Last week, the Province of Alberta saw progress on its online casino initiative. The iGaming Alberta Act, also known as Bill 48, passed a second reading in the provincial Legislative Assembly.
The province’s model that would mimic Ontario’s framework has been in the works for a while now, and it could be up and running in early 2026. However, the iGaming expansion is far from official.
After years of discussions about a possible online gambling expansion in Alberta, Bill 48 was officially submitted in March 2025 by Dale Nally, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. If passed, the bill would allow licensed private operators to offer regulated iGaming in Alberta.
Heading for Committee Review
After successfully getting through the second reading in the Legislative Assembly, the gambling bill will now head to the “Committee of the Whole,” where it will be thoroughly reviewed and assessed. In its current stage, the bill can still undergo amendments and alterations before coming for a third and final vote in the Legislative Assembly.
Alberta to Become the Second Province with Legal iGaming
If enacted, the iGaming Alberta Act would make Alberta the second Canadian province to have a competitive iGaming market for third-party operators to offer online casino and sports betting. Still, to operate legally, those iGaming platforms would need to acquire a provincial license.
At the moment, the only legal iGaming offerings in the province are provided by the state-run Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission and its iGaming platform, PlayAlberta.
Addressing Grey Market Operations
One of the main reasons for the proposal of a regulated market is that, like in provinces, Albertans also have access to offshore brands that operate illegally and with no provincial supervision. According to the province, these grey market sites take up more than half of the online gambling activity in the jurisdiction.
Another reason for the introduction of such a market would be to keep a percentage of the revenue within the province. This way, the funds would be of better value, supporting various initiatives in the jurisdiction, including tackling problem gambling.
Furthermore, Bill 48 will keep the authority within AGLC. But it would also establish the Alberta iGaming Corporation. The latter will be responsible for licensing private operators, allowing them to conduct regulated iGaming activities within Alberta.
Protecting the Players
In a recent discussion, Nally, who also sponsors the iGaming bill, asserted that the legislation was not a ‘cash grab’ and the province was not trying to create new gamblers. Instead, the notion is to provide more protection for the existing player base.
Still, the province will also claim a portion of the gambling revenue. Here’s what Nally said in full:
“Once the regulated market is established, Alberta’s government will be able to capture gambling revenues currently lost to unregulated sites often located outside of Alberta This new revenue can be used to support First Nations as well as social responsibility initiatives and other government priorities.”
Concerns Around Regulation and Safety
While the Alberta iGaming Act advances through the legislature, there are certain questions and concerns about what rules will be imposed on third-party operators and whether there will be rules on advertising and responsible gambling.
NDP critic, Gurinder Brar, is one of the worried about the model of the iGaming market. He said:
“This approach is just like buying a car without knowing if it has brakes or a steering wheel. It’s bound to lead to a crash.”
However, Nally and the Conservative government assured that there would be regulations in place to fill the blanks left out by the current legislation. This is what happened in Ontario. The province launched its market in April 2022 without having a centralised self-exclusion platform. Such a measure is still in the works.
Alberta also doesn’t have a centralised self-exclusion platform, and it doesn’t look like it will have one in place before the launch of its regulated online gambling sector.
Potential Impact on Land-Based Casinos and Charities
As seen with NDP critic, Gurinder Brar, not everyone is a fan of the proposed iGaming expansion for Alberta. Charities and brick-and-mortar casinos are alarmed about the possible implications on their existing operations.
A while ago, Michael Thompson, Executive Director of the Alberta Charitable Casino Operators, shared his position on the topic:
“We think the Ontario (open) model will be very damaging to casinos in Alberta, and charities will lose out significantly as a result. We think that's going to be a disaster, and they need to take the time to get it right.”
According to AGLC, from 2023 to 2024, the province delivered CA$409 million for charities, with CA$79 million arriving from host First Nation charities.
Nally acknowledged the concerns of charities and said the issue is already underway. He explained that gambling money is leaving the province, and a regulated iGaming sector would help keep those funds within the province’s borders.
Timeline for the New Market
It remains to be seen whether Alberta will pass the iGaming legislation and kick-start its own competitive market for private operators. In the meantime, Nally insists that the local government will take the time it needs to perform the responsible steps towards the market. He said the focus is on doing it right, instead of doing it quickly.
Nally also addressed the speculation of the market going live by the end of this year, and described it as very optimistic. In his opinion, the iGaming model should be up and running by the end of Q1 or Q2 next year.
