Alberta is boldly going where only one province has gone before.
The provincial government on Wednesday introduced Bill 48, the “iGaming Alberta Act,” which proposes a framework for how the province can authorize and regulate private-sector sports betting and casino gambling sites.
Currently, the only authorized option for iGaming in Alberta is run by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), a government agency.
The AGLC's Play Alberta platform offers both online sports betting and casino games.
Big news out of Alberta: the government introduced the "iGaming Alberta Act," which lays the groundwork to authorize and regulate private-sector sports betting and casino gambling sites in the province: pic.twitter.com/FMgs1cRfV4
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) March 26, 2025
However, just because Play Alberta is the only authorized iGaming operator in the province, it doesn’t mean it is the only operator.
So-called “grey market” sites that are based and regulated abroad or outside provincial boundaries have long been available in Canada. In Alberta, they account for more than half (and likely a good deal more than half) of all online gambling.
"Currently, unregulated online gambling is widely available across the province," the government said in a press release. "Albertans can sign up and place a bet in minutes with providers that have limited or no player protection or social responsibility measures in place."
What the iGaming Alberta Act proposes is permitting private-sector companies (some of which might already be taking bets in the province) to come under provincial oversight and offer their products with the government’s blessing.
So, instead of just Play Alberta, there could eventually be multiple provincially regulated options for iGaming.
"Our goal is not to create new gamblers, but to make existing online gambling safer," Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said in a press release. "As the gaming industry continues to evolve globally and in Alberta, it is important that we modernize Alberta’s approach to gaming to protect the health and safety of Albertans, particularly our youth. The legislation we are introducing, if approved, would take the first steps towards this."
Timing is everything
Exactly when Alberta's new iGaming market would launch has yet to be announced. Canadian Gaming Association president and CEO Paul Burns said earlier this month that a year from now is a “fair estimation” for the province.
Nally said during a press conference on Wednesday that he was "reluctant" to put a date on when the new Alberta sports betting market could open. However, he then suggested "later on this year or even early next year."
At any rate, what Alberta is proposing to do would be a significant shift in its approach toward online gambling.
It would also provide a potentially significant market for private-sector operators, with one analyst having estimated that a competitive iGaming market in Alberta could be worth more than US$700 million a year in revenue.
First things first
But before that potential can be realized, Bill 48 must pass and become law.
The legislation proposes something similar to what was done in Ontario, the only province that allows multiple private-sector operators of online sportsbooks and casinos to take bets within its borders.
Prior to the launch of Ontario's competitive online gambling market in April 2022, the government established a new agency called iGaming Ontario (iGO).
Operators sign contracts with iGO outlining their responsibilities, which include handing over approximately 20% of their iGaming-related revenue to the province.
In Alberta, Bill 48 would establish a similar, government-owned entity, which would be named the “Alberta iGaming Corporation."
One of the duties of the corporation would be to “to develop, undertake, organize, conduct and manage online lottery schemes on behalf of the Government of Alberta.”
And away we go...
Alberta's new online lottery schemes would be sports betting and casino gambling offered through an iGaming app or site and run by a company registered with the AGLC. Bill 48 would make the commission the province's iGaming regulator, the government says.
Similarly, in Ontario, iGaming sites must register (a licensing-like process) with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which also acts as the regulator of online gambling in the province.
Ontario now has approximately 50 private-sector iGaming operators that are authorized to offer online sports betting, casino gambling, and poker. Those options, such as bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel, are in addition to the iGaming site of the government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Alberta's forthcoming iGaming market could eventually generate more than US$700M a year in revenue, according to Citizens JMP Securities analyst Jordan Bender.
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) June 26, 2024
"If $700M of gaming revenue is met, it would represent the eighth-largest gaming market in North America." pic.twitter.com/E6IJX9DASe
Most other provinces in Canada give government-owned entities a legal monopoly on online gambling, which is what Ontario had and what Alberta currently has.
However, Alberta’s government has been working toward an Ontario-like competitive market for online gambling for months.
While there had been hopes it would launch late last year, the provincial government decided to pump the brakes after getting feedback from the industry.
Alberta’s de facto iGaming minister, Nally, then told Covers last fall that the government planned to introduce “enabling” legislation this spring.
That legislation is now here. While Bill 48 has yet to pass the legislature, Nally and the governing United Conservative Party have a majority of seats in the provincial parliament, so it could become law with relative ease.
Legislate, then regulate
Although the provincial government says revenue is not the main reason for launching a new iGaming market, the new Alberta iGaming Corporation would be required to transfer its "surplus" funds into the province's general revenue fund as directed by Nally.
Exactly how much revenue the province will keep from the operations of private-sector sports betting and casino sites remains to be seen.
"Additionally, with the introduction of a regulated market, Alberta’s government will be able to capture gambling revenues currently being lost to unregulated operators and reinvest them in the province," Wednesday's press release noted.
Nally also mentioned having an "open and free" market during the Wednesday press conference, which suggests there will be no limit on the number of potential operators. Sports betting and iGaming brands such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and other Ontario mainstays are likely candidates to join the market.
“We commend Premier [Danielle] Smith, Minister Nally and their teams on all their efforts to bring an open and competitive regulated online gaming marketplace to Alberta," said Adam Kates, vice-president of compliance for PENN Entertainment-owned theScore, in the government's press release. "We look forward to supporting the process ahead and ultimately having an opportunity to introduce theScore Bet to Albertans."
That said, the provincial government added in its press release that "consumer protection safeguards and social responsibility tools" will be established via regulation before the new iGaming market launches.
"This includes Albertans having access to a centralized self-exclusion system, allowing them to restrict their ability to gamble across all venues and online platforms," the release said. "Further measures will clarify that the minimum age to participate in online gambling will be 18."
