Alberta, Canada has officially introduced an online gambling (iGaming) regulatory framework, planning to fully open commercial operations by 2026. This move aims to regulate the province's illegal online gambling market, which accounts for over 70%, with cross-border gambling compliance guidelines available on the PASA official website for reference.
Framework Core: Clear Division of Regulation and Revenue Distribution
The iGaming framework in Alberta, modeled after Ontario, has established a clear system of responsibilities and benefits distribution:
Dual regulatory bodies: The newly established Alberta Online Gambling Corporation (AiGC) is responsible for market coordination, while the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) takes on regulatory functions to ensure compliance;
Revenue distribution rules: The government will retain 20% of online gambling revenue, with 2% specifically allocated to support Indigenous communities, and 1% for research and treatment programs related to responsible gambling;
Market size expectations: JMP Securities predicts that the province's online gambling market could exceed $700 million annually, with the only legal platform PlayAlberta reaching a net sales of $275 million in 2025, a 14.5% increase year-over-year.
Market Access: Three-step Application Process + Operator Rules
Operators looking to enter the Alberta market must go through a strict entry process and adhere to clear rules:
The application process is divided into three steps: first register with AGLC and submit an application, sign a cooperation agreement with AiGC after passing the review, and then go online after completing the record;
Drawing on the experience of Ontario, which attracted over 45 operators after opening in 2022, Alberta is also expected to welcome a diverse competitive landscape;
Prohibitive rules are clear: Advertising must not target high-risk individuals or minors, nor can it use the image of active or retired athletes for promotion.
Player Protection: Multiple Mechanisms to Build a Safe Defense Line
The framework places player protection in a prominent position, introducing several targeted measures:
Establishing a unified self-exclusion system, players can voluntarily apply to restrict participation in online gambling, reducing addiction risks from the source;
Strengthening advertising regulation, eliminating inducive promotions, and requiring operators to display responsible gambling consultation channels;
Combining Alberta's demographic advantages of "Canada's youngest adult population + highest per capita GDP + highest per capita gambling expenditure", the framework aims to stimulate market vitality while maintaining safety standards.
Market Background: Illegal Market Forces Regulatory Reform
The core motive for the introduction of this framework is the proliferation of the illegal market — 70% of online gambling transactions in the province flow to unregulated platforms, which neither protect player rights nor contribute to government tax revenue.
Alberta's Minister of Service, Dave Nally, stated that the government has a responsibility to intervene and establish a high-standard regulatory system to protect the public, especially the youth, from illegal platforms. Although the initial plan was to start the market by the end of 2024, after several rounds of optimization and adjustment, it was finally decided to officially open in 2026 to ensure a more stable implementation of the framework.
————
This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader" gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
