Alberta moves to regulate private online gambling with new legislation

Alberta has introduced legislation to regulate private-sector online gambling, aiming to shift players from unregulated offshore platforms to a legal framework that enhances consumer protections and retains gaming revenue within the province.  

The iGaming Alberta Act, tabled by the provincial government, would establish a new Crown corporation, the Alberta iGaming Corporation, to oversee the market. Regulation would remain under the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).  

Currently, AGLC-operated Play Alberta is the only regulated online gambling platform in the province. However, Alberta residents access offshore gambling sites, which operate in what is referred to as a “grey market.”  

The proposed legislation seeks to bring these platforms under provincial regulation, ensuring responsible gaming measures while preventing revenue from flowing out of Alberta.  

The government took inspiration from Ontario’s online gambling model, which generated $2.2 billion in gaming revenue in its second year following legalization.  

"Albertans have said to us, Why don’t you do the same here? Why don’t you put in place safety measures? Why don’t you stop the money from leaving the province, and keep some of it in Alberta?” said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.  

While expanding the market, Alberta officials acknowledge concerns over problem gambling and aggressive advertising, issues that have emerged in Ontario since its regulatory overhaul.  

David Hodgins, research director at the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, said: "With an expansion, the devil is in the details. We need a very cautious approach with strong safeguards in place."  

Proposed protective measures include:  
• Mandatory pre-commitment limits, requiring players to set spending caps before gambling.  

• A centralized self-exclusion system, allowing individuals to block themselves from all regulated gambling platforms, land-based casinos, and horse racing venues.  

The province also noted that while it can regulate advertisements from licensed gambling operators within Alberta, national and international ads remain outside its control under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).  

Alberta’s traditional casinos and charitable organizations have voiced opposition, fearing a loss of revenue from a shift to digital gambling.  

Michael Thompson, executive director of the Alberta Charitable Casino Operators, warned that the Ontario model has significantly impacted brick-and-mortar casinos and charities.  

"We think the Ontario model will be very damaging to casinos in Alberta and charities will lose out significantly. We think that's going to be a disaster and they need to take the time to get it right," Thompson said.  

In 2023-24, Alberta allocated CAD 409 million to charities, with CAD 79 million going to First Nation charities.  

Nally dismissed concerns that the legislation would harm charities, arguing that the unregulated online market is already diverting funds away from the province.  

"That money is leaving the province. Let’s have it happen in a safer format and keep some revenue in Alberta," he said.  

The government estimates that its Play Alberta website currently holds 45% of the province’s online gambling market, generating CAD 235 million in 2023-24, an increase of CAD 42 million from the previous year.  

Pending legislative approval, Alberta expects the new system to be operational later this year or in early 2026. Revenue-sharing details and additional regulatory measures will be announced in the coming months.