People like having a choice, and online casino players in Alberta are no different. Currently, government-run PlayAlberta exclusively offers plenty of slots, table games, live dealer, instant win titles, and sports betting markets. Yet, according to H2 Gambling Capital, only 45% use this platform, with 55% gambling on offshore sites like Bet365 and Jackpot City.
In a bid to protect players, offer more choice, and keep money made in Alberta within the province lines, Albertan legislators, led by Dale Nally, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister, introduced Bill 48 or the iGaming Alberta Act.
In May 2025, the bill passed the third reading and is only one step away from being proclaimed into force. As soon as early 2026, players will be able to choose from multiple licensed private operators like PlayOJO, BetMGM, and Stake in a fully regulated iGaming market.
Safer and More Transparent Choices for Albertan Players
Albertan lawmakers have long been concerned about channelization, constantly questioning why most residents prefer gambling at unlicensed sites. In response, legislators proposed a liberal online gambling and sports betting market. Just like Ontario’s iGaming framework, they seek to allow private operators to apply for a license and offer their products locally in a safe and regulated environment.
One of the perks of having a regulated commercial iGaming market in Alberta is that players no longer have to settle for PlayAlberta. Rather, Albertans will have an extensive list of gaming options, alongside Alberta-specific bonuses and payment services. This shift is expected to instill more trust and confidence in players, moving focus from, “Is this site safe,” to, “Which site offers the best experience.”
However, experts say that more choice in gambling platforms increases the likelihood of addiction, especially among young boys and men. When players have more casino games and sports betting options, the more the tendency to gamble more often and across multiple sites. And with approximately 2% of Canadians identified as problem gamblers, offering more choice without strong responsible gaming measures will push that number higher.
Increased Consumer Protections to Be Put in Place
About 131,905 adults in the western province have moderate to severe gambling disorders — around 4.8% of the gambling population. For that reason, Albertan regulators are making robust consumer protection a key part of iGaming reform.
Officials say the new framework will combine more choice with a range of mandatory player protections to reduce harm. Expect to see:
- Robust age and ID checks
- Mandatory deposit and loss limits
- Province-wide self-exclusion registry
- Real-time behaviour monitoring that trigger warnings or temporary account holds
Operators will also have to display clear, standardized odds, and house edge, while also providing easy access to support and treatment resources. Like Ontario’s iGaming model, they might also contribute to a fund for counseling and public education.
Tighter advertising rules to protect youth and vulnerable groups, independent audits of fairness and compliance, along with stronger penalties for non-compliance are also on the table. In all, regulators say this will allow players to have more legal options while minimizing the risk that more choice will mean more social and health costs.
“We’re not trying to grow the market or create new gamblers in Alberta,” Nally says. “Our goal is to implement a regulated market for private companies to legally operate online gambling sites where safeguards are in place, consumers are protected, and market integrity and social responsibility are top of mind.”
Play Alberta’s Responsible Gambling Approach
The AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) maintains strict measures on responsible play through its online gaming platform, Play Alberta.
Larry Spagnolo, the new AGLC board chair, recently told Focus Gaming News: “One of Play Alberta’s core values is Responsible Play, and the platform has integrated AGLC’s best-in-class responsible gambling programs in both GameSense and Self-Exclusion, giving players a trusted iGaming destination. Responsible Play also means responsible access. Since launching Play Alberta in 2020, the website has maintained a world-class age gating system, only granting access to legal-aged Albertans.”
Although PlayAlberta is not a gambling authority, it mirrors AGLC’s stringent approach to responsible gaming. As Alberta’s regulated iGaming market launch looms in early 2026, industry experts expect similar safeguards, including robust age verification, province-wide self-exclusion programs, and player education tools, to be built into the new framework. And if that’s the case, it would mean the province is opening up its iGaming borders without compromising on player protections or responsible play.
What’s unknown is the timeline for the iGaming Alberta Act to come into effect, as are the regulatory requirements that private operators will have to clear. Until then, stakeholders are waiting to see how Alberta balances market growth and increased player choice with responsible play.
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