The Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission has announced a termination date of July 13, 2026, for gray market online gambling platforms to cease operations in the Canadian province. This is in anticipation of the launch of private online sports betting and iGaming platforms at some point this year.
Groundwork Completed
Alberta is working toward a competitive iGaming and sports betting market that combines online platforms with expanded in-person betting at casinos, racetracks, and sports venues. Regulators have introduced new rules, including a ban on betting on elections, tax and revenue-sharing frameworks, and a centralized self-exclusion system designed to protect players.
Online betting platforms will be required to allocate 3% of their gross revenues to the province’s tribal nations and then be levied a 20% tax thereafter. Land-based venues like casinos, racetracks, and sports venues, including Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, will be taxed at 35% of their earnings.
Player protection is another key focus. Casinos will now be required to install electronic systems that connect to a province-wide self-exclusion program. This upgraded digital platform will allow individuals to block themselves from both physical gambling venues and online sites at any time.
According to officials, once the new market launches, this centralized system will make it easier for people to exclude themselves from all regulated gambling options in Alberta.
Preparing to Launch
All of these developments reveal that the province is steadily moving closer to launching its regulated sports betting and online casino market. When it goes live, it will expand the number of legal iGaming options beyond the current single platform, Play Alberta, to include major operators like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Dozens of operators have expressed keen interest in Alberta’s online gaming market, with a reported 55 operators having requested information about obtaining licenses, according to the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission.
However, as of this writing, only nine operators have paid the required licensing fees.
Caesars, along with theScore, PointsBet, and BetRivers, have all opened up pre-registration in anticipation of the looming launch. Caesars has been particularly active by announcing signups for Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Palace Online, and Horseshoe Online Casino.
The exact launch date is still uncertain, though current expectations point to late June or early July. Some steps remain, including appointing a board for the newly created Alberta iGaming Corp.
