Alberta will launch its regulated iGaming and sports betting market on July 13, becoming Canada’s second open market after Ontario.
Alberta will officially launch its regulated online gambling market, which includes sports betting and iGaming, on July 13, 2026. The move will make Alberta the second Canadian province, after Ontario, to open its online gambling market to private operators.
A letter to industry stakeholders from the office of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister, Dale Nally, confirms the go-live date. The letter, first reported by Gaming News Canada, notes that “many operators need additional time to prepare” for operational, technical, and compliance requirements ahead of launch.
Framework Finalized as Registration Opens
Amendments to Alberta’s Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation were adopted on January 13, clarifying licensing, advertising, and social responsibility requirements.
At the same time, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) opened registration for operators and suppliers, establishing the formal pathway into the market.
Operators must complete a two-step process. First, a regulatory registration with AGLC, followed by a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC), which will oversee market operations.
Authorities have also introduced temporary transition measures to support operators moving from gray market operations to the regulated framework, with those provisions set to expire on the July 13 launch date.
According to the stakeholder letter, operators that have completed registration and paid fees have begun assessing technical requirements, including integration with a centralized self-exclusion system.
The province expects to issue final operating agreements and AiGC policies by April 15.
Operators Prepare for Market Entry
Alberta has not released a list of approved licensees. However, it’s widely expected that multiple operators are preparing for entry.
These include major North American brands such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, and theScore Bet.
International and emerging operators are also expected to participate. Those include Super Group (Betway and other brands), PointsBet, Soft2Bet, TonyBet, Bet99, Betty, NorthStar Bets, PowerPlay, and High Roller Tech.
Alberta’s framework will closely mirror Ontario’s open-market framework. It will allow multiple private operators to offer online casino and sports betting products under provincial oversight. Under Alberta’s structure, AGLC will act as regulator, while AiGC will serve as the conduct-and-manage entity, similar to iGaming Ontario’s role.
Ontario’s market has grown significantly since its launch in 2022. The province’s regulated iGaming market (online casinos, sports betting, and poker) delivered its strongest year in 2025. It generated C$4.04 billion ($2.98 billion) in annual revenue, up 34% year over year. Compared to 2022, the monthly handle has grown almost 10 times.
Still, there will be some differences between Alberta and Ontario. One is that Alberta won’t allow election betting. Also, the province will have a centralized self-exclusion program in place before the launch. In comparison, Ontario still hasn’t launched a provincial self-exclusion program.
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