Alberta Enacts iGaming Law with Bill 48, Laying Groundwork for Competitive Online Gambling Scene

Alberta has made a significant move to open up its online gambling industry by passing Bill 48, dubbed the iGaming Alberta Act, which cleared its third reading in the provincial legislature this week.

With only the formality of Royal Assent left, Alberta is on track to establish a regulated iGaming market that could potentially compete with Ontario’s in scale and vision.

The new law sets the stage for the formation of the Alberta iGaming Corporation, a government body that will oversee and manage online lottery systems for the province.

This structure, inspired by Ontario’s iGaming Ontario model, aligns with Canada’s Criminal Code, which allows provinces to run gambling operations under a “conduct and manage” framework.

Once the law takes effect, Alberta will begin licensing private companies to provide online sports betting and casino games, ending the monopoly currently held by the province’s Play Alberta platform. This will make Alberta the second Canadian province to allow private iGaming operators, following Ontario’s market launch in 2022.

However, several hurdles remain before the market can go live. The province must now focus on developing regulations, establishing consumer safeguards, setting up licensing processes, and staffing the new iGaming Corporation. According to officials, these steps might delay the market’s launch until late 2025 or early 2026.

A representative from the Ministry of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction told Covers,

“The real work starts now. If Bill 48 is finalized, we’ll move forward with establishing the Alberta iGaming Corporation and collaborate with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission, as well as stakeholders, to build a regulatory framework that prioritizes player safety.”

There are still notable concerns to address. First Nations communities, which run casinos under existing provincial agreements, have expressed worries about the potential impact of iGaming on their businesses. Meanwhile, industry experts are keen to see how Alberta will manage the shift away from unregulated “grey market” operators, which currently dominate much of the province’s online gambling activity.

Ontario’s journey offers both guidance and lessons.

While its competitive market has drawn international operators and generated monthly wagers exceeding $1 billion, it also encountered early challenges, including regulatory complications, issues with paid fantasy sports, and heavy compliance demands on operators.

Alberta aims to streamline its rollout to sidestep some of these initial pitfalls.

The Alberta iGaming Corporation will handle revenue collection, directing net profits into the province’s general revenue fund.

While exact figures for taxes and licensing fees are still pending, the funds are expected to support public initiatives, such as addiction support programs and community services.