Regulated online gambling sector in Alberta is officially launched, making it second Canadian province after Ontario to adopt a competitive licensing approach for private operators.
New framework enables licensed operators to conduct online sports betting and gambling with the supervision of the government, another step in the process of expansion of the regulated iGaming market in Canada.
50 operators have been approved by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) already. The list includes DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, PointsBet, theScore Bet, bet365 and BetRivers. The fee for conducting gambling in Alberta is paid to the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) which regulates both online sportsbooks and online casinos.
Launch of the sector comes after several years of drafting and adapting new regulations for making competitive and customer-friendly market in Alberta. The experience of Ontario with its regulated online gambling market greatly influenced Alberta’s model.
Provincial officials expect regulated market to generate approximately US$1bn in gambling revenue during first year, with continued growth anticipated as more operators establish themselves and consumer adoption increases.
Although market launches in closing stages of FIFA World Cup with only the semi-finals and final remaining the tournament is expected to provide an immediate increase in betting activity and help drive early customer engagement.
