Canada’s newest iGaming market has generated CA$2.9 billion in wagers and produced $122.1 million in non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) since launching July 13.
- Active player accounts increased from roughly 227,000 in July to 389,000 by the end of September.
- August produced the first $1-billion handle month.
- Online casinos dominated, accounting for over 78% of the three months' revenue market share.
The Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) recently announced the first betting figures for the province’s online casino, live casino, and sports betting from mid-July through Sept. 30, with active player accounts rising from 226,959 in the first month to 388,585 by the end of the first reported period.
"Early results indicate that Albertans value the strong oversight and greater accountability offered by a regulated market," AiGC CEO Dan Keene said. "We hope to continue educating Albertans about the risks associated with illegal offshore sites and move them onto regulated platforms where they have rights and recourse when iGaming."
The 16 casino and sports betting Alberta operators active when wagering began in July combined for a $542.9-million handle and $22.2 million in revenue. The number of gaming operators increased to 20 in August, when $1.06 billion was wagered and $43.3 million in NAGGR was produced.
With 24 operators active by September, the handle rose to $1.28 billion, while revenue spiked 31% month over month to $56.6 million. Average revenue per active player account reached $146 in September, calculated by dividing NAGGR by the number of active player accounts.
iCasino dominates
Alberta online casino games dominated the three-month landscape, accounting for over 78% of all gross gaming revenue market share.
Online casino games generated $17 million in NAGGR over the last couple weeks of July, followed by $35.7 million in August, representing 82.5% of the market total.
iCasino accounted for 75.6% of the market share in September, creating more than $42.8 million in revenue.
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Sports thrive in September
Alberta sports betting captured 17.5% of the market-share revenue in July, when the final week of the World Cup coincided with the first week of Alberta wagering. That share dipped to 12.1% in August, but with the return of football in September, market share reached an Alberta high of 19.5% and generated $11.1 million in revenue on a $152.7-million handle.
September’s 7.3% sports betting hold finished ahead of July’s 6.2% and August’s 4.6%.
Market share revenue from live casinos decreased each month, accounting for 6.3% in July, 5.6% in August, and 4.9% in September, as more operators came online.
Transition period ends
Alberta is the second Canadian province to exit the grey market and launch regulated iGaming, joining Ontario. Fifty operators have gradually been approved by the AiGC.
The grace period to transition from the grey market into the regulatory framework ended Oct. 13, leaving unregistered online casinos and sports betting companies vulnerable to legal action.
“Regulation matters,” Keene said. “This is a market where approved iGaming Operators are held to high standards of accountability, and where revenue stays in the province to fund programs and services Albertans rely upon.”
