Alberta is on track to become the second Canadian province to open its iGaming sector for private operators. Just recently, the province announced that there will be adjustments to the Standards and Requirements for Internet Gaming.
With these changes, Alberta seeks to provide online sportsbook and casino operators with data-security flexibility and improved user protection measures.
Important Changes, says Regulator
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission recently published a bulletin, which read that there were important amendments made to the standards for the upcoming online casino and sports betting market in the province.
Naturally, third-party casinos and sportsbooks that wish to operate in the local iGaming sector will have to abide by the new rules. It’s worth noting that only last month the gambling watchdog issued the first batch of standards, and they are already getting an update.
Details on the New Market
At the moment, Alberta operates under a single-operator model, as the state-run PlayAlberta is the only provincially regulated platform for online gambling. But even with the existing legal option, local consumers still play at unregulated or grey-market casinos.
That’s why the province wants to expand the legal options and introduce an iGaming framework that is designed to include multiple private-sector operators. This will make Alberta the only the second Canadian province, after Ontario, to launch a competitive, regulated remote casino sector.
Under the new model, private online casinos would be allowed to operate legally in Alberta’s iGaming market. Licensed brands would be able to offer products such as online slots, table games, poker, and live dealer games.
The objective behind the new model is to bring back players to regulated platforms, which would be required to have player protection tools. In addition to that, the province will also tax these operators and keep a percentage of the gaming revenue in the province.
The rate for operators is yet to be announced, but it should be somewhere close to Ontario’s 20%. It’s also expected that a portion of that revenue will go to responsible and problem gambling programmes, while 2% will be set aside for First Nations in Alberta.
Two Key Provisions
The AGLC highlighted that two provisions in particular were altered, both of which are related to the security assurance standard requirement.
One of the amendments to the Standards noted that before operators can debut in the new regulated sector, they will be required to have a “current SOC 2 Type Attestation. These are normally issued by an independent auditor.
Still, it’s safe to say that the new requirement is sort of technical, as it pertains to the “System and Organisation Controls,” or SOC, of an operator.
“System and Organisation Controls 2 (SOC 2) is a cybersecurity compliance standard specifying ways for organisations to ensure their client data is stored and processed in a secure manner,” elaborated the Business Development Bank of Canada.
To simplify it, the gambling regulator seeks to make sure that iGaming brands have specific proof that they can protect consumer information in a certain way. The AGLC also demands that operators must initially provide proof before they can launch in the market.
Launch Date Yet to be Revealed
The exact launch date of the new iGaming framework is yet to be formally announced by the provincial government. However, in a recent interview, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally hinted that it could happen before the new NFL season.
“You won’t be asking me in the summer when the market’s going to be open. It’ll be before then,” shared Nally.
He also mentioned that the province has attracted plenty of interest from international gambling brands, which have inquired about applying for an iGaming license.
It remains to be seen just how many operators will apply for a permit. Under the proposed model, the province has not set a limit on the available licenses. Therefore, market participation will likely be determined by interest and commercial viability.
Fully Compliant with Regulations
Then, there’s the second adjustment to the iGaming standards, which reads that two years after the start of the market, operators would need to have a SOC “Type 2” attestation. This is an “ISO 27001” certification, or in other words, an equivalent to either of the above, with a prior AGLC license.
These new modifications may not mean much for the average player in Alberta. However, when it comes to operators, they will be expected to do their due diligence and thus protect the information of the local player base.
“In keeping with the Government of Alberta’s red tape reduction initiatives, these policies provide industry stakeholders with flexibility and efficiency in running their operations,” the AGLC said.
The province will likely make even more adjustments to the online casino standards prior to the launch of the sector in the coming months. These modifications will likely address the advertising aspect of the new iGaming regime, which must be officially updated to reflect the province’s rules. In the meantime, international gaming operators are eagerly awaiting the launch.
