Around 55% of Albertans gamble at offshore online casinos and sports betting sites. Several reports have recently suggested that Play Alberta, the province’s only regulated online gambling site, captures only 25%-45% of the Albertan iGaming market.
In a bid to recapture billions of dollars in offshore gambling revenue, lawmakers this year approved Bill 48 aka iGaming Alberta Act. The bill seeks to bring offshore sites, such as Stake Casino and Jackpot City, aboard by opening up the province’s iGaming market to private operators.
But the reality on the ground is pretty clear: Albertans prefer gambling at offshore sites more than Play Alberta. Here’s what Nally had to say about offshore gambling in Alberta at a press conference soon after tabling Bill 48:
“The reality is that online gambling is alive and well in this province. Suppose this legislation doesn’t pass; that won’t stop online gambling from continuing to grow.”
The Persistent Pull of Offshore Sites in Alberta
Alberta lawmakers are actively working on launching an Ontario-style iGaming market in Alberta as soon as the first few months of 2026. Meanwhile, players in Alberta continue to flock to offshore gambling sites. These sites aren’t new to Albertans – they’ve been operating in the digital shadows for years, building loyalty with their unique offerings.
While this trend persists despite Play Alberta’s efforts to push an Alberta-friendly gambling environment, the question remains: Why can’t PlayAlberta hold onto its audience?
After all, the government-backed site was supposed to be a safer, homegrown alternative. Instead, many players see it as limited, restrictive, or just plain uncompetitive compared to what’s available offshore.
Offshore Casinos Offer More Variety
Offshore casinos are known for their huge game libraries. Games are usually available in the thousands, ranging from popular online slots to table games, live games and niche specialty titles. And it also helps that they partner with top game studios like Games Global, Pragmatic Play, and Evolution Gaming to deliver games Albertans already know and love.
In contrast, Play Alberta’s game library is modest. While it has a good mix of slots, table games, and lottery-style games, the selection is limited and updates are slow.
For players who want novelty or the latest releases, the regulated site feels restrictive. This is one of PlayAlberta’s most obvious blindspots, pushing players to offshore sites that deliver scale, variety, and freshness in their game menus.
Play Alberta Bonuses Cater to Locals, But Fall Short on Generosity
Feeding more into Play Alberta’s blindspot is its variety of bonuses. Play Alberta offers a decent variety of incentives, including welcome bonuses, cashbacks, reload offers, and even exclusive offers for betting on popular Alberta sports teams. Offshore sites, on the other hand, provide a more general variety, but with bigger bonus amounts.
For instance, new signups at PlayAlberta who deposit $10 get $50 in bonus cash. But if such a player creates an account on Slots Magic, they can get a 100% match up to $2,000 + 200 extra spins with as little as a $10 initial deposit.
This contrast highlights the stark difference between the two options. Sure, responsible and sustainable play as reinforced in Play Alberta is crucial. But when it’s put against bigger bonuses, the winner is pretty obvious.
How PlayAlberta’s Digital Experience Stacks Up Against Offshore Sites
Play Alberta got a new, more vibrant logo to better illustrate its homegrown advantage. Its mobile app also received a revamped look to feature a cleaner and faster interface with more verticals.
“Play Alberta is an entertainment destination for Albertans,” said AGLC VP of Gaming Dan Keene. “Expanding the features available to them through the app continues to optimize their playing experience. I’m excited to see the brand evolve from where we started five years ago to what it has become today, celebrating a unique Alberta platform, with an identity that celebrates our province.”
Still, the features come second when put against popular offshore sites like PlayOJO, which invest heavily in mobile-first design, with fast-loading apps, seamless in-game transitions, and built-in personalization tools. Some even offer cryptocurrency payments and advanced live betting dashboards.
PlayAlberta’s interface is functional, complete with digital wallet integration and adequate responsible play tools. However, its customization options and interactive elements remain limited.
Ontario Offers a Blueprint to Tackling Alberta’s Offshore Challenge
Ontario has proven offshore dominance is not inevitable. Since launching its competitive iGaming market in April 2022, the province has directed more than 80% of Canadian online casino and sports betting activity to local regulated sites. That leaves about 20% of the market tied to offshore or unregulated operators — a much smaller share than Alberta’s 55%.
Ontario officials credit their success to a two-pronged approach: allowing private operators to enter the regulated market and applying pressure to those who don’t. At the recent Canadian Gaming Summit, Attorney General Doug Downey said:
“The market’s matured enough now that people have had an opportunity, and if they’re not going to go through the door, it’s time that they stop playing in our market. And I think iGaming Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and the responsible gaming people all understand that that’s really important. So I think you’ll see a little bit more aggressive approach in that space.”
For Alberta, the message is clear: A monopoly like PlayAlberta’s won’t pull players away from established offshore brands. Ontario’s model shows a competitive market, combined with active measures to shut off offshore operators’ visibility, is the way to keep gambling dollars onshore.
Alberta is already moving toward launching a commercialized iGaming market and stakeholders can’t wait to see how it will do that.
About the Author
