By Friday, July 17, Alberta’s regulated iGaming market had 36 operators that had completed the province’s dual-approval process and were either live or ready to launch. Twenty-two platforms were already operating, and Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis expected more sites to come online in the coming weeks.
The market opened on 13 July, only days earlier. Alberta is the second province in Canada, after Ontario, to allow private operators to offer online sports betting and casino gaming under direct provincial oversight.
Registration and launch are separate steps. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis handles registration, but each operator must also sign a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation before it can go live. A business on AGLC’s registrants list has entered the process, but has not yet been cleared to take deposits or accept bets.
The registrants list had already been sizeable before opening. One report put it at 47 operators on 26 June, and another said 50 operators, 58 critical gaming systems providers and 14 platform providers had been registered ahead of launch. The list can change week to week as applications clear or companies withdraw.
Launch-day coverage said more than 15 operators were expected to go live alongside the government-run Play Alberta platform, and major brands including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and theScore Bet were accepting wagers. Separate reporting said PENN Entertainment’s theScore Bet launched at midnight, Rush Street Interactive brought in BetRivers, and Altenar and Pragmatic Play had received approval for Alberta.
CBC reported earlier that Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, passed last year and created the new Alberta iGaming Corporation to oversee the market. It also said Dale Nally estimated about 65% of online gambling in Alberta happens on black-market sites, while the province’s legislation includes self-exclusion tools, a $20,000 betting limit and a plan to dedicate 1% of gross gaming revenue to player safety and social accountability initiatives. Troy Ross of TRM Public Affairs told Casino.org he expected 35 to 40 live sites by the end of summer.
