Alberta Gets Ready to Kick Off Regulated iGaming Market

Alberta plans to shake up its online gambling scene after Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, just got the green light. Now that lawmakers have given it the thumbs up, the province has a lot of work to do in order to set up the rules for launching a regulated market for online casinos and sports betting.

With Legislative Hurdles Cleared, Alberta Prepares to Launch Regulated Online Gambling

The bill just cleared its last hurdle in Alberta’s legislature this week. It now just needs Royal Assent from Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani to become official law, as reported by Covers. Government representatives say this approval should come soon, paving the way for Alberta to join Ontario as the second Canadian province to open its doors to private-sector online gambling companies.

Once in effect, the new law will set up a regulatory body named the Alberta iGaming Corporation. This group will handle contracts with licensed operators and make sure they follow provincial law and the federal Criminal Code. The Code says provinces must “conduct and manage” gambling activities. Alberta plans to copy Ontario’s regulatory model, which courts have found sound.

Alberta already allows legal sports betting through PlayAlberta, but this state-run platform has less than half the market. The rest belongs to “grey market” operators – sites not licensed but still open to local players. The new iGaming rules aim to bring these operators into the legal system by giving them a regulated way to operate. This should cut down on the use of offshore sites.

Alberta Province Targets Early 2026 for Regulated iGaming Rollout

Dale Nally, who heads Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, stressed that they aim to build a gambling scene that is safer and runs smoother. The new rules will cover how to protect players, encourage responsible betting, and set ad guidelines, possibly putting limits on famous people promoting gambling and bonuses to draw in customers.

The plans also zero in on responsible gambling. Alberta wants to roll out a central system where players can choose to block themselves from all regulated sites in one go, something Ontario has not put in place yet.

Experts predict Alberta‘s regulated market might start in late 2025 or early 2026. Big players like FanDuel have shown they want to join the province. If it works out, Alberta’s approach could bring in $50 million to $100 million in yearly tax money.

Alberta is attractive to companies because it has a small but big-spending population. Its mix of young residents and high income per person could make it a strong spot for legal online betting in Canada. The next few months matter a lot as the province puts the final touches on rules and builds what it needs to have a responsible and profitable online gambling business.