Alberta's regulated online gaming market launches Monday with 20+ operators ready

Alberta's regulated online gambling system officially launched on July 14, making the province the second in Canada to open the doors to private sports betting companies and online casinos, behind Ontario.

Nearly 50 companies paid $200,000 in registration and permit fees ahead of the launch, though Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said closer to 20 are ready to serve customers. The Alberta Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Commission confirmed "all systems are a go" as of midnight Monday.

The new system stems from legislation passed last year. Before Monday, Alberta online gamblers either used the government-owned PlayAlberta or risked unregulated offshore sites with no consumer protection. The province will collect 20 per cent of each company's revenue, with one per cent set aside for problem gambling programs and two per cent earmarked for First Nations.

Alberta's self-exclusion program — which allows people to ban themselves from gambling — now applies to online operators, who must let players set time and wager limits. Nally emphasized the system prioritizes player safety over revenue. "People will be safer in the regulated space," he said.

The launch has already prompted one operator to pull out. Estonia-based Coolbet announced earlier this month it was withdrawing from Alberta due to the regulations. Ontario has seen significant growth in betting since opening its market in 2022, though the province has also reported increases in gambling-related helpline calls.