Alberta is continuing its shift toward a regulated online gambling market, with recent measures emphasizing enforcement, licensing standards, and player safeguards rather than a firm launch date. The province is building the regulatory foundation for private operators to enter a market that officials expect to be fully operational by 2026.
Discussions about opening Alberta’s iGaming market began in 2024, prompted by estimates that roughly 70% of online gambling in the province occurs through unregulated sites. PlayAlberta, operated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), remains the only legal platform and captures only a portion of total activity, estimated at about one-quarter to one-third of the market.
Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally has described regulation as a necessary response to that imbalance. “For Albertans who choose not to gamble, the best option is to not start. 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.” Nally told the Edmonton Journal that operators could begin entering the market within “a few months,” despite earlier expectations of a 2024 launch.
Regulatory Setup And Operator Entry
The iGaming Alberta Act, passed last year, created the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) to manage commercial agreements, while AGLC serves as the regulator and will continue running PlayAlberta alongside private competitors. This approach closely mirrors Ontario’s system, which has licensed more than 45 operators since launching in 2022. At the 2024 Canadian Gaming Summit, Entain executive Martin Lycka called Ontario the “platinum standard of iGaming regulation.”
Operators must register with AGLC and then finalize agreements with AiGC before offering services. AGLC has already begun accepting applications, even though the market launch remains months away.
Fees, Taxes, And Safeguards
Entry costs include a $50,000 application fee and a $150,000 annual registration fee per site. Platform providers pay $15,000 annually, while certain suppliers pay $3,000. Alberta will retain 20% of iGaming revenue, with 2% allocated to First Nations funding and 1% directed to social responsibility initiatives, resulting in an effective tax rate of about 22%.
Standards released Jan. 13 require a centralized self-exclusion system, mandatory responsible gambling tools, and advertising restrictions. The rules state that “advertising and marketing materials must contain a responsible gambling message” and ban promotions targeting minors or using professional athletes.
Market Size And Remaining Work
Executives have pointed to Alberta’s young adult population, high per-capita GDP, and strong gambling spend as indicators of market potential. JMP Securities estimated in 2024 that the province’s iGaming market could exceed $700 million annually. PlayAlberta generated $275 million in net sales in 2025, a $35 million increase from the previous year.
Alberta will also permit land-based casinos, racing entertainment centres, and professional sports teams to partner with licensed operators to open retail sportsbooks. Recruitment continues to staff the AiGC, with AGLC vice-president of gaming Dan Keene serving as interim chief executive as the province finalizes its regulatory buildout.
Source:
“Alberta publishes awaited iGaming standards, proposes tax rate”, canadiangamingbusiness.com, January 14, 2026
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