The path toward Alberta’s regulated online gambling market continues to take shape, with work on the province’s new iGaming framework and conduct-and-manage agency expected to surface early next year. Interest around the timing intensified through 2025 as the province manoeuvred through legislative steps, industry consultations, and shifting political dynamics.
Originally projected for late 2025, the anticipated launch moved to early 2026 after the iGaming Alberta Act passed in May. During the Canadian Gaming Summit in June, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally outlined plans to reconvene with cabinet colleagues in the fall to examine critical points such as regulations, advertising expectations, and tax matters. That process has unfolded without major public updates since summer.
Progress Toward the Province’s New iGaming Structure
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis is expected to continue running Play Alberta while staying on as the regulator. Alongside it, the province is building the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which will take on a role similar to iGaming Ontario by managing private-sector activity in the upcoming market.
Nally’s press secretary Kevin Lee said the ministry has remained in contact with industry participants and other partners to lay the groundwork for the new environment. “We continue to meet with members of the iGaming industry and other interested partners so we can get the launch of a private, regulated iGaming market in Alberta right,” Lee said. He added that these discussions range from regulatory development to market registration and responsible gambling tools like the planned province-wide self-exclusion program.
Lee noted that the Alberta iGaming Corporation “is a statutory corporation, created when the iGaming Alberta Act was passed this past spring,” and that efforts continue to complete the setup of the organization. According to him, “We anticipate regulations could be finalized soon and look forward to sharing more details about Alberta iGaming Corporation in early 2026.”
Operators Adjust Expectations for Market Entry
In the absence of firm launch details, commercial operators that already function in Ontario have begun recalibrating their timelines. In August, PointsBet CEO Sam Swanell pointed to the second quarter of 2026 as a likely window, while Super Group — parent company of Betway and Jackpot City — suggested in November that the latter half of the year appeared more realistic.
While the broad shape of the market is clear — licensed online sports betting and online casino options, multiple operators, and a shared self-exclusion system — several important items remain unresolved. The tax rate, advertising limits, and any possibility of shared liquidity with Ontario are still unknown. National debate around betting-ad restrictions continues to add another layer of uncertainty.
Political Pressure Surrounding Minister Nally
The timeline has also been influenced by an issue independent of the regulatory file. Nally is one of several United Conservative Party MLAs facing a recall petition. Elections Alberta confirmed that signature collection is underway across multiple districts, and if enough signatures are gathered within three months, affected constituencies would hold a vote on whether the MLA should keep their seat.
CBC reported that the broader recall effort reflects frustration from citizens upset by the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause during a teacher strike, or by concerns that certain MLAs are not engaging with constituents. Nally represents Morinville-St. Albert and leads the online gambling file. He said he believes the individual who filed for his removal is acting as a proxy for a group looking to trigger an early provincial election.
Petitioner Joshua Eberhart said, “As a taxpayer, two of the things that I value most are education and health care, and I think they’re being mismanaged a little bit by our current government, which includes my local representative.” Meanwhile, the governing party expressed frustration with how the recall mechanism is being used, noting that it originally intended the process for situations involving serious misconduct.
Nally addressed the matter in comments to the St. Albert Gazette, stating that the recall process “should not be used to overturn democratic elections just because an individual disagrees with government policy.” His office did not offer further remarks when asked by Canadian Gaming Business. Premier Danielle Smith also stood by Nally as questions arose about whether he had misused confidential electoral information, something he denied after acknowledging an error in assuming the petitioner had not voted previously.
As Alberta continues preparing its regulated iGaming market, the coming months are expected to deliver clarity on the regulatory framework and the operational details of the new Alberta iGaming Corporation, putting the province on course for a commercial launch in 2026.
Source:
Alberta iGaming regulations coming soon, hopes minister’s office, Details on Alberta iGaming Corporation to come in early 2026, canadiangamingbusiness.com, November 28, 2025
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