Alberta has introduced a regulatory framework for an open commercial iGaming market, paving the way for licensed private operators to enter the province as early as this year, as officials seek to rein in a large unregulated online gambling sector.
The framework was unveiled on Wednesday, following discussions that began in 2024 on opening Alberta’s online gambling market. Provincial officials have said the model closely mirrors Ontario, which opened its regulated iGaming market to commercial operators in 2022 and has since licensed more than 45 companies.
The move is partly driven by the scale of unregulated online gambling in Alberta, which government estimates suggest accounts for about 70% of the province’s iGaming activity. At present, PlayAlberta, operated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), is the province’s only legal online gambling platform and captures between 23% and 32% of the market, according to provincial surveys.
“For Albertans who choose not to gamble, the best option is to not start,” Dave Nally, Alberta’s Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, said in a statement. “With unregulated iGaming widely available in our province, it is our responsibility to step in, regulate the market, and hold private providers to the highest standards to protect Albertans, particularly our youth.”
The legislative foundation for the market was laid last year with the passage of the iGaming Alberta Act, which established the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) to manage commercial relationships with operators. The AGLC will act as the regulator.
Under the framework, operators and suppliers will be required to complete a three-part registration process with the AGLC and enter into an operating agreement with the AiGC before launching.
Alberta will retain 20% of iGaming revenue, with 2% allocated to First Nations and 1% directed toward social responsibility initiatives, including gambling research and treatment for problem gambling. The framework also introduces a centralised self-exclusion system and strict advertising rules, including bans on targeted advertising to minors and high-risk individuals, as well as the use of current or retired athletes in promotions.
Nally told the Edmonton Journal that he expects operators to enter the market within “a few months,” after the province initially aimed to launch the open market by the end of 2024.
Industry executives have highlighted Alberta’s demographic appeal, pointing to the province’s young adult population, high per-capita GDP, and the highest per-capita gambling spend in Canada. In 2024, JMP Securities estimated Alberta’s gambling market could exceed $700 million annually.
PlayAlberta reported net sales of $275 million in 2025, an increase of $35 million from the previous year, despite its limited market share.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/19/117162-canada-alberta-sets-out-framework-for-open-igaming-market-ahead-of-2026-launch
