- Province of Alberta plans to open regulated sports activities betting markets to non-public operators
- iGaming Alberta Act would create Alberta iGaming Company to manage sports activities betting
- Play Alberta is at present the one regulated Alberta sports activities betting choice
Final week the province of Alberta introduced plans to develop their sports activities betting choices by opening the doorways for personal operators to acquire licenses.
The plan was launched by way of the iGaming Alberta Act (Invoice 48) and would see the creation of the Alberta iGaming Company, overseen by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Hashish Fee (AGLC). Alberta has been providing authorized and controlled sports activities betting by way of Play Alberta since 2021, the one authorized on-line on line casino in Canada within the province.
Alberta Goals to Maintain Gaming Income In-Province
There may be precedent and a mannequin already in place to comply with in Canada. Ontario has been working within the business markets since 2022. At present there are 49 licensed personal operators in Ontario. The sportsbooks and casinos run alongside Proline+, operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Company (OLG).
Ontario iGaming introduced in $2.2 billion in income in simply the second 12 months of working.
Play Alberta created $235 million in gaming income throughout 2023-2024, however that’s solely anticipated to be just below half of the market share, in line with Dale Nally, Service Alberta Minister.
By opening the market to further business operators, the hope is to extend that market share at present being occupied by offshore markets.
“The purpose is to carry extra gamers right into a authorized system, add client protections like self-exclusion instruments, and preserve playing income within the province somewhat than lose it to unregulated or offshore websites,” says Nally.
“The purpose is to carry extra gamers right into a authorized system, add client protections like self-exclusion instruments, and preserve playing income within the province somewhat than lose it to unregulated or offshore websites.” – Dale Nally, Service Alberta Minister
Invoice 48 requires further particulars to be specified by the approaching months corresponding to income splits, accountable playing precautions and a tax charge. Ought to Invoice 48 achieve approval by the Alberta authorities, the expectation is that commercially-licensed Alberta sports activities betting operators may start taking bets in early 2026.
Present Alberta Sports activities Betting Choices
Whereas the AGLC-run Play Alberta is the one regulated choice for Alberta sports activities betting, it’s hardly the one choice.
A number of offshore Canada sportsbooks function globally and settle for gamers from Canada and Alberta.
These sportsbooks are in a position to function in what is usually referred to as the “gray market,” being neither authorized nor unlawful. Offshore websites settle for prospects from throughout Canada, the US and lots of worldwide international locations. They aren’t licensed in Canada, however personal gaming licenses in different areas corresponding to Curacao, Isle of Man, Malta, Costa Rica and others. As a result of they aren’t licensed in Canada, the federal government receives no tax revenues from these corporations.
Gamers at offshore on line casino websites have entry to sports activities betting, on line casino gaming, stay supplier video games and even prop wagers on standard leisure occasions and politics.