There’s no reformer’s remorse out west, and it looks like the online gambling industry’s interest in Alberta continues to grow.
- Alberta’s competitive online sports betting and casino market has had an “encouraging” first month, with 28 regulated sites now available.
- The Alberta iGaming Corp. aims to shift 75% of online wagering onto provincially regulated sites within two years, although it remains open to adjusting its rules.
- New registrations for Videoslots, Mr Vegas, and GGPoker could expand the market further, with GGPoker potentially becoming the province's first poker-focused brand.
Thursday marked the one-month anniversary of Alberta launching a competitive market for online sports betting and internet casino gambling. And, according to the head of the Alberta iGaming Corp., the agency likes what it's seeing so far.
“This first month has been encouraging,” AiGC CEO Dan Keene said in remarks posted to the agency’s website Thursday. “We won’t get everything perfect right away. But each step forward, no matter how small, will be taken with the utmost pride and intent, keeping the betterment of Alberta in mind - now and into the future.”
The AiGC is the “conduct and manage” entity for the new Alberta sports betting and iGaming market. The government agency executes contracts with private-sector operators that allow those online sports betting and iCasino companies to take bets in the province.
Alberta and the AiGC opened the province's competitive iGaming market July 13, with the chief aim of moving more online gambling onto provincially regulated platforms.
Before July 13, there had been just one of those sites, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s (AGLC) Play Alberta. As of this Thursday, however, there was Play Alberta and 27 private-sector competitors.
New Alberta iGaming registrations! And one of them is dedicated to poker (@GGPoker)!
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) August 13, 2026
These operators still need to sign a contract with the @AiGC_ABiGaming but obtaining a registration from the AGLC means that they are now in the hopper to launch in Alberta's regulated market. pic.twitter.com/ukx4fdYtNi
Keene noted the AiGC’s goal is to ensure 75% of online wagering in the province happens with AiGC-approved operators within the first two years of the market being open.
That would mark a major reversal, as it was estimated that around 70% of iGaming was happening in Alberta with so-called “grey” operators prior to the market opening. Those are entities that may be regulated abroad or outside the province but not by the province itself.
“We’re not here to grow iGaming in Alberta,” Keene said. “We’re here to provide protection for Albertans who choose to participate as a form of entertainment.”
Not made of stone
Keene also signalled that Alberta's iGaming rules could still be tweaked going forward. The market borrowed heavily from the model Ontario implemented in 2022, which no other Canadian province has adopted.
This could mean eventual changes to advertising or responsible gambling regulations, although nothing specific was mentioned Thursday.
“Our job is to conduct and manage a strong regulated market,” Keene said. “The foundation has been laid. Now, we must uphold it and continually improve upon it.”
Keene's comments suggest provincial authorities are satisfied with Alberta's new regulatory framework while remaining open to changes as the market develops.
Furthermore, Keene said support from the industry so far has “exceeded” his expectations and there are signs the AiGC’s list of approved operators will continue to grow over the coming weeks and months.
For one thing, the province’s regulated market opened with 22 sites, even though there were around 50 entities that had received registrations from the AGLC.
Since launch, the number of approved private-sector operators has ticked up to 27. That still means there are operators that have obtained AGLC registrations but have yet to launch in the province's regulated market, such as BET99 and Betway. Still, the AGLC has said operators transitioning into the regulated market could have until Oct. 13 to make the switch.
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The AGLC has recently approved registrations for some new names as well. The regulator's online registry showed two new operator approvals for potentially three new sites: Videoslots, Mr Vegas, and GGPoker.
The last name is particularly interesting because one thing Alberta seems to be lacking in right now is online poker. GGPoker is active in Ontario, but in Alberta, there is not yet a poker-focused brand that’s been fully approved to launch.
That could change if and when GGPoker goes live. Its registration with the AGLC brings it a step closer, but it must still execute its operating agreement with the AiGC.
Online poker in general is somewhat complicated in both Ontario and Alberta. While both provinces are now well-stocked with online sportsbooks and casino sites, their regulations require all players to be physically located within the province. That limits the potential player pool, which could make the product less appealing to operators.
The same goes for pay-to-play daily fantasy sports contests. Both Alberta and Ontario have no provincially regulated DFS options at this point, which is due in large part to regulation and taxation.
There wasn't enough going on today, so the Supreme Court of Canada announced a hearing date for the big Ontario DFS/poker iGaming liquidity appeal.
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) July 14, 2026
On Oct. 7, then, Canada's highest court will hear arguments for and against Canadians playing DFS or poker against Americans. pic.twitter.com/us1m1n4lOA
However, that could change depending on the outcome of a case the Supreme Court of Canada is set to hear in October.
If Canada's highest court sides with the Ontario government, which argues it should be legal for online gamblers in the province to participate in games with people outside the country, the ruling could give a boost to online poker and DFS.
Ontario and potentially Alberta players could then be connected with players in the U.S., making the products more appealing to regulated operators.
That, again, may make the product more appealing to Alberta- or Ontario-regulated iGaming operators. It is also possible that Alberta and Ontario come to an agreement that would allow the two provinces to share iGaming liquidity.
“Moving forward, we’ll learn what’s working well,” Keene said Thursday. “We’ll identify where Albertans may need greater clarity and where there may be opportunities to strengthen our approach - because good regulation evolves with the market it governs.”
