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Alberta is getting ready for a big change in the world of gambling. The province has passed Bill 48, also known as the iGaming Alberta Act, which will allow private online gambling companies to operate legally in Alberta for the first time.
This move will make Alberta the second province in Canada, after Ontario, to open up to a regulated online gambling market. The goal is to make online gaming safer, more organized, and better controlled.
What Will Change for Players and Companies?
Right now, Play Alberta is the only legal online gambling site in the province. But it only covers part of the market. Many people in Alberta still use gambling sites that are not regulated by the government, also called “grey market” sites.
With Bill 48, the Alberta government will create a new Crown corporation called the Alberta iGaming Corporation. This group will control and approve licenses for online gambling companies that want to operate in Alberta.
This means:
- More legal options for players
- Better safety and control
- Revenue for the province from gambling taxes
Dale Nally, the minister behind the bill, said this law is about giving people a safer way to play and bringing order to a growing market.
Will Alberta Follow Ontario’s Path?
Yes, the government says Alberta will use Ontario as a model. Since Ontario launched its iGaming system in 2022, it has made over CAD $2.4 billion in gaming revenue and welcomed nearly 50 licensed companies.
Many experts believe Alberta can do the same. Paul Burns, head of the Canadian Gaming Association, shared his excitement:
“The industry is excited for this next step to bring an open and competitive iGaming market to Alberta.”
But Alberta also wants to do some things better than Ontario.
What Are the Concerns?
Even though the law has passed, not everyone is happy. Some people say the bill doesn’t include enough details about how the system will work.
The opposition party (NDP) is worried about:
- How players will be protected
- Whether gambling ads will have rules
- How to stop underage gambling
- What rules will prevent gambling addiction
- Where the money from gambling will go
Nathan Ip, a member of the NDP, said:
“This bill does not contain a single concrete rule, safeguard, or mechanism to regulate online gambling. It does not outline standards for player protection. It does not establish advertising restrictions. It does not address age verification. It does not define how revenues will be allocated. Instead, it defers all of these critical matters to regulations that may or may not be introduced later.”
He believes the law gives too much power to future regulations that have not been written yet.
What Will Happen Next?
Now that the bill has passed, the final step is royal assent, which is mostly a formality. After that, the real planning begins.
The government will spend the next several months working on:
- Player safety rules
- Advertising limits
- License requirements
- Age checks
- Money use and revenue sharing
The full iGaming system could go live by late 2025 or early 2026.
What Makes Alberta’s Plan Different?
One of the biggest new ideas in Alberta’s plan is a central self-exclusion program. This means if a person wants to stop gambling, they can block themselves from all gambling sites and even land-based casinos with the press of a button.
This tool will be available from day one and will help people who struggle with gambling addiction.
Minister Nally said:
“If there is one thing I think we can do better [than Ontario], it’s that we can go live on day one with centralised self-exclusion our commitment is that on day one, there will be system-wide self-exclusion, you’ll be able to push a button and you won’t be able to play on any of the regulated online spaces. That will also include land-based casinos and racing centres.”
Also Read: Understanding GGR And NGR In The iGaming Industry
