Alberta 1 signature away from legalizing online casinos and sports betting
Alberta’s gambling landscape is about to change fundamentally and permanently. Bill 48, officially known as the Alberta iGaming Act, has cleared every legislative hurdle. The only step left now is a final signature from Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani. Once she grants Royal Assent, which is widely expected, Alberta will become the second province in Canada, after Ontario, to launch a fully regulated market for online casinos and sports betting.
This isn’t a pilot but a full-scale legislative framework. The groundwork is done. The province has committed to establishing a competitive, open-licence iGaming model, one that opens the doors to Alberta Casinos and introduces a new provincial body: the Alberta iGaming Corporation.
AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis), which currently oversees PlayAlberta.ca, will retain regulatory oversight. But unlike today’s system, Alberta won’t just have one government-run platform. With Bill 48, the province is building a structure where private Canadian online casinos can apply for licences, advertise legally, and contribute tax revenue back into provincial coffers.
While the exact go-live date hasn’t been locked in, most signs point to an official launch sometime in early to mid-2026, with some hoping for late 2025 if rollout logistics move quickly.
Why this matters to Canadian players
If you’re a Canadian who’s ever placed a sports bet online or played virtual blackjack, chances are you’ve done it on a site based overseas. In Alberta, PlayAlberta is the only current legal option, and yet it controls less than 50% of the local online gambling market. Some experts peg its share closer to 25%.
That means most Albertans are gambling in the “grey market” using offshore platforms with no provincial regulation, no real consumer protection, and no money coming back into the province. Bill 48 aims to fix that, not by banning those players or platforms, but by offering a better alternative.
Minister Dale Nally made it plain: “Our goal is not to create new players, but to make existing online gaming safer.” This new legislation brings oversight, introduces standards, and gives gamblers a local, regulated environment instead of sending money to Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao-based sites with little accountability.
Legal iGaming also helps with transparency. Under a regulated system, there will be complaint procedures, player verification, protection against underage gambling, and clearer rules around marketing and bonuses. It’s what a lot of Canadians especially in Alberta have been asking for. And now, it’s close.
What Will Change with Legalization in Alberta
Let’s break this down. What will actually shift once the law is signed and the market goes live?
Access to Legal Operators
This is the big one. Currently, Alberta players are limited to PlayAlberta, the only provincially sanctioned platform. Once Bill 48 is implemented, that changes. Multiple licenced operators, both international and domestic, will be able to offer sports betting and online casino services to Alberta residents. This mirrors Ontario’s system, which has around 50 active operators, including BetMGM, theScore, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
Stronger Safeguards
Operators will be required to implement identity verification, age checks, betting limits, and mandatory responsible gaming tools. A centralized self-exclusion system will let players block themselves from all licenced sites in one step, something Ontario still hasn’t fully implemented, even years after its launch.
Tighter Control on Promotions
Expect a crackdown on misleading bonus offers. Alberta’s framework is expected to mirror Ontario’s in regulating how promotions are presented. That means fewer deceptive “risk-free” bets or buried wagering requirements.
Dispute Resolution Channels
If something goes wrong, let’s say a withdrawal is frozen or a bet gets voided, players will finally have access to a regulated complaints process. No more chasing offshore support teams or accepting bad outcomes with no recourse.
Government Oversight and Tax Benefits
Ontario collects 20% of revenue from licenced operators. Alberta hasn’t locked in its exact rate yet, but forecasts suggest the province could generate between $50 million and $100 million annually once the market is mature.
Stronger Advertising Rules
While details are still under development, expect a move to restrict advertising aimed at youth, limits on celebrity endorsements, and better clarity on gambling-related promotions, similar to Ontario’s rules.
Additional Changes That Will Come With Regulation in Alberta
Yes, again. The section deserves a repeat because these points matter.
Licenced Operators Join the Game
For players, the most immediate change is choice. With legal access to a wide variety of Alberta casinos, you’re no longer limited to one site. Operators will compete based on odds, interface, features, and customer experience. That’s a win for the player.
Self-Exclusion Across All Platforms
This is arguably Alberta’s biggest improvement over Ontario. The self-exclusion system here will cover all commercial gambling platforms in the province, not just one operator at a time.
Oversight Comes With Teeth
The new Alberta iGaming Corporation will oversee licences, compliance, and contracts. The AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) will enforce broader gambling laws. So yes, for the first time, real enforcement with real consequences is coming to Alberta’s digital gambling space.
From Grey to Regulated
Grey market operators, currently unlicensed but widely used, will be given a pathway into the regulated market. Rather than banning them outright, Alberta plans to encourage them to apply and meet local standards.
M Comparisons to Ontario
Ontario is the obvious benchmark. It launched Canada’s first regulated iGaming market in April 2022. Since then, it’s attracted about 49 registered operators managing more than 80 websites, generated $2.4 billion in gross revenue, and delivered $490 million in provincial tax contributions.
Alberta aims to follow suit but improves on a few things.
Open Licence Model
Like Ontario, Alberta plans to welcome global operators. Companies like FanDuel, BetRivers, and PointsBet are already preparing for entry. But Alberta’s not capping the number of licences which means more competition, more innovation, and more choices.
From Monopoly to Market
PlayAlberta will still exist, but it will no longer be the only option. In fact, it may become just one of many forced to compete like everyone else. This has the potential to drive up quality and reduce complacency.
Room for Alberta-Based Operators
There’s a buzz around potential involvement from local gaming entities and First Nations operators. If Alberta structures its licence program right, we could see domestic competition thrive alongside big-name brands.
Learning from Ontario’s Pitfalls
Alberta is also watching Ontario’s missteps. These include too many ads, inadequate automation in anti-money laundering processes, and confusion around platform legitimacy. Alberta wants to avoid those early growing pains.
What Happens Next
The new bill now sits with Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani. Once she grants Royal Assent (a mostly ceremonial but necessary formality), it becomes law. From there:
- The Alberta iGaming Corporation will be officially formed.
- The AGLC will begin drafting and enforcing new regulatory policies.
- Applications will open for operators to become licensed.
- Technical and compliance standards will be finalized.
The entire process will take months. There’s infrastructure to build, licences to review, and agreements to sign. However, the target window remains Q1 or Q2 2026 for a full market launch, with some aiming for late 2025 if the transition is smooth.
In the meantime, players should keep their eyes open for:
- Official operator announcements
- Public updates from the Alberta iGaming Corporation
- Launch of responsible gambling tools
- New advertising and marketing rules
Alberta’s online gambling era is nearly here. And this time, it’s being built with purpose, structure, fairness, safety, and the chance to finally reclaim a market that’s been leaking into the offshore void for far too long.