Alberta advances plan to open regulated online gambling market

Legislation to create a competitive online gambling market in Alberta cleared a key hurdle this week, as Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, passed its second reading in the provincial legislature and advanced to committee review.

The bill, backed by Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP), seeks to legalize and regulate private-sector operators of online sportsbooks, casinos, and poker rooms. With the UCP holding a majority, the legislation is widely expected to become law, positioning Alberta to become the second Canadian province, after Ontario, to open its iGaming market to private operators.

“There are a significant number of Albertans who are potentially being preyed upon by grey market sites or illicit sites,” said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, during earlier debate. “This legislation proposes to change that.”

Currently, the only provincially regulated platform is Play Alberta, operated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). But the government estimates that more than half of online gambling in the province occurs on so-called grey market sites regulated outside its jurisdiction.

Bill 48 aims to redirect that activity into a regulated framework, where private operators would contract with a new Alberta iGaming corporation, subject to provincial oversight. The legislation leaves many operational details to be defined through future regulation, a strategy that mirrors Ontario’s phased approach.

Critics have raised concerns about the lack of clarity on critical issues such as advertising standards and responsible gambling protocols.

“This approach is just like buying a car without knowing if it has brakes or a steering wheel,” said opposition NDP critic Gurinder Brar. “It’s bound to lead to a crash.”

Nally defended the bill, noting that further regulatory measures will be developed before launch, including a centralized self-exclusion system to prevent vulnerable individuals from accessing licensed platforms. The province has indicated the market could launch by late 2025 or early 2026.

Nally said the initiative is not a cash grab and emphasized that the goal is not to create new gamblers but to provide more protections for existing ones.

The government also sees the initiative as a revenue opportunity. “Once the regulated market is established, Alberta’s government will be able to capture gambling revenues currently lost to unregulated sites often located outside of Alberta,” Nally said. “This new revenue can be used to support First Nations as well as social responsibility initiatives and other government priorities.”

The bill now moves to the Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause review, where amendments may be proposed before a third and final vote.