British Columbia, Canada's second-largest province, mulls over plans to legalize online gambling.
Alberta's venturing into the world of legal online gambling seems imminent, following in the footsteps of Ontario, which legalized the practice back in 2022. By the looks of it, the Alberta landscape will be bustling with online gaming action by late 2025 or early 2026.
Overall, the regulatory and legislative process is progressing swiftly. The iGaming Alberta Act has been put through its paces, with the Committee of the Whole approving it, and looking forward to the Royal Assent, that final ceremonial step before the law takes effect.
Once the law goes into action, Alberta will become the second province to regulate online sports betting and casino games through licensed private operators, much like Ontario did. In fact, a new government entity, the Alberta iGaming Corporation, will be established, responsible for managing the online lottery schemes and overseeing the regulated market, modeled after Ontario's iGaming Ontario structure.
Moreover, industry insiders are pointing to a market launch around the same period as Ontario, with Flutter Entertainment, FanDuelβs parent company, planning to wade into the Alberta waters from early 2026.
Unlike Ontario, Alberta doesn't plan to cap the number of operators, hence, the market could potentially play host to numerous private-sector operators, as has been the case in Ontario with over 50 approved iGaming operators currently in operation.
Contracts between the provincial government and participating companies regarding taxes are still being thrashed out, but Alberta looks at Ontario's 20% revenue-sharing framework as a useful reference point.
For the wellbeing of both problem gamblers and the general public, a centralized self-exclusion system might be put in place to ensure gambling services remain safe and secure. Ultimately, the regulatory and safety standards will mirror those set in Ontarioβs regulated market, with both the Alberta iGaming Corporation and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) overseeing the market to ensure compliance.
- What about the trends in the financing of this expanding online casino-and-gambling industry, especially as Alberta prepares to join Ontario in legalizing online sports betting and casino games?
- As Alberta steps into the business of online gambling, it's crucial to address the topic of responsible gambling, given the potential growth in the number of private operators, much like Ontario's current scenario.
- With the Alberta iGaming Corporation set to manage the online lottery schemes and oversee the regulated market, it's important to ensure that gambling trends, including responsible gambling measures, are closely monitored and adapted, following the standards set in Ontario's regulated market.
