Alberta iGaming Market Launches With 22 Platforms on Day One

Alberta’s regulated commercial online gambling market began operating on July 13 with 22 approved websites available to residents. The opening made Alberta the second Canadian province to introduce a competitive market involving multiple private operators, more than four years after Ontario launched its model in April 2022.

The provincial Play Alberta platform continues to operate within the expanded system. Licensed private companies can now provide online casino gaming and sports wagering under Alberta’s regulatory structure. Alberta iGaming Corporation counted separate casino and sportsbook websites under the same corporate brands when confirming the opening-day total.

Major operators in the initial group included bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Caesars. Betty, BetVictor, DAZN Bet and BetRivers also went live, alongside several other approved platforms. By the time the market opened, authorities had cleared more than 50 casino and sportsbook websites, almost 60 gaming systems providers and 14 platform providers.

The number of brands available immediately made the Alberta debut the largest online gambling market opening in North America based on first-day platform participation.

Provincial Rules Set Player Protection Requirements

Officials held a ribbon-cutting event at Edmonton’s Royal Glenora Club to mark the start of the market. Government representatives joined industry officials and other participants who helped develop the framework.

“Alberta is taking an important step forward with the launch of a regulated iGaming market,” said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, who introduced the iGaming Alberta Act (Bill 48) in the spring of 2025. “Our focus has been clear from the start: to protect Albertans, especially young people, and ensure that those who choose online gaming can do so in a responsible environment.”

Alberta iGaming Corporation manages and conducts the commercial market. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis oversees and regulates the participating operators.

Licensed sites must confirm that players meet the legal age requirement. They must also provide tools that allow customers to set financial limits and control the time they spend gambling. Operators must issue gaming activity statements and provide access to self-exclusion. The province’s self-exclusion system applies across regulated online sites and land-based gambling venues, including racing entertainment centres.

The rules require operators to act when monitoring systems detect behaviour linked to higher gambling risk. Advertising standards prevent companies from directing promotions toward minors or vulnerable groups.

Provincial officials have presented regulation as a way to move gambling activity away from offshore websites and into the licensed market. Alberta iGaming Corporation estimated that unregulated offshore services previously handled about 70% of online gambling in the province.

“Alberta has built a thoughtful and collaborative iGaming framework that reflects the highest standards of player protection and responsible gaming,” said Alberta iGaming Corporation CEO Dan Keene. “Alberta’s market sets clear expectations for operators and creates a responsible, competitive environment for the industry. The Alberta iGaming Corporation is well prepared to conduct and manage the regulated market on behalf of the province.”

Revenue Distribution and Supplier Launches Begin

The financial structure requires approved operators to direct 20% of net revenue to Alberta’s General Revenue Fund. The fund supports public services and provincial programs.

The framework allocates another 3% of total gross gaming revenue for specified uses. First Nations receive 2%, while social responsibility programs receive 1%. The latter allocation covers areas that include gambling addiction research and mental health treatment.

Several companies entered Alberta with multiple websites. Caesars launched Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, Caesars Palace Online Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino. PENN Entertainment introduced theScore Bet, theScore Casino and Hollywood Casino. DraftKings opened its primary sportsbook and casino platform together with Golden Nugget Online Casino.

Game suppliers also expanded their distribution through partnerships with licensed operators. IGT PlayDigital provided more than 130 games at launch, and Aristocrat Interactive initially made about 40 titles available. Evolution extended content that Play Alberta already offered to newly regulated commercial brands. Pragmatic Play, Light & Wonder and Inspired Entertainment also announced Alberta approvals or market entries.

The new rules affected daily fantasy sports as well. DraftKings withdrew that product from Alberta because the framework does not allow the cross-provincial or international player pooling required for its operation.

More Approved Brands Await Market Entry

Registration records showed that 28 approved brands had not started operating by July 13. The pending list included websites associated with Bally’s, Super Group, Entain, SkillOnNet and Apollo Entertainment. Betano, 888, PointsBet and BET99 also appeared among the approved products awaiting launch, together with several brands connected to Alberta.

The number of pending websites indicates that the market’s available selection could increase considerably after its opening phase. Play Alberta will remain active as those private platforms enter.

H2 Gambling Capital forecast that Alberta could produce C$1.7 billion in gross gaming revenue during its second regulated year. The projection placed combined revenue at almost C$2.8 billion within fewer than two calendar years.

The same analysis estimated that regulated platforms currently account for about 32% of Alberta’s online gambling activity. It projected that licensed sites could eventually increase that share to 87%. Ontario reported that more than 90% of online gamblers used regulated platforms in its latest reporting period.

Ontario is expected to retain its position as Canada’s largest regulated online gambling market. Alberta still has substantial per-capita potential, while the approved brands waiting to launch create further capacity for growth beyond the first 22 websites.

Source:

Alberta iGaming Launch Brings 22 Platforms Online on Day One, casinoreports.ca, July 14, 2026