On March 26, 2025, Alberta advanced its efforts to legalize and regulate online gambling by introducing Bill 48, known as the iGaming Alberta Act. The proposed legislation aims to regulate legal online gambling in the province safely and responsibly.
How Alberta’s iGaming Legislation Evolved
Since taking a look at how Alberta’s iGaming law could reshape the local economy and charities, much progress has been made in the province. The iGaming Alberta Act, also known as Bill 48, is a new legislation and regulatory framework for the use of online gaming.
The primary reason for the introduction of the legislation is to create a safe framework for legal online gaming that ensures fairness, transparency, security, and responsible gambling. With this, the government is looking to move online players from unregulated platforms to authorized Alberta online casinos and sportsbooks.
The Act will establish the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which under the management of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission will be the entity tasked with the regulation and enforcement of legal online gambling.
Alberta Enters the Regulated iGaming Space
The arrival of a safe, competitive framework for online gaming in Alberta has been in the works for some time now. Currently, the AGLC managed PlayAlberta is the province’s sole regulated online gaming platform. With the introduction of the iGaming Alberta Act, third-party private markets will be able to legally enter the market, introducing competition and more transparent gaming for players.
The structure of the Act closely resembles the massively successful iGaming model that Ontario introduced in 2022. They both follow a conduct-and-manage approach in which a larger entity, in Alberta’s case the Alberta iGaming Corporation, is responsible for the oversight of allowing private entities into the space safely.
What Regulation Means for Online Casino Players in Alberta
In a regulated environment, players in Alberta will be able to use and enjoy a much wider breadth of Canadian online casinos. Existing gambling sites and sportsbooks across the country and the globe are expected to enter the market, exposing players to a more competitive space with a wider variety of games, promotions, and sports betting options.
With a regulatory body in place, players will experience a safer playing environment. Safeguards for players such as deposit limits and self-exclusion that allows for players to restrict their access to operators will be implemented. Fairness, transparency, data protection, and responsible gaming tools are also added benefits for players.
What’s Next? Alberta’s iGaming Roadmap
The iGaming Alberta Act is still a way away from being put in place. It must pass in the Alberta Legislature and could face a fairly lengthy approval process after having its first reading on March 26th. Most signs point towards early 2026 for the province to open its market.
Prospective operators can expect to begin the licensing application process in late 2025 and will have to register with the Alberta iGaming Corporation, which has not yet been formally established. Those who supply and manufacture equipment and services for operators will also be required to register with the authority.
Once the first step of implementing a regulatory body for online gaming is complete, many expect Alberta to become a massive market in the iGaming space. This is likely to lead to Alberta-specific casino games and betting features, job creation, and a jolt to the economy.
