection gaps but also leaks significant tax revenue. Legalizing and regulating iGaming is expected to reverse that trend—just as it has in Ontario, where over 80% of online gambling is now channeled through licensed operators, according to recent estimates.
Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, applauded Alberta’s legislative progress and echoed calls for increased oversight and player safety through formal regulation.
What’s Next for Operators?
The next several months will be critical. Alberta will need to define:
- Licensing procedures and eligibility
- Tax and revenue share models
- Advertising and marketing rules
- Data reporting and compliance obligations
- Social responsibility mandates
Stakeholder consultations will continue through 2025, with final regulations expected by year’s end.
For operators already active in Ontario, the road to Alberta looks increasingly familiar. While full application guidance is still pending, early preparation will be key—from aligning with local responsible gaming expectations to forming strategic partnerships on the ground.
Alberta’s Open Market: A Growing Opportunity
As Alberta pushes forward, industry attention is shifting westward. The province’s population of over 4.7 million, coupled with strong digital infrastructure and a gaming-friendly culture, positions it as a high-value expansion target.
The expected launch of Alberta’s open iGaming market in early 2026 will cement Canada’s trajectory toward a more unified, competitive, and transparent online gambling environment. For operators, vendors, and investors, Alberta is not just another market—it’s the next frontier in North American iGaming.
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