Alberta seeking to launch regulated iGaming market early next year

The Canadian province of Alberta plans to launch its regulated online gambling market in early 2026, Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, said at the Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto.

The provincial government aims to finalize decisions on advertising rules and tax rates this fall, Covers.com reported. Once those are in place, private iGaming operators will be able to apply for licensing to legally enter the market.

“In terms of timeframes, I can’t give you a month, but I can tell you early next year we’re going to be cutting the ribbon on our iGaming Alberta,” Nally said.

The move follows last month’s passage of Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, which sets the legal groundwork for private online sportsbooks and casinos to operate in the province. Currently, only the government-run Play Alberta is authorized, though unregulated grey and black market sites dominate online gambling in the province, accounting for up to 90% of activity, according to Nally.

When launched, Alberta will become the second Canadian province, after Ontario, to allow private operators in a regulated iGaming market.

Alberta will create a new regulatory body — the Alberta iGaming Corporation — to oversee the market, similarly to what Ontario did ahead of its own private market's launch. Before going live, the government will consult with private operators, land-based casinos, and First Nations. Discussions will include advertising standards, such as whether to allow active athletes in gambling ads — a move Ontario banned.

“I will be going back to my cabinet colleagues in the fall and we’re going to be talking about advertising standards and tax rates,” Nally said. “And then we’re going to make those difficult decisions."

Nally said more details will be shared later this year.