Alberta is set to become the second Canadian province to legalize its private online gambling market after the Legislative Assembly passed Bill 48, better known as the iGaming Alberta Act. The bill received the Lieutenant Governor’s Royal Assent on June 17, paving the way for a legalized market to kick off as soon as early 2026.
The move comes three years after Ontario implemented the same model, which has produced over $7 billion in gross market revenue from online gambling alone.
Despite not being proclaimed into force just yet, the Western Canadian province issued an “order in council” on June 4, announcing that several fundamental parts of Bill 48 have already been enforced. This brings Alberta closer to an Ontario-like competitive online gambling market, where private operators like FanDuel and BetMGM will come under provincial regulation as they offer sports betting and online casino games.
Current Online Gambling Landscape in Alberta
Generally, Canadian gambling laws do not prohibit online gambling, which is why many Canadians have opted for offshore sites. However, Canadian iGaming laws also give provinces the authority to set their own gambling laws. In this case, when provinces like Ontario create their own policies, there’s no more business for offshore sites, unless they submit to provincial regulation.
As of now, the only sanctioned online gambling site in Alberta is PlayAlberta, which Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) runs. And as expected, the lottery-operated site competes against offshore gambling sites, including those holding licenses in Ontario and the US, like Jackpot City and Bet365.
Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally, also Bill 48’s sponsor, stated that iGaming Alberta Act seeks to keep its players within a legal gambling ecosystem with robust consumer protections and whose generated revenue stays in the province.
“We’re not trying to grow the market or create new gamblers in Alberta. 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.”
Plans to Establish iGaming Alberta Corporation Underway
Among the sections that came into force on June 4 was the establishment of the iGaming Alberta Corporation. According to the section of the bill now in effect, the corporation is the new centrepiece for Alberta’s yet-to-be-established iGaming market.
Similar to iGaming Ontario, it will be responsible for developing, undertaking, organizing, conducting, and managing online lottery schemes — which includes table games and sports betting — on behalf of Alberta’s Government, as stated in the bill.
In other words, iGaming Alberta Corporation will be responsible for signing operating agreements, alongside other contracts that outline the responsibilities of private bookmakers operating within Alberta.
The new provisions, now in effect, also grant the provincial government the power to expand or clarify the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the iGaming Alberta Corporation. So far, another one of the explicit mandates of the agency is to promote responsible gaming in relation to lottery schemes within Alberta.
The responsible gaming aspect is important, as one of the bill’s most vocal critics, NDP MLA Gurinder Brar, proposed amending the bill by adding responsible gambling programs. However, Nally was very adamant that such issues should be discussed at a regulatory level, rather than as a legal matter.
“We don’t want to put player safety in legislation. We want to put it in regulation so that if we see something we want to turn around on a dime, we’re able to do it through an order in council, not a new piece of legislation.”
Alberta Set to Launch Regulated iGaming Market in Early 2026
With a few provisions of Bill 48 already in force, Alberta is already making major steps toward launching its commercial iGaming market in early 2026.
The dates when Bill 48 will be officially enforced are still unclear, as are the standards the regulator will set out for interested participants.
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